ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE
 
R 221207Z MAY 01 ZYB MIN PSN 840732J24
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N00000//
NAVADMIN 123/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/STREAMLINED U.S. CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS//
 
REF/A/MSG/CNO/101423ZMAR2000//
 
AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 049/00, REGARDING STREAMLINED CITIZENSHIP
PROCESS FOR QUALIFIED SERVICEMEMBERS.//
 
RMKS/1.  CONGRESS HAS ENACTED LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES SPECIAL
NATURALIZATION BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES.  FEDERAL LAW EXTENDS NATURALIZATION BENEFITS TO
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS WHO HAVE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS.  RESIDENT
ALIENS SERVING IN THE RESERVES ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE.
 
2.  REF A ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE TO EXPEDITE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING OF SERVICEMEMBERS' CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS.
THAT AGREEMENT REQUIRED THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THROUGH THE
MILITARY SERVICES, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE INDIVIDUAL
APPLICANTS IN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATIONS.  THIS
INITIATIVE HAS RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF THE TIME
REQUIRED TO PROCESS NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS FROM 18 TO 24 MONTHS
TO SIX TO NINE MONTHS.  HOWEVER, NOT EVERY ELIGIBLE SAILOR AMONG THE
14,000 FOREIGN-BORN INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN THE NAVY HAS BEEN
PROVIDED THE INTENDED ASSISTANCE.  BY ADVISING SERVICEMEMBERS OF
THIS PROGRAM AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE TO SERVICEMEMBERS,
ALL ELIGIBLE SAILORS CAN OBTAIN THIS VALUABLE BENEFIT IN A TIMELY
MANNER.
 
3.  TO ENSURE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE SAILORS RECEIVE
EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE IN SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATIONS, COMMANDING
OFFICERS SHALL ENSURE THAT A COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE WITH
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING HANDS ON ASSISTANCE TO SAILORS
APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND PERFORMS
RESPONSIBILITIES PER REF A.  THE PROPER SUBMISSION OF THE REQUIRED
PAPERWORK IS ESSENTIAL IF PROCESSING TIMES ARE TO BE FURTHER
REDUCED.  COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT COMMAND
REPRESENTATIVES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE "U.S. NAVY GUIDE TO
NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS BASED UPON QUALIFYING MILITARY SERVICE"
AVAILABLE AT HTTP:/WWW.JAG.NAVY.MIL/HTML/HEADQUARTERS.HTM, CLICK ON
LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THEN IMMIGRATION OR
HTTP:/WWW.BUPERS.NAVY.MIL/PERS33/NATUR.HTM.  FINALLY, COMMANDING
OFFICERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL FOREIGN-BORN SAILORS IN THEIR COMMAND
ARE BRIEFED ON THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR CITIZENSHIP.
 
4.  THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE
GENERAL (CODE 16) RETAINS OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TRAINING AND LIAISON BETWEEN
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION
SERVICE.  THAT OFFICE IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING NATURALIZATION AT
(202) 685-4643/DSN 325 OR LEGALASSISTANCE@JAG.NAVY.MIL.  THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A VALUABLE BENEFIT TO ELIGIBLE
SERVICEMEMBERS.  THE CHAIN OF COMMAND MUST ENSURE IT RECEIVES THE
ATTENTION IT DESERVES.
 
5.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT