notaclue

Hi all,

As you know, PR here. I am literally sitting at a military entrance processing station to join the National Guard. Seeking advice regarding the changing requirements that are confusing.

Normally, you graduate basic training and a day later you are a citizen. Not anymore as you must serve 180 days active duty (Kind of hard in the national guard). My role, an MP cannot accept me until I am a citizen and as a result I need to choose another job and transfer roles at a later stage to become an MP.

So is anyone able to clarify the current process for citizenship through military service? I hear a lot about those on visas but not too much about PR's. I am being told that the background checks are taking over 12 months to complete in order to attend basic training at which point the 180 day clock starts. The clock stops at 120 days in my case as my training is only 4 months long in total.

As such, it appears citizenship is no longer a benefit of joining the military. For what its worth, the people here don't even know what the current rules are.

BritInParis

AFAIK nothing has changed. If you are a LPR you can complete basic training and naturalise directly afterwards.

https://www.uscis.gov/military/natur...litary-service

notaclue

See here: https://www.njimmigrationattorney.co...-service.shtml

So as we are in a 'period of hostility' and I serve for 4 months...is this enough? It's all so confusing!

BritInParis

If that is correct then it’s poor that the USCIS website, which was supposedly updated in January, does not reflect the change in policy. Thanks for the heads up though; I was considering pursuing this route should my other half’s DV lottery ticket come up.

notaclue

Be that as it may, the offician INA act reflects the website which agrees with your view:

https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/...0-0-10163.html