USCIS Celebrates Veterans Day with Special Ceremonies
USCIS honored Veterans Day by expanding the military naturalization process, naturalizing more than 4,000 active and former service members. These ceremonies highlighted the agency’s ongoing commitment to supporting those who serve.
Across the country, 4,400 service members became citizens in 90 ceremonies. This added to the thousands naturalized each year. In FY2021, the total reached 8,800, which marked a major increase from FY2020, when the pandemic slowed applications.
USCIS Reaffirms Support for Military Families
USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou emphasized the agency’s dedication to the military community. She noted that USCIS works to ensure meaningful access to immigration benefits for service members and their families. She also highlighted ongoing improvements that support their military naturalization process.
Special Ceremony Recognizes Distinguished Service
USCIS also hosted Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough for a special naturalization ceremony in Maryland. During the event, Director Jaddou presented retired Major Gen. Viet Xuan Luong with the Outstanding Americans by Choice award. Luong, born in Vietnam, fled the country as a child and later built a distinguished 34‑year military career.
His achievements reflect the contributions of many naturalized citizens who serve the United States with honor.
Understanding the Path to Citizenship for Service Members
Military members often qualify for an expedited military naturalization process. They can usually apply for citizenship after one year of service. They also do not pay any application fees, which helps remove barriers for those who serve.
Where Naturalized Service Members Come From
Service members born in the Philippines, Mexico, Jamaica, China, and South Korea made up 39% of naturalizations since FY2017. Nigeria, Ghana, India, Haiti, and Nepal accounted for another 17% during the same period. These numbers show the diversity within the military naturalization process and the global backgrounds of those who serve.
If you or someone you know needs immigration help, please contact our office for guidance and support.
© [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] 2021. The above text is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
