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Serving in the United States Army can be an attractive career path and route to permanent residency or citizenship for many immigrants. While citizenship is never guaranteed, the military branches do offer certain pathways for non-citizens to enlist with potential visa sponsorship. However, there are specific eligibility criteria one must meet in order to be considered. In this in-depth guide, we will explore the requirements for immigrants interested in pursuing Army work with visa help.
Basic Eligibility
The first criterion is having legal status within the US. Undocumented immigrants cannot join the Army. To be eligible, you generally must have one of the following:
- Green Card (Lawful Permanent Resident): Green card holders are eligible to enlist so long as they meet all other Army standards.
- Refugee or Asylee Status: Individuals granted asylum or refugee status may enlist after one year of continuous residency in the US.
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Beneficiaries of TPS are also permitted to join the military.
- DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): DACA recipients meeting Army medical and conduct standards can request to enlist via the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program with a National Interest Waiver.
In addition, most recruits must be a residents of the US for at least two years prior to enlisting. There are some exceptions for critical occupation waivers, which we will explore later. You also need to be a high school graduate, between the ages of 17-35, and pass the military entrance exam known as the ASVAB. Finally, meeting physical, medical, and conduct standards is imperative.
Pathways for Visa Sponsorship
If you meet the basic eligibility requirements, there are a few ways the Army may sponsor your immigration process:
Expedited Naturalization
For LPRs and DACA recipients who enlist, there is a path to apply for citizenship through expedited naturalization. This aims to reward your military service. You must serve honorably for at least 180 days of active duty, meet good moral character standards, and be discharged under honorable conditions.
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Permanent Residence through Military Service
The Army can directly adjust your status to a Green Card through Form I-551 if you enlist under a special immigration program. One option is MAVNI, which recruits non-citizens with critical foreign language skills or special medical training. Another path is through the National Interest Waiver if your skills are deemed vital to national security.
Family Visa Sponsorship
Sponsors like citizenship through marriage or family ties with a US citizen can also petition for relatives seeking a Green Card. If approved for permanent residency this way, you may then enlist once obtaining a Green Card. However, the military cannot directly assist with family visa petitions.
Critical Occupation Waivers
For occupations facing high demand but short supply, the military may grant waivers of certain requirements to qualified non-citizens. This includes exemptions from the two-year residency rule for those with specialized language abilities in Arabic, Mandarin, Farsi and more. Medical skills like nursing are also regularly waived occupations.
Let’s explore some of these immigration programs in further detail.
Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI)
Established in 2009, MAVNI recruits non-citizens deemed important to national security via their specialized skills. This includes individuals who:
- Speak a foreign language critically needed like Arabic, Chinese, Korean or Farsi, and trained to a minimum Interagency Language Roundtable Level 2 proficiency.
- Have specialized medical training in fields facing shortages such as physicians or dentists with a valid, active, full, and unrestricted license.
To qualify under MAVNI, a National Interest Waiver must be granted based on your language and occupational abilities. Advanced education, certifications, and at minimum a lawful non-immigrant status like DACA are typically needed to receive the waiver. Selected recruits can enlist and may apply for permanent residency through military service.
Citizenship applications are expedited post-enlistment under MAVNI as well. However, MAVNI recruitment was suspended between 2017-2019 due to security screening challenges. It has since resumed on a limited, case-by-case basis depending on needed skill.
Critical Occupation Waivers
Given the high demand and short supply in certain specialized fields, the military may waive typical recruitment requirements like residency duration. This allows otherwise qualified immigrants to enlist sooner and gain citizenship through service.
Some active critical occupations waivers include:
- Arabic cryptologic linguists (35P)
- Chinese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, and other strategic language translators/interpreters (35M/35P)
- Nurses and respiratory therapists within healthcare fields (68 series)
- Medical professionals like physicians, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists
To qualify, foreign language ability must test to ILR level 2 proficiency minimum and any professional licenses must remain valid. Criminal and background clearances are still performed. Critical occupation waivers can adjust entry requirements to recruit needed skills immediately.
Seeking Advanced Education
While not required, attaining higher education is one way to enhance an application for visa sponsorship. For MAVNI, having advanced degrees related to qualifying occupations strengthens national interest justifications.
Similarly, critical skills and specialties holding an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree provide more value to the Army. This demonstrates stronger English proficiency, cultural adaptability, and advanced training important for commissioning opportunities as well. education also satisfies some security screening considerations.
Community college or vocational programs in fields like nursing, computer science, engineering, and foreign languages help meet critical needs. Applying for scholarships through ROTC or enlisting while finishing post-secondary studies could open up additional options upon graduation. Ultimately, more education expands eligibility for pathways to citizenship through military service.
Army Jobs & Positions Salary Table by State for Immigrant
Here is a draft salary table comparing estimated annual salaries for various Army jobs and positions by state for an immigrant service member:
| State | Private (E-1) | Specialist (E-4) | Sergeant (E-5) | Lieutenant (O-1) | Captain (O-3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $21,000 | $29,000 | $31,000 | $56,000 | $74,000 |
| Alaska | $21,000 | $30,000 | $33,000 | $59,000 | $77,000 |
| Arizona | $21,000 | $29,000 | $31,000 | $56,000 | $74,000 |
| Arkansas | $21,000 | $29,000 | $31,000 | $56,000 | $74,000 |
| California | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Colorado | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Connecticut | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Delaware | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Florida | $21,000 | $29,000 | $31,000 | $56,000 | $74,000 |
| Georgia | $21,000 | $29,000 | $31,000 | $56,000 | $74,000 |
| Hawaii | $21,000 | $30,000 | $33,000 | $59,000 | $77,000 |
| Idaho | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Illinois | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Indiana | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $30,000 | $32,000 | $58,000 | $76,000 |
This table provides a sample comparison of estimated annual salaries that an immigrant soldier could expect to earn in different Army roles across various states. Salaries vary slightly depending on location due to state Cost of Living Allowances (COLA).
How to Apply for an Army Job as an Immigrant
For more information about Army jobs for immigrants, including visa sponsorship programs, entry requirements, and the application process, please visit the following resources:
- U.S. Army website: https://www.army.mil/
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/
- MAVNI Program: https://www.stilt.com/blog/2021/06/mavni-program/
- MEDREP Program: https://www.army.mil/ArmyMedicine
- LINS Program: https://www.armyproperty.com/linList.html
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