Guard/reserve spouses (n400)

[Messybrownhair 251]

Where did you file for n400, did you use the military one or send at the two regular places (like Dallas)? I'm just not sure of the other one is just for active military?

[JoBri 548]

Were you asking me that question? Couldn't tell for sure. But just to clarify, my wife who is from the Philippines is the one in the military. She is in an Air Refueling Wing of the Air National Guard. I am the U.S. Citizen. She is a Permanent Resident. She just graduated Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas on May 17, 2013. And I guess there is no question that I am EXTREMELY proud of her, especially since I served many years in the U.S. Army myself, in both peace and war. And our son at age 3 already wants to become an Air Force pilot when he grows up.

According to the USCIS web site, in reference to the INA Act 329, members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, of which my wife qualifies under, are eligible for naturalization through their military service.

"Naturalization Through Military Service: Fact Sheet

Special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorize U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expedite the application and naturalization process for current members of the U.S. armed forces and recently discharged members. Generally, qualifying military service includes service with one of the following branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. In addition, spouses of members of the U.S. armed forces who are or will be deployed may be eligible for expedited naturalization. Other provisions of the law also allow certain spouses to complete the naturalization process abroad."

Just to be sure of things, I made certain of her filing status by speaking with USCIS myself. So we filed the N400 and the N426 (Certification of Military Service) forms, and submitted them to USCIS June 10, 2013. The only problem we had thus far was that USCIS said it might help us if we go to get her fingerprinted at the Application Support Center, rather than rely on the military to provide legible fingerprints in a timely manner. Biometrics is not required when filing an N400 (military), but we went June 27, 2013 to get her fingerprinted anyway, just to be safe, as USCIS suggested. It cost us nothing, and we were not required to have an appointment for that.

At any rate, we filed through the Nebraska Service Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, where all the military applications are initially processed at. I called USCIS military help line and was told that after the fingerprints are reviewed and the initial background checks are performed it will most likely be sent on to the Memphis Field Office. Our NOA1 receipt shows that we paid $0.00, and that the balance due is $0.00.

Where did you file for n400, did you use the military one or send at the two regular places (like Dallas)? I'm just not sure of the other one is just for active military?

[Messybrownhair 251]

Thanks brijo! I'm asking about those whose husbands are serving. My husband is in the guard and it says certain components send in Nebraska so I'm not sure whether to send it there or Dallas when the time comes (in 8 months)