Can Foreign Spouse Join Military?

[AmeriCanadian91 3]

I am a US Citizen and my husband is a UK/Australian Citizen and 31 years old. We are in the process of applying for his green card (Form I-130) and Adjustment of Status (Form I-485). I previously served in the Air Force Reserve for 6 years (and was honorably discharged at the end of my enlistment), and my spouse wants to join the Air Force Reserve, as well, since he is a civilian pilot. We have a few questions surrounding the military and immigration process:

1. Is there any way to expedite our applications?
   • I know he can't join the military until he is a PR or USC, but is there a way the military can help expedite both applications? Perhaps they could provide a "job offer" that can be used to establish severe financial loss, thus allowing him to request an expedited process? Or maybe there's another method?
2. Will he be able to go to basic training if he has a conditional green card?
   • I've seen some people here say that they had to get a 10 year green card before basic, but I don't know if that's because their 2-year gc was expiring or because everyone has to have a 10-yr gc.
3. Does it make a difference whether he is applying to the Reserves and not Active Duty, with regards to expediting the process?

[Boiler 45,467]

Best to ask your friendly recruiter I thought the Air Force required you to be a USC? Maybe the Army?

 

I do not see how they could offer a position to a non LPR

 

Presumably you have a joint sponsor 

[AmeriCanadian91 3]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Best to ask your friendly recruiter I thought the Air Force required you to be a USC? Maybe the Army?

 

I do not see how they could offer a position to a non LPR

 

Presumably you have a joint sponsor 

Sorry, I think the Title is misleading. I read that you have to be a LPR or USC, but I'm wondering if he wants to join the military, can that help him get his green card faster? Or perhaps there are other things we need to consider before he is eligible to join the military.

 

We plan to go to our local recruiter, but some are more helpful than others, and I don't know if our local one will be knowledgeable with regards to immigration, so I was hoping to get some insight before speaking to a recruiter.

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

Read what USCIS says:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service

[Boiler 45,467]

There used to be the MAVNI program but that finished years ago

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, AmeriCanadian91 said:

We plan to go to our local recruiter

Visit the recruiter after the I-485 is approved.

 

After his "service date" he'll be eligible to file N-400, Application for Naturalization: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-5 "CPRs who are filing on the basis of such qualifying military service are not required to file a petition to remove conditions and may be naturalized without the removal of conditions from their permanent resident status."

 

More info: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-i-chapter-3

Edited October 29, 2021 by HRQX

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

20 hours ago, AmeriCanadian91 said:

I am a US Citizen and my husband is a UK/Australian Citizen and 31 years old. We are in the process of applying for his green card (Form I-130) and Adjustment of Status (Form I-485). I previously served in the Air Force Reserve for 6 years (and was honorably discharged at the end of my enlistment), and my spouse wants to join the Air Force Reserve, as well, since he is a civilian pilot. We have a few questions surrounding the military and immigration process:

1. Is there any way to expedite our applications?
   • I know he can't join the military until he is a PR or USC, but is there a way the military can help expedite both applications? Perhaps they could provide a "job offer" that can be used to establish severe financial loss, thus allowing him to request an expedited process? Or maybe there's another method?
2. Will he be able to go to basic training if he has a conditional green card?
   • I've seen some people here say that they had to get a 10 year green card before basic, but I don't know if that's because their 2-year gc was expiring or because everyone has to have a 10-yr gc.
3. Does it make a difference whether he is applying to the Reserves and not Active Duty, with regards to expediting the process?

1) No. every one goes through the process. 

2) having a green card does not allow join the military. you must have filed naturalization pending and have a permanent green card. other wise no go

3) foreigners are not allowed to join military unless exceptions. they must be in the process of naturalization or naturalized.

 

 

[HRQX 4,145]

24 minutes ago, igoyougoduke said:

3) foreigners are not allowed to join military unless exceptions. they must be in the process of naturalization

Each branch has different enlistment requirements. For example, @DC909 didn't file N-400 until 3 months after joining the NG; i.e. enlisted in October 2020 and filed the N-400 in January 2021:

18 hours ago, HRQX said:

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-i-chapter-3

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by HRQX

[JoBri 548]

My wife enlisted in the Tennessee Air National Guard when she only had her permanent residence card. Then she became a US citizen. She is now a Captain on active duty, in the US Air Force. She's a nurse. We are at a military base in Germany

[Boiler 45,467]

8 minutes ago, JoBri said:

My wife enlisted in the Tennessee Air National Guard when she only had her permanent residence card. Then she became a US citizen. She is now a Captain on active duty, in the US Air Force. She's a nurse. We are at a military base in Germany

Do they also take on Pilots who are permanent residents?

[JoBri 548]

17 hours ago, Boiler said:

Do they also take on Pilots who are permanent residents?

No. Need to be a US Citizen for to become an officer, and to receive a Secret clearance. There are limited jobs open to Permanent Residents,  because the only jobs a Permanent Resident can get are those not requiring a Secret Clearance. For example, when my wife first enlisted in the Air National Guard, the only job available on base for her not requiring a Secret clearance was in Services. She worked in the Dining Facility. But since she became a citizen, she was able to meet the requirement of getting a Secret clearance as an officer on active duty. A pilot would require a Secret clearance

Edited October 31, 2021 by JoBri

[ashmed246 78]

On 10/29/2021 at 3:55 PM, AmeriCanadian91 said:

I am a US Citizen and my husband is a UK/Australian Citizen and 31 years old. We are in the process of applying for his green card (Form I-130) and Adjustment of Status (Form I-485). I previously served in the Air Force Reserve for 6 years (and was honorably discharged at the end of my enlistment), and my spouse wants to join the Air Force Reserve, as well, since he is a civilian pilot. We have a few questions surrounding the military and immigration process:

1. Is there any way to expedite our applications?
   • I know he can't join the military until he is a PR or USC, but is there a way the military can help expedite both applications? Perhaps they could provide a "job offer" that can be used to establish severe financial loss, thus allowing him to request an expedited process? Or maybe there's another method?
2. Will he be able to go to basic training if he has a conditional green card?
   • I've seen some people here say that they had to get a 10 year green card before basic, but I don't know if that's because their 2-year gc was expiring or because everyone has to have a 10-yr gc.
3. Does it make a difference whether he is applying to the Reserves and not Active Duty, with regards to expediting the process?

I’m in the Army and as far as I can tell, the military doesn’t help expedite GC application for a potential recruit. He can start talking to recruiters and getting the process started but there is not a lot they can do without his GC. With the Army, you can ship to basic training with a conditional GC (as long it’s still valid for at least 6 months and won’t expire while in training). I think Air-force is the one branch I know where you’ll  need a 10 year GC to enlist (not sure if it’s the same for active and reserve). You can try to expedite the application if he meets one of those criteria or ask a recruiter just Incase I might be wrong. Good luck!