New Act Would Set Deadlines for Naturalization Application Processing Times for Military Personnel

30 Sep 2008

On September 28, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act. This act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Schumer (D-NY), will require that USCIS process and issue citizenship decisions within six months of the application receipt date for all current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their surviving dependants. If USCIS does not make a decision during that specified time frame, the act would require the organization to explain the reason for the delay and provide a new target date for a decision.

In addition, the act, if signed into law by the President, would establish an FBI liaison office inside USCIS and would establish processing deadlines for other naturalization applications. This act received approval by voice vote from the Senate on September 24; it is now en route to the President for final approval.