In May 2024, the United States Air Force reported that more than a thousand enlisted members have become naturalized citizens after graduating from Basic Military Training (BMT) at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. Foreigners can enlist in the military as conditional residents, provided they’re already lawful residents. They cannot apply if they’re on a visa or if they’re illegal. If we assume they got their conditional cards a few months after they arrived in the U.S. and completed BMT in eight weeks, they could be reciting the Oath of Allegiance and applying for a passport in less than a year.
The Naturalization Through Military Service program of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers the fastest path to becoming a naturalized American citizen. During peacetime service, the program requires one year of honorable active or reserve duty before applicants are eligible to submit USCIS Form N-400. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, the U.S. Armed Forces have been operating through a period of rolling hostilities, so the one-year requirement has been waived.
Other Paths to Accelerated USCIS Naturalization
While foreigners who serve in the U.S. military currently have the fastest route to naturalization, other USCIS programs offer expedited processing and shorter residency requirements.
Spouses of U.S. Citizens
Instead of the standard five years of residency, immigrants married to American citizens can apply for naturalization after three years. Let’s say a Filipino man enters the U.S. with a K-1 fiancé visa, which already offers streamlined processing. If the wedding happens two months after arrival, he may be able to submit for conditional lawful residency. After this is approved, he can then file Form N-400 after three years of residency.
Immigrants with Extraordinary Skills
Individuals with employment-based visas granted for extraordinary abilities of national interest might find their naturalization process expedited. The key aspect here is the national interest. A classic example is the naturalization granted to Albert Einstein in 1940. At the time, the Department of Labor handled immigration matters, and it usually required 10 to 15 years of legal residency, but he became an American citizen after seven years. For the best advice about issues such as employment-based visas and employer-sponsored petitions, San Diego immigrants should consult experienced immigration attorneys.
Humanitarian Waivers
In rare cases, USCIS adjudicators may grant waivers for residency or other requirements based on humanitarian grounds beyond the refugee and asylum programs. In theory, some highly specific circumstances may result in fast-track naturalization—for example, Afghan interpreters who served along U.S. forces and can continue providing valuable intelligence.
Current USCIS Waiting Times for Naturalization
On average, immigrants wait about one year or less after three or five years of residency before they take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. This median figure is based on USCIS data from 2023. Half of the applicants waited less than seven years, while the other half waited longer.
USCIS processing times can vary among regional offices, often due to differences in backlogs. Applicants represented by immigration law firms are often part of the 50 percent who don’t have to wait more than seven years. This is because their packets are thoroughly checked before submission to avoid potential delays.
If they need help from attorneys with extensive experience in the laws governing immigration, San Diego residents should contact KS Visa Law today. From family-based immigration to naturalization procedures, we can address all your immigration-related needs. Call us to schedule an appointment.
