Message for Foreign-Born Veterans

Appearing recently at the Department of Florida's American Legion convention, immigration attorney Elizabeth Ricci had a message for foreign-born veterans and non-native veterans everywhere: make sure you are actually a U.S. Citizen. It's essential, she says, that non-citizen veterans realize that military service does not confer citizenship. If there is a foreign-born veteran who does not have a naturalization certificate or a U.S. Passport, the reason they don't is because they are probably not a U.S. Citizen. Another common misconception is that the filing fee for naturalization forms with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is waived for only active-duty military, and not veterans. For information on becoming a United States citizen, visit the Department of Homeland Security website at www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship, the FindLaw.com website at immigration.findlaw.com/citizenship/requirements-for-applying-for-citizenship-in-the-united-states.html, and the U.S. Immigration website at www.us-immigration.com.