Did (or does) the United States grant automatic citizenship to anyone joining the military?
From what I can understand, the normal wait time for a legal resident to apply for citizenship is 5 years, but if you serve in the military, you only have to wait 3 years, and you do not have to have continual residence in the US to qualify. So, no, citizenship is not automatic, but it becomes easier.
However, i know that military service during the Gulf War (1990-1992) made citizenship automatic, due to a law signed by then President Clinton.
Also, i’m sure that President Bush did the same thing for recent conflicts, but can’t find that info right now.
hope this helps
No. I had a guy in my battalion who was Haitian, got meritoriously promoted and awarded for his work with the Marines in Guantanamo Bay during Operation Safe Harbor 1991-92 as a translator. It was found out he bought his greencard on the streetcorner, and was summarily booted.
No, it does not make it automatic. It does ease SOME of the restrictions, as mikemartin273 said: normally “wartime service” waives the waiting period altogether, while “peacetime service” shortens it to 3 years. However, earlier this year the government eliminated the 3-year waiting period for everyone in active duty on or since 9/11/2001.
Still, you have to meet all the other qualification requirements.