Tag: military

MAVNI Soldiers’ Naturalization Picking Up Speed

In the past few weeks, we have seen naturalization interviews being scheduled on short notices at local USCIS offices and if the applicant passes the interview, he or she will be sworn in as an U.S. citizen right away.

If you are a MAVNI soldier waiting for BCT or background checks, and has not yet applied for naturalization. Please do not hesitate to contact an experienced immigration attorney to file your naturalization application,  or alternatively contact The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Military Assistant Program.

 

Fiscal Year 2017 – Options for Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI Program) Applicants, Enlistees, and Service Members in Delayed Entry Program (DEP)

Options for Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI Program) enlistees in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) – whose entry has now been delayed or cancelled – have two potential options: (1) Deferred Action and/or (2) Naturalization.

  • You should file for Deferred Action even if you have other immigration options pending. New protocol requires each MAVNI enlistee have his or her immigration status checked before basic training. People who have fallen out of immigration status or authorized stay will not be permitted to basic training. In other words, the enlistees need to maintain lawful/authorized status or Deferred Action to save their MAVNI seat. If you are eligible for naturalization, please also consider applying for Deferred Action because of the lengthy delays in naturalization screening and security clearance.
  • In addition, under military naturalization of INA § 329, MAVNI enlistees already serving honorably on active duty, Selected Reserve of the ready reserve, including any drilling Army Reserve MAVNI enlistee whose ship date to BCT is delayed or cancelled, are eligible to naturalize. In other words, one day of service in the Selected Reserve makes a foreign national eligible to naturalize. Further information about the filing process for military naturalization is available through the USCIS web page.

Call 913-717-7112 today to find out about your options as an MAVNI enlistee. Our office has successfully helped many MAVNI enlistees obtain the necessary naturalization paperwork. If your BCT is delayed, you may still qualify to become a U.S. citizen. 

Proposed Law Allows Certain Undocumented Immigrants to Enlist in the Military

While Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) is in the limbo and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) DREAMers are facing an uncertain future, this week, U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) re-introduced the Encourage New Legalized Immigrants to Start Training Act (ENLIST Act). The ENLIST Act applies only to undocumented immigrants who were under the age of 15 when they were brought to the U.S. by their parents prior to 2012. They have to speak English, have a high school degree, as well as passing other strict military requirements. However, it does not guarantee applicants would be accepted into the military.

Denham’s bill was introduced in 2014, and again in 2015, but never passed. The ENLIST Act is not to incentivize more illegal immigrants to come to the United States because it only applies to people who are already in the U.S.

本周，美国代表Jeff Denham（R-Turlock）重新介绍了“鼓励新的合法移民开始培训法”（ENLIST法案）。 ENLIST法案仅适用于2012年之前由父母带到美国的15岁以下的无证移民。他们必须说英语，具有高中学历以及通过其他严格的军事要求。 然而，它不保证申请人将被接纳进军队。

Denham的法案于2014年推出，2015年再次推出，但从未通过。 Denham说，ENLIST法案不会激励更多的非法移民来到美国，因为它只适用于已经在美国的人。

MAVNI Program Status for Fiscal Year 2017 – Deferred Action and Military Naturalization Options

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently received notice from the U.S. Department of Defense. The U.S. Army will not accept Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI)  applications for FY 2017 until they complete the revisions.

The MAVNI program is extended for FY2017, starting from OCT 2016 to OCT 2017. However, it is currently suspended due to investigation delay. MAVNI or Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest is an exclusive recruiting program that is beneficial for the immigrants who are interested to be a part of the U.S. military force.

MAVNI enlistees in Delayed Entry Program (DEP) – whose entry has now been delayed or cancelled – have two potential options: (1) Deferred Action and/or (2) Naturalization.

Whether Deferred Action is being granted to reserve members is still a question. DoD seems to permit reserve soldiers fallen out of immigration status or authorized stay to basic training, therefore, DoD no longer views Deferred Action as necessary for reserve members. However, if you are Active Duty, you should apply for deferred action, even if you have other immigration options pending. 

In addition, under military naturalization of INA § 329, MAVNI enlistees already serving honorably on active duty, Selected Reserve, including any drilling Army Reserve MAVNI enlistee whose ship date to BCT is delayed or cancelled, are eligible to naturalize. Naturalization under the wartime naturalization statute does not have a time of service requirement. During the period of hostility, one day of service in the Selective Reserve of the Ready Reserve makes a foreign national, including any drilling Army Reserve MAVNI enlistee that has not shipped to basic training, eligible to naturalize.  

Call today at 913-717-7112 to find out about your options as an MAVNI enlistee.