ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 101700Z JUN 02 ZYB MIN PSN 100333J10
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N01000//
NAVADMIN 171/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/U.S. CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS//
 
RMKS/1. 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.  AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE (INS) EXISTS TO EXPEDITE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING OF SERVICEMEMBERS' CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ACTIVE DUTY
MILITARY IN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS.  THIS ASSISTANCE
RESULTS IN A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF THE TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS
CITIZENSHIP REQUESTS.
 
3.  COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD ENSURE PERSONNEL MANAGERS ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE "U.S. NAVY GUIDE TO NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS
BASED UPON QUALIFYING MILITARY SERVICE" AVAILABLE AT
WWW.JAG.NAVY.MIL, CLICK ON LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THEN IMMIGRATION OR
WWW.BUPERS.NAVY.MIL/PERS33/NATUR.HTM.  BRIEF ALL FOREIGN-BORN
SAILORS IN YOUR COMMAND ON THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES FOR CITIZENSHIP
APPLICATION.
 
4.  ADVISE SAILORS WITH OVERSEAS ORDERS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF
APPLYING FOR EXPEDITIOUS NATURALIZATION FOR A LAWFUL PERMANENT
RESIDENT SPOUSE.  A SPOUSE MARRIED TO A UNITED STATES CITIZEN,
WHETHER MILITARY OR CIVILIAN, WHO IS ASSIGNED OVERSEAS MAY QUALIFY
FOR EXPEDITIOUS PROCESSING OF A NATURALIZATION APPLICATION.  LAWFUL
PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS IS REQUIRED, BUT ALL RESIDENCY AND
PHYSICAL PRESENCE REQUIREMENTS ARE WAIVED.  THE OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT
MUST BE ONE YEAR OR MORE AFTER THE OATH OF NATURALIZATION.
 
5.  CONTACT THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE JUDGE
ADVOCATE GENERAL (CODE 16) FOR QUESTIONS AT (202) 685-4643/DSN 325 OR
LEGALASSISTANCE@JAG.NAVY.MIL.
 
6.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT