HR3371-119

What This Bill Does

The Ensuring Security for Military Spouses Act amends section 319 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For a lawful permanent resident who is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty at a location in the United States, the usual naturalization requirement that the applicant have resided for at least three months in the state or USCIS service district where the application is filed does not apply. The bill leaves other naturalization requirements in place while removing a geographic waiting rule that can be difficult for military families with domestic moves.

Who Benefits and How

Military spouses with green cards benefit because they can apply for naturalization without waiting three months in the filing state or service district. Active-duty service members benefit because their spouses face less immigration delay after domestic military moves. Military family support organizations benefit from a targeted naturalization flexibility for active-duty households. USCIS applicants in military communities benefit from clearer filing rules when a family relocation changes residence.

Who Bears the Burden and How

USCIS field office staff must apply a new exception to the three-month state or service-district residence rule. USCIS forms staff must update naturalization guidance and instructions for active-duty military spouses. Applicants outside the military-spouse category do not receive the same residence-rule waiver. Immigration adjudicators must verify active-duty service and spousal status when applying the exception.

Key Provisions

• Adds a state and service-district residence waiver for lawful permanent resident spouses of active-duty service members.
• Applies the waiver when the service member is serving at a location in the United States.
• Modifies INA section 319 while preserving other naturalization requirements.
• Reduces naturalization filing delays caused by domestic military relocations.