Foreign-born service members can speed up citizenship process

Dick Benoit

Thursday, March 4, 2004 | 9:10 a.m.

Foreign-born service members who have served honorably for any period of time beginning on or after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible to apply for expedited U.S. citizenship, according to Air Force Col. Michael A. Pachuta, director of the Defense Department's Morale, Welfare and Recreation policy office.

The waiting period to apply for naturalization was shortened to one year of honorable service by an executive order signed by President Bush in July 2002, Pachuta told American Forces Radio and Television Service in a recent interview.

Prior to the executive order, the peacetime waiting period was three years of honorable military service, Pachuta said.

In addition, the 2004 Defense Authorization Act will allow U.S. citizenship applications to be finalized at U.S. embassies, consulates and selected military installations overseas, including citizenship interviews, testing, and oaths of allegiance.

It also waives the $310 citizenship application and fingerprint fee. and provides speeded-up avenues for the non-U.S.-citizen spouses, children and parents of service members who have died as a result of service in combat to obtain "immediate relative" alien status, Pachuta said.

Pachuta said the new citizenship application rules cover active duty service members and National Guard and Reserve personnel who are classified as members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.

Service members who want to become naturalized U.S. citizens must apply for it, the colonel pointed out. Army and Air Force members seeking to become naturalized U.S. citizens under the expedited process can contact their military personnel offices, Pachuta noted, while Navy and Marine Corps members can contact their legal assistance offices for help.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, uscis.gov, he noted, provides forms, instructions and more helpful information about the naturalization process.

Mom's an Army nurse

A Valley Hospital nurse and Henderson mother of five, Poppy Helgren recently completed the Army's Medical Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Helgren, who underwent intensive, didactic instruction as well as a field training exercise during the course, completes her first year as an Army Reserve Nurse this month. The first lieutenant is assigned to the 6252nd U.S. Army Hospital in Venura, Calif., and drills at the Armed Forces Reserve Center at Nellis Air Force Base.

Helgren, who works as an OB-GYN nurse for Valley Hospital, holds a bachelor degree in nursing from University of Hawaii and a master's degree in education from Boston University.

Helgren a self described "military brat," former Army wife and her husband, Peter, reside in Henderson with their five children Hayden, Hunter, Holden, Heath and Heather.

In brief