Ways to expedite N400 to get into military as an Officer?

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jvm60073

Registered Users (C)
Anyone heard of methods or procedures to expedite an N400 to get into the military? I have a BS in Comp Sci and graduate with honors. Got my GC last year. Have a desire to join the military Intelligence community as an Officer. So need to speed up my N400 so I can qualify for officer training and security clearance. Talked to a recruiter yesterday and he was VERY enthusiastic about me as a candidate. I qualify across the board as a moral citizen, continual/physical presence, english and civic knowledge. The reason for my hastiness is to make it under the max age limit of 42. I am in my mid30's now and hear horror stories of how long naturalization takes. So want to be on the conservative side and get things moving on my N400 ASAP.

Thanks for your help.
 
jvm60073 said:
Anyone heard of methods or procedures to expedite an N400 to get into the military? I have a BS in Comp Sci and graduate with honors. Got my GC last year. Have a desire to join the military Intelligence community as an Officer. So need to speed up my N400 so I can qualify for officer training and security clearance. Talked to a recruiter yesterday and he was VERY enthusiastic about me as a candidate. I qualify across the board as a moral citizen, continual/physical presence, english and civic knowledge. The reason for my hastiness is to make it under the max age limit of 42. I am in my mid30's now and hear horror stories of how long naturalization takes. So want to be on the conservative side and get things moving on my N400 ASAP.

Thanks for your help.
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There is a fast path to naturalization for those already in the military. The horror stories you have read about delays are from the backlog of cases due to name checks and 2007 fee increase, both of which are no longer issues. If you qualify, apply now. The naturalization process is taking on average about 4-7 months , depending on DO.
 
The only way to get naturalization faster through the military is to enlist. You cannot accelerate the N-400 process simply by the stated desire to serve in the US military as an officer. Only US citizens can hold an officer's commission in the US military, but LPRs can enlist. If you do enlist, your naturalization process is handled separately, is free, and it goes much quicker. Once you are in the military, you can apply for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and try to qualify, just like every other candidate, to be a commissioned officer in the US military.

More information here: http://tinyurl.com/militarynaturalization

Also, you may want to check out the Defense Dept.'s MAVNI program at the following link, which provides expedited path to naturalization for foreigners with certain health care professional skills and those with specific language skills.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/mavni-fact-sheet.pdf

But you can only apply to be a commissioned officer after you have US citizenship.
 
Thank you for your quick response, Bobsmyth. I appreciate it.
Unfortunately, I cannot apply now as I am not in the military. Still just a regular joe schmo. So I'll wait out the remaining 24 more months to the early filing date.
My DO is decent on getting stuff done. They surprised me with a quick turn around on my GC... just 3 months after getting my interview.
Thanks for the heads up on the average response time getting better on the naturalization side.
 
NewRunner-

Thank you, also, for your quick reply.
I did check out MAVNI. Wish I were more in the healthcare field to qualify. I am holding out to see how this year's pilot goes. Maybe next year, as hoped by the military leadership, the program will be expanded to more than 1,000 and include other fields such as mine.

I am going to check in with my recruiter to determine the training requirements for enlisted. Currently, I have a great job paying in the mid-$100's so going enlisted would be a damper on the salary. But then again, what's a year of active service knowing in the end I achieve my goal of being a commissioned officer.
 
Dear Bobsmyth and NewRunner-

Do you think if I filed my N300 AND had a recommendation from my Senator AND a well written letter of my desire to be a US military Officer that my N400 could be sped up? Or does none of this really matter considering the N300 is not binding?
 
The N-300 will not speed up N-400 processing as the N-300 only serves as an official intention notice to become a citizen.
I assume that you only have 3 years of continuous residency as a LPR since you mentioned you still have to wait 24 months?
 
Yes; that is correct, Bobsmyth. I have to meet only my 3 year continuous/physical residency because I am married to a US citizen. However, I've lived in the USA for over 30 years. Long story. My parents were diplomats and I was under their status for a long time. I'd think that would account for something, but based on my readings I do not see how it would. Maybe I could submit a petition to see either an immigration officer or immigration judge. Do you think that would be of value?
 
So you've only had your green for 1 year and need 2 more years before you can apply, correct?

What do you mean by filing a petition to see an IO or judge?

Have you asked the military if they would accept the N-300 to become officer? Also, have you talked to military recruiter to determine if you can join now as non-officer position, get expedited citizenship and then switch over to officer position in a few months?

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/MilitaryBrochurev7.pdf
 
How long is statutory period for good moral character for citizenship based on qualifying military service? one year?
 
Correct. I got my LPR card last year about this time. So actually, I need just 1yr & 9mnths to wait. There's the 90day lead time I get, too.

Sorry, I think my lawyer used the term motion rather than petition. It'd be a motion to plead my case in front of an IO or judge. The plea would be to expedite my application so as to allow me to join the military sooner rather than later. But that's just an idea from left field and I'm pretty sure that won't be of much help. And it'd probably cost me a lot of money. ;)

Your timing is great. I just did talk to an NC-1 for enlisting. He and I are going to work through some details this afternoon (he was in car traveling). So that may be the route I have to pursue for now. Based on my reading, I'd actually have to be active for 1 year before I could apply for naturalization via the military process. So it'll be one year before I could apply for Officer School.
 
military good moral character timeframe

WBH-
I believe it is one year. Go to the USCIS website and follow the following path - Home > Services & Benefits > Citizenship > General Naturalization Requirements

There is a paragraph on good moral character, and a statement specific to the military.

I'm by no means an expert.
 
WBH said:
How long is statutory period for good moral character for citizenship based on qualifying military service? one year?
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Although INA 328 and 329 are ambiguous about the GMC statutory period, USCIS determines this period as the time spent in service and as a LPR.
 
Bobsmyth said:
Although INA 328 and 329 are ambiguous about the GMC statutory period, USCIS determines this period as the time spent in service and as a LPR.
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No upper limit? What if the applicant spend 20 years in the military and dolf a PR?

I think it immigration laws should give PRs who have served in military service
some break regarding criminal history. Right now even the PRs with long time
service in teh military can be deported due to 12 year sentence. It is not fair
but it is not my bussiness
 
Best to wait. No point in going enlisted if you want officer's school.
But if you want to go into a natl sec job, you don't need to be a citizen for that. All you need to do is pinpoint the job, be that in the private sector as a contractor, or public sector, and then go from there, jump into the military or stay hybrid. :)

jvm60073 said:
Correct. I got my LPR card last year about this time. So actually, I need just 1yr & 9mnths to wait. There's the 90day lead time I get, too.

Sorry, I think my lawyer used the term motion rather than petition. It'd be a motion to plead my case in front of an IO or judge. The plea would be to expedite my application so as to allow me to join the military sooner rather than later. But that's just an idea from left field and I'm pretty sure that won't be of much help. And it'd probably cost me a lot of money. ;)

Your timing is great. I just did talk to an NC-1 for enlisting. He and I are going to work through some details this afternoon (he was in car traveling). So that may be the route I have to pursue for now. Based on my reading, I'd actually have to be active for 1 year before I could apply for naturalization via the military process. So it'll be one year before I could apply for Officer School.
Click to expand...
 
WBH said:
No upper limit? What if the applicant spend 20 years in the military and dolf a PR?

I think it immigration laws should give PRs who have served in military service
some break regarding criminal history. Right now even the PRs with long time
service in teh military can be deported due to 12 year sentence. It is not fair
but it is not my bussiness
Click to expand...

The upper limit would most likely default to the standard 5 years of INA 316.
 
rick92 said:
Best to wait. No point in going enlisted if you want officer's school.
But if you want to go into a natl sec job, you don't need to be a citizen for that. All you need to do is pinpoint the job, be that in the private sector as a contractor, or public sector, and then go from there, jump into the military or stay hybrid. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks rick92. The nat'l security sector was recommended by my Officer recruiter owing to the background I gave him on my education. After lots of thought, it actually does make sense that I go into that sector. And I'd prefer to do that serving the country.

I'll consider the alternative to do contract work. My brother actually does that today so I could hit him up for the process. I can certainly be the half-glass-full guy and work for a defense contractor that contributes to the well being of our troops by building the best systems possible; e.g. Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon.
 
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