What are the rules for a non-US Citizen to enlist in the Army?

2015-06-27T14:37:12-04:00

My wife has a friend that she works with and he entered the United States with his parents illegally when he was a kid. He currently has a work permit, but is trying to become a US Citizen. His wife is a Specialist and he has talked to his immigration lawyer and the lawyer told him the only way for him to become a citizen is if he joins the military. I don't think he has talked to a Recruiter in the Fort Riley area yet. I am just trying to get some information for him to see what possibilities are out there. He is from Honduras and has been living in the US since 1996.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jun 27 at 2015 2:40 PM

2015-06-27T14:40:40-04:00

If he is married to a US citizen, then he should have other options as well. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm certain that joining the US military is not the only path, as spouses of US citizens often have paths to citizenship. I realize this doesn't answer your actual question, but I hope it's helpful. Maybe he should see a new lawyer.

Response by CSM Jennifer Dehorty made Jun 27 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-06-27T14:45:31-04:00

One of my Soldiers was an Iraqi citizen and we were able to 'fast track' her citizenship (I wouldn't let her deploy otherwise). However, she was her 'legally' and this was 7 years ago. I would advice that the individual seek counsel of n immigration lawyer before making a commitment to the military.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 6:51 PM

2015-06-28T18:51:32-04:00

Alright here is an update to my friend's situation that I posted about asking for help. He is a citizen of Honduras and entered the US in 1996 illegally with his parents. His current status is Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is a legal status. A few years ago, he was stopped at a random check point in New Mexico and reported to the Border Patrol Officer that he was a US Citizen and was later found to be a false claim. That is one of the issues that he is running into now trying to become a US Citizen. The false claim charges were dropped, but still remains on his file. His immigration lawyer said he can only join the Military under the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MANVI) Program. He speaks Spanish, but that language is not an option under MANVI. He has to submit a I-821 and I-765 annually to renew his status here. Any help regarding this would be much appreciated.