The bill would change immigration rules for some military members and their families. It would let people who served honorably in support of a contingency operation seek naturalization under a provision that otherwise applies to service during a period designated by the President. It would also change two time periods in an existing military naturalization provision from six months to one year.
The bill would treat certain immigrant-visa-eligible spouses and children of people serving in the Armed Forces as immediate relatives for immigration purposes. It would let certain family members of eligible current or former service members apply for permanent resident status if they meet listed requirements, including paying a processing fee. Some eligible relatives could apply for up to two years after the service member dies from a service-related injury or disease.
Before issuing a notice to appear in removal proceedings against an honorably serving or formerly serving military member, the Secretary of Homeland Security would need to approve it and consider the person's naturalization eligibility, service record, applicable deportability grounds, and possible hardship. The bill would also bar certain removal procedures for those service members and veterans.
Eligible service members could have additional paths to naturalization, and some of their family members could qualify for immigration benefits or permanent resident status. The bill sets conditions for these benefits, and family applicants would need to apply and, for status adjustment, pay a fee. It would also add steps and limits concerning removal proceedings for eligible service members and veterans.
Applicants seeking status adjustment would pay a processing fee set by the Secretary of Homeland Security. No publicly available information is provided about other costs or the fee amount.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.