AOS to file in Dec 2014 but planning to enter U.S Navy

[Tera Fight 0]

Came here under CR1 visa and by December I should be drafting and preparing for i-485 for adjustment of status. Iam 33 yrs old and wish to get enlisted in active service in U.S Navy. I will be turning 34 this year December (cut off for age requirement). My question can I join the military before filing AOS and what is my best option. Second, will the visa allow me to get into a military career and how do I go about the application once I have entered. Can paper work be done by a third party say relative or friend while Iam on training. And lastly, how will it affect my status. And please do share any story or advise for me to aid in making the right choices. Appreciate your most valuable reply and comments.

[lil2be 11]

I don't know much about the navy. I applied to the US army when I was 34 with a special language skill. I was denied due to my age. They said I could not be over 35 when I was sent out to station. Most military requires at least green card holder. Unless they are recruiting a special skill agent so you can be in most visa status. I was an F1; I was just too old for them.

BEST thing is to talk to a recruiting officer. They are everywhere. Just call in and visit one of their recruiting office.

Edited May 27, 2014 by lil2be

[Ryan H 3,790]

***Moved from Introducing Our Members to Military Immigration-Related Discussion.***

**Moderator hat off**

If you entered on a CR-1 visa, you would not be filing an I-485 to adjust status. A CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa and immigrant visa holders are given green cards after entry without the need to ever adjust status.

[Tera Fight 0]

lil2be and Ryan H thanks for the prompt reply.

@lil2be - I have initially ask a recruiter and told me that I should be ok but entering the NAvy prior to filling AOS i-485 they can not give me an answer as i will need to move my status to from conditional to regular IRI status and that being said will show on my green card a 10 year validity once approved.

@Ryan H - Yes i have my green card and its valid until march 2015, i came here married for less than 2 years that is why USCIS put me on Conditional status. 90 before March 2015 estimate December 2014 i should file for AOS. my interest in joining the NAvy is really high and since time is of the essence and my age is what i have to consider too but first and foremost to be able to advance and move to this career I have to get a clear knowledge that i am working my way to Navy without Hurting the CR1 status and the process that USCIS had set up for all immigrant applicant/current green card holders. After all pushing for a career in the military is complying to every single requirements and processes that each agency had put in place... being a law abiding/obedient immigrant is what i intend to be as well.

[apple21 953]

What you will file is Removal of Conditions (ROC). Form i751.

Edited May 28, 2014 by apple21

[Tera Fight 0]

thanks apple21 yes its the ROC that i need to file i-751. Any idea if I need this settled before i can join the Navy or enter into any military career for that matter. thanks.

[teanet 20]

I found this article http://www.navycs.com/blogs/2011/02/02/navy-citizenship-requirements

there is written part about conditional resident.

[Tera Fight 0]

Thank you so much Teanet i got it all the informations i needed. everything was listed and explained clearly there. thank you for your help. Thank you for all those who took their time to respond to my inquiry. You guys are amazing.

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

I'm planning on joining too! I already spoke with a couple of recruiters and started getting in shape! Best of luck!

[funkymunky 11]

I'm planning on going AF and saw the recruiter 2 days ago. He says you must have the 10yr GC in hand, pretty much can't even sit the ASVAB without it. They will only meet with you and do a standard evaluation (BMI, med history, criminal record etc.).

You should as note that you can only pick from enlisted jobs and not officer jobs on a GC. When you graduate boot, you will be able to file naturalization and will of cos entitled to help with the filing process from the military legal office. Also you must now score at least a 50 on the ASVAB on for all of them.

Edited July 11, 2014 by funkymunky

[funkymunky 11]

Btw he also mentioned the DEP is pretty much a waste of time since they can afford to be more picky right now and they don't want to spend the extra time processing it vs. someone who is equally qualified. His exact words were you better be damn special if you try it. Lol

[Tera Fight 0]

Hi Adrian-Gloria - Thanks for the well wishes. Who knows we can be classmates. I need a little push and loose weight. Good Luck too.

@funkymunky - Thank you for the insights, the recruiter did not tell me this he said just need to work on all the paper works for entry and make sure no lapses on my stay validity part. I will check and verify info with him again or maybe get one more opinion from another recruiter to confirm everything. Thanks.

[JoBri 545]

I have a short memory I guess, and find that the immigration issues that I was so focused on and studious about so quickly fade from my memory. But anyways, my wife had already adjusted status when she joined. But I think you just need to be a green card holder. She tried to naturalize while in basic training, as she should have been able to do, but the Air Force doesnt seem so "keen" about that. The Army is better about that. I think the Navy is pretty good about it too. So, although it was disappointing that they didnt let her naturalize while at basic training, she applied for naturalization immediately after basic training. We didnt have to pay a fee... it was free. We applied early in June 2013. It was expedited since she was in the military. By early August (just 2 months wait time) she had her interview and naturalization ceremony the same day. Of all the June filers she was the first to naturalize. As far as military career goes, so many jobs in the Air Force require a secret clearance. You have to be a US Citizen to get a Secret Clearance. So she had to settle for a job that did not require citizenship. She is working on becoming a nurse now, so I think once she finishes that she will put in for a different technical school, most likely in medical, now that she is a citizen.

Came here under CR1 visa and by December I should be drafting and preparing for i-485 for adjustment of status. Iam 33 yrs old and wish to get enlisted in active service in U.S Navy. I will be turning 34 this year December (cut off for age requirement). My question can I join the military before filing AOS and what is my best option. Second, will the visa allow me to get into a military career and how do I go about the application once I have entered. Can paper work be done by a third party say relative or friend while Iam on training. And lastly, how will it affect my status. And please do share any story or advise for me to aid in making the right choices. Appreciate your most valuable reply and comments.

[MichelleNGeorge 10]

I'm currently in the enlistment process with a projected MEPS date. I already had to go through lots of steps and stages of both USCIS and Military requirements. I got my GC expedited due to the needs of the Army and several memos and Job reservations.

-To the user who said he can't take the ASVAB since he needs the 10 year GC... your recruiter is probably fooling you. I took my ASVAB with a bloody EAD/AP my AOS was still pending...

- To the user who had language skills but was denied from the Army due to his age. You were probably fooled as well. The Army (active duty, reserves as well as National Guard) accept applicants to the age of 35! If you're older, a waiver can be granted ESPECIALLY since the Army needs language skills BADLY! (I'm in the same boat with the language skills). Plus there is the MAVNI program that recruits legal foreign nationals even without GC beyond the age of 35.

- The OP himself should definitely apply RIGHT NOW! It would be under gods grace if you get in with 34! Just because the navy says you are allowed to join with 34, doesn't mean you will definitely get in The Navy is very picky about who they take! The slots are competitive and I would hurry up and join now! Because once you turn 35... good luck. As far as I know you must be still 34 prior to shipping to Navy RTC (recruit training centre)! So the DEP which is quite long in the navy (3-6 months) could ruin it for you. Make sure to hurry up.

EDIT: I highly recommend you to look into the ratings that are open to you as non citizen! The jobs that are open to me, kept me from joining. Maybe you do not know what ratings are open to you, so I'll post the link. Make sure you go through the ratings! Another thing about the navy... If you think you'll get the job you want... ehhh wrong! You go to MEPS, talk to the career guy and he will tell you whats open to you and what slots are generally open. He will offer you a few jobs from the list i'm about to post and you better pick on he offers you. If you don't he will kindly ask you to leave and never come back to enlist into the Navy. Thats the bad thing about the great Navy! While on the other hand, the Army has PLENTY jobs open to non citizen. You even get a job reservation prior to MEPS so that you get the job you want 100%. Hey but thats none of my business! Also, Navy is awesome if you like ship! Prepare to have a first sea tour of 48 months followed by a shore tour of 36 months. If you like being of a ship for months, and then be home for a month prior to being on a ship for months again, you will love the Navy!

Here the list of the jobs open to you in the navy I hope i could help!

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/noncitizen.-uI6.htm

Edited September 6, 2014 by MichelleNGeorge