Is it true.. Fast Naturalization

I saw this on the Naturalization instruction form that if you serve in the armed forces at the time of hostile conflict, you may be eligable to file for the N-400, the form for natralization. Is it true??

Armed Conflict with Hostile Foreign Forces

This is the only section of the Immigration and Naturalization Act that allows persons who have not been lawfully admitted for permanent residence to file their own application for naturalization. Any person who has served honorably during a qualifying time may file an application at any time in his or her life if, at the time of enlistment, reenlistment, extension of enlistment or induction, such person shall have been in the United States, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, or Swains Island, or on board a public vessel owned or operated by the United States for noncommercial service, whether or not he has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.

An applicant who has served honorably during any of the following periods of conflict is entitled to certain considerations:

World War I - 4/16/17 to 11/11/18;


World War II - 9/1/39 to 12/31/46;


Korean Conflict - 6/25/50 to 7/1/55;


Vietnam Conflict - 2/28/61 to 10/15/78;


Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm - 8/29/90 to 4/11/91


Operation Enduring Freedom – 9/11/01 to (open); or


any other period which the President, by Executive Order, has designated as a period in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or were engaged in military operations involving armed conflict with hostile foreign forces.
Applicants who have served honorably during any of the aforementioned conflicts may apply for naturalization based on military service and no period of residence or specified period of physical presence within the United States or any State shall be required.



http://www.ins.gov/graphics/services/natz/Special.htm

Yes it is true but it is not fast naturalization it is expedited naturalization... As a matter of fact, the Lord willing, that is how I would like to do it... I have always wanted to join the USAF.

Now more insight on the expedited naturalization...


The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has dedicated their service center in Lincoln, Nebraska as responsible for processing citizenship applications for military members on active duty (Presidential Executive Order, 04 July 2002). Because this is the sole service center working applications from military members meeting this criterion, the entire naturalization processing time is substantially reduced when compared to non-military applications.

For purposes of this process, "service" in the Armed Forces of the United States means:

(1) Active or reserve service in the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marines, United States Air Force, or United States Coast Guard; or

(2) Service in a National Guard unit during such time as the unit is Federally recognized as a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States.

If you meet the eligibility requirements described above and are currently a Permanent Resident, (i.e., you have been granted permanent resident status in the United States and have or are waiting for a Permanent Resident Card (Form I551)), you should follow the procedures in this guide to complete the naturalization process.


On July 3, President Bush signed an Executive Order 13269 which waives the
normal residency and physical presence requirements for certain
non-citizens serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. It is
estimated that there are over 15,000 men and women who are affected by this
order. While non-citizens are eligible to enlist in the military, only
U.S. citizens can be promoted to commissioned or warrant officers, or serve
in special warfare programs such as the Navy SEALs.

On July 4, the President proclaimed to a crowd that "thousands of our men
and women in uniform were born in other countries and now spend each day in
honorable service to their adopted land. Many of them are still waiting
for the chance to become American citizens."

Under the order, anyone with active-duty service in the military since
September 11, 2001 is eligible to apply for naturalization provided that
they enlisted, or re-enlisted, in the U.S. or in certain other designated
places.

Importantly, it is not necessary that the applicant still be in the
military, or that he/she be a permanent resident of the United States. It
is even possible to naturalize if the person is illegally present in the U.S.

Applicants under the Executive Order (issued pursuant to §329 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act) must comply with other naturalization
requirements such as the English and history/government examinations, and
must demonstrate that they are persons of good moral character.

When I served as an INS Citizenship Attorney in the late 1970s, we
recommended hundreds of Vietnam veterans for naturalization under a similar
Executive Order, and they were sworn-in as U.S. citizens. The fact that
many of these veterans had enlisted illegally did not bar them from
naturalization as long as the military supported their applications.

Significantly, President Bush's order does not contain an expiration date.
A non-citizen who joins the military today can immediately apply for
naturalization. Also, it is not required that the applicant be involved in
combat or in the war against terrorism.

The last time that such an Executive Order was signed was in 1994 when
President Clinton eased naturalization requirements for non-citizens who
served during the Gulf War.


WHILE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER PROVIDES FOR "EXPEDITED" NATURALIZATION, THE GLACIAL PACE THAT THE MILITARY DISCIPLINE CHECKS (FORM G-325B) ARE CARRIED OUT INSURES THAT MEMBERS OF THE OUR ARMED FORCES WAIT FAR LONGER TO NATURALIZE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

i am going to check with our local office and go enlist if i can..

I would give this advice to you; if you want to go military just in purpose of getting the citizenship, they would most likely realize that and deny the application ultimately, I am told military has its unique ways to figure it out... just a reminder!!!

ok, I went to go and enlist, they told me that i have to either be a permanent resident or at least have the peice of paper that i am approved. the army of one reserves has a 6 year commitment.. how long does it take to get that letter of aproval if I am marrying a USC??

Relax, if you're marrying a citizen you can apply citizenship in 3 years. Any other way, you can't apply for 5 years. No need to join up, unless you really want to.