Immigrants can enlist in the US Armed Forces and fight for the United States. Serving in the Armed Forces is not meant only for the US citizens. Reports say that around 8,000 permanent residents enlist in the US Armed Forces every year and around 65,000 immigrants are currently serving the country.
Every year, USCIS honors the Veterans Day by conducting special naturalization ceremonies. The agency gives the immigrants serving the country and the immigrant veterans a chance to become a part of the country. USCIS conducted 120 special Veterans Day naturalization ceremonies this year and naturalized 8,000 immigrants. Several immigrant veterans who have been discharged and those in active duty received their naturalization certificates through special naturalization ceremonies that were conducted by the USCIS.
Many believe that only the US citizens can enlist in the military but they are unaware of the fact that the immigrants can also serve the country. Though the citizens of several foreign countries are fighting for our country, most of the foreign-born military personnel are from Mexico and the Philippines. Around 50 percent of the military recruits, during the 1980s were immigrants and they played a major role during the Revolutionary War. Immigrants in the US Armed Forces make the military more multicultural.
Since 2002, USCIS has granted US citizenship to more than 90,000 immigrants through military service. Immigrant soldiers and certain veterans can apply for US citizenship through an expedited process, through military service. Members of the US Armed Forces need to meet few naturalization requirements such as good moral character to file their applications for naturalization. They must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language and of the country’s history. They must be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance and demonstrate their attachment to the US constitution.
Eligible members of the US Armed Forces may not be required to meet the other requirements like the physical presence and the continuous residency requirements, under Sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. USCIS extends such benefits to the immigrant soldiers who work abroad by permitting them to go through the naturalization process while abroad. The agency also conducts special naturalization ceremonies abroad for such members of the US Armed Forces.