CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
In an effort to provide a more streamlined naturalization process for military members, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is currently working with the Charleston AFB Legal Office and 437th Force Support Squadron to bring naturalization services directly to service members and their dependants.
Prior to this initiative, service members and their families had to travel to the nearest USCIS office in order to complete certain steps in becoming a U.S. citizen. The nearest USCIS is downtown Charleston.
Jerri Adair, USCIS field office director in Charleston, said that this change will now allow naturalization interviews and ceremonies to be conducted on base for active-duty service members and their dependants, rather than having Airmen travel to a USCIS office.
In addition to providing naturalization services directly on base, Ms. Adair said that USCIS can also offer opportunities in the future to answer any immigration or paperwork questions that active-duty members and their families might have.
Bringing these services to Charleston AFB not only helps to expedite the naturalization process for Airmen and their families, but it also provides the base with a direct USCIS point of contact for these processes.
"Having an immigration specialist, such as Ms. Adair, as a point of contact for the base provides opportunities for the expert to walk individuals through the naturalization forms and help track the forms as they flow through the system, so that individuals get an expedited route to citizenship," said Brad Stanley, Chief of Civil Law.
"Currently, FSS is identifying non-citizen Charleston Airmen through the Military Personnel Data System in order to assist the base legal office in contacting those Airmen and informing them about the naturalization services now available on base," said Capt. Lori Tisdale, 437 FSS Military Personnel chief.
Active-duty Airmen and their dependants at Charleston AFB interested in becoming U.S. citizens can stop by the legal office to speak with Mr. Stanley or call him at 963-5502 for more information and assistance or visit the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov.
After contacting the legal office, Mr. Stanley will connect interested Airmen and their families with USCIS to begin the steps toward naturalization.