Foreign Nationals in the U.S Armed Forces: Immigration Issues
Straut-Eppsteiner, Holly (2024-08-19). Foreign Nationals in the U.S Armed Forces: Immigration Issues (Report). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.
- Has attachment: File:87PKJPWJ.pdf
Abstract: Some positions in the Armed Forces require U.S. citizenship. Under the law, military officers must be U.S. citizens. In addition, some positions require security clearances, for which U.S. citizenship is required. However, qualified noncitizens may enter the Armed Forces as enlisted members in occupations that do not require security clearances. Citizenship and residency requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces are specified in 10 U.S.C. §504(b)(1).9 These categories include the following:
- U.S. nationals—a category that includes U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals (i.e., American Samoans);
- LPRs (sometimes known as green card holders), who have permission to live and work permanently in the United States and may become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process; and
- Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands covered under the Compacts of Free Association (also known as Freely Associated States)...
