10 Facts About Citizenship and the U.S. Military

Qualifying immigrants who have served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, may apply for expedited citizenship processing under special wartime provisions in the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

To honor the service and sacrifices that these immigrants have made for their adopted nation, these troops can naturalize in overseas ceremonies instead of waiting until their return to the U.S. The spouses and children of these military members may also naturalize abroad without having to return to the U.S. for any part of the process.

10 Facts About Citizenship and the U.S. Military

1. Historically, the U.S. government has conducted overseas military naturalization ceremonies during times of war. During World War II, 20,011 service members were naturalized overseas. During the Korean War, 7,756 service members were naturalized overseas.
   
   
2. Although authorized, no overseas military naturalization ceremonies were held during the Vietnam War.
   
   
3. USCIS has naturalized 42,981 members of the U.S. armed forces since the beginning of the War on Terrorism (September 2001): 37,193 in the United States and 5,788 in ceremonies overseas.
   
   
4. In October 2004, USCIS conducted the first overseas military naturalization ceremony since the Korean War.
   
   
5. In fiscal year 2008, USCIS naturalized 7,854 members of the military: 6,345 of those were naturalized in the United States and 1,509 of those were naturalized overseas.
   
   
6. In 2008, USCIS naturalized 7,854 military members.
   
   
7. On average, the number of military members naturalized in a year is less than 1% of the total number of U.S. naturalizations.
   
   
8. Between USCIS fiscal years 2005 through 2008, the top 3 overseas countries where military members naturalized included: Iraq (2,217 total), Japan (1,125 total) and Germany (914 total).
   
   
9. In May 2008, USCIS conducted the first overseas naturalization ceremony that included a military spouse. From then through September 2008, 18 military spouses become naturalized citizens during ceremonies in Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.
   
   
10. By the end of fiscal year 2008, USCIS had granted posthumous citizenship to 118 members of the U.S. armed forces stemming from the War on Terrorism.

Source: USCIS