United
Families
Join. Serve. Earn Your Citizenship.
Protect Your Family's Future.
Join the Army National Guard, expedite your citizenship, and help your family obtain permanent residency in the USA. If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident, you may be eligible for the expedited process of becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen through service in the National Guard.
Talk to a Recruiter
Individual & Family
Earn Your Citizenship Through Service
Gain citizenship through your service in the Army National Guard. Your service can accelerate the citizenship application process while also making it easier.
- Accelerated Application Process
- No Application Fees
- Shorter Residency Requirements
- No State-of-Residency Requirement
To qualify, you must meet all educational, medical, and legal requirements to enlist in the Army National Guard and be a legal permanent resident.
Put Your Family on the Path to Legal Residency
Are you a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident? You can put your family on the path to legal residency by joining the Army National Guard.
A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services program called Parole in Place allows a foreign national who entered the United States without authorization to stay for a certain period of time.
Your service in the Army National Guard can qualify your immediate family members — spouse, parents, and children — for the Parole in Place program.
Service in the National Guard is only one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.
Benefits
Continuous Residence Requirement Waived
While most naturalization applicants need 5 years as a permanent resident (3 years if married to a U.S. Citizen), military personnel can obtain citizenship much more quickly. The continuous residence requirement is fully waived.
Physical Presence Requirement Waived
Most naturalization applicants must be physically present in the U.S. for 30 months (18 months if married to a U.S. citizen spouse). Military service members are exempt from this requirement entirely.
USCIS Filing Fee Waived
Naturalization costs most civilian permanent residents $725 — a $640 USCIS filing fee plus an $85 biometric fee. These fees are completely waived for military service members upon enlistment.
Increases Opportunities Within the Guard
Soldiers with U.S. citizenship are qualified for a security clearance, which opens doors to more career opportunities within the National Guard and also in the civilian world.
Parole in Place — Protect Your Family
A USCIS discretionary program allowing eligible undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel to remain in the U.S. lawfully. It prevents deportation, provides work authorization, and acts as a "lawful entry" for green card applications — without requiring the relative to leave the country.
How It Works
Be a Lawful Permanent Resident
Hold USCIS Form I-551 or certain types of qualifying Visas that establish Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) status.
01Enlist in the NM Army National Guard
After just one day of being enlisted in the New Mexico Army National Guard, you can file for your citizenship. Naturalization fees are waived upon enlistment.
02File for Citizenship
Military personnel who apply for citizenship receive an expedited process. Your application moves faster than a standard civilian application.
03Attend Training
After filing for your citizenship, you will attend training in the job you chose and were eligible for within the Army National Guard.
04Become a U.S. Citizen
Congratulations — you've earned your U.S. citizenship through your commitment and service to the New Mexico Army National Guard.
05File for Parole in Place
If applicable, file for the Parole in Place program to help qualifying immediate family members obtain lawful status in the United States.
06Ready to Begin?
Contact Your
Recruiter.
Your service in the New Mexico Army National Guard can change your family's future. Reach out today to learn whether you qualify.