(c) TRAINING FOR RECRUITERS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that all recruiters in the Armed 
Forces receive training regarding— 
(1) the steps required for a noncitizen member 
of the Armed Forces to receive citizenship; 
(2) limitations on the path to citizenship for 
family members of such individuals; and 
(3) points of contact at the Department of 
Homeland Security to resolve emergency immigra-
tion-related situations with respect to such individ-
uals and their family members. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary of each mili-
tary department shall annually submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the number of all 
noncitizens who enlisted or were appointed in the military 
department concerned, all members of the Armed Forces 
in their department who naturalized, and all members of 
the Armed Forces in their department who were dis-
charged or released without United States citizenship 
under the jurisdiction of such Secretary during the pre-
ceding year. 
(e) FURTHER FACILITATION NATURALIZATION FOR 
MILITARY PERSONNEL IN CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.— 
Any person who has served honorably as a member of the 
Armed Forces of the United States in support of a contin-
gency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 
10, United States Code), and who, if separated from the 
Armed Forces, was separated under honorable conditions, 
may be naturalized as provided in section 329 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) as though 
the person had served during a period designated by the 
President under such section. 
(f) NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE
IN
THE 
ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.—Section 328 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘six months’’ 
and inserting ‘‘one year’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘six months’’ 
and inserting ‘‘one year’’. 
SEC. 6. INFORMATION FOR MILITARY RECRUITS REGARD-
ING NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE IN 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall ensure that there 
is stationed or employed at each Military Entrance Proc-
essing Station— 
(1) an employee of U.S. Citizenship and Immi-
gration Services; or
(2) in the case that the Secretary determines 
that it is impracticable to station or employ a person 
described in paragraph (1) at a Military Entrance 
Processing Station, a member of the Armed Forces 
or an employee of the Department of Defense— 
(A) whom the Secretary determines is 
trained in the immigration laws; and 
(B) who shall inform each military recruit 
who is not a citizen of the United States proc-
essed at such Military Entrance Processing Sta-
tion regarding naturalization through service in 
the Armed Forces under sections 328 and 329 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1439–1440). 
SEC. 7. RETURN OF ELIGIBLE VETERANS REMOVED FROM 
THE UNITED STATES; ADJUSTMENT OF STA-
TUS. 
(a) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—In the case of a noncit-
izen who has been issued a final order of removal, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, may, notwithstanding such 
order of removal, adjust that noncitizen’s status to that 
of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or 
admit such noncitizen for lawful permanent residence if 
the Secretary determines that such noncitizen is a veteran 
and, consistent with subsection (b), is not inadmissible.
(b) WAIVER.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—In the case of a noncitizen 
veteran described in subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Homeland Security may waive any applicable ground 
of inadmissibility under section 212(a) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) 
(other than paragraphs (3) and (2)(H) of such sec-
tion 212(a), a finding of inadmissibility under para-
graph (2)(A) based on a conviction of an aggravated 
felony described in subparagraph (A), (I), or (K) of 
section 101(a)(43) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(43)), or 5 con-
victions for driving while intoxicated (including a 
conviction for driving while under the influence of or 
imparied by alcohol or drugs) unless the conviction 
is older than 25 years, if the Secretary determines 
that it is in the public interest. 
(2) PUBLIC
INTEREST
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
determining whether a waiver described in para-
graph (1) is in the public interest, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall consider factors including 
the noncitizen’s service in the Armed Forces, and 
the recency and severity of any offense or conduct 
that forms the basis of a finding of inadmissibility 
under section 212(a) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)).
(c) PROCEDURES.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security shall, by rule, establish procedures to carry 
out this section. 
(d) NO NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.—Individuals who 
are granted lawful permanent residence under this section 
shall not be subject to the numerical limitations under sec-
tion 201, 202, or 203 of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1151, 1152, or 1153). 
(e) CLARIFICATION.—If a noncitizen veteran’s status 
is adjusted under this section to that of an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence, or if such noncitizen 
is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, such adjust-
ment or admission shall create a presumption that the 
noncitizen has established good moral character under 
paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 101(f) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(f)). 
(f) LIMITATION ON REMOVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A noncitizen who appears to 
be prima facie eligible for lawful permanent resident 
status under this section shall be given a reasonable 
opportunity to apply for such status. Such noncit-
izen shall not be removed from the United States 
until a final administrative decision establishing in-
eligibility for such status is rendered.
(2) EFFECT OF FINAL ORDER.—A noncitizen 
present in the United States who has been ordered 
removed or has been permitted to depart voluntarily 
from the United States may, notwithstanding such 
order or permission to depart, apply for lawful per-
manent resident status under this section. Such non-
citizen shall not be required to file a separate motion 
to reopen, reconsider, or vacate the order of removal. 
If the Secretary of Homeland Security approves the 
application, the Secretary shall notify the Attorney 
General of such approval, and the Attorney General 
shall cancel the order of removal. If the Secretary 
renders a final administrative decision to deny the 
application, the order of removal or permission to 
depart shall be effective and enforceable to the same 
extent as if the application had not been made, only 
after all available administrative and judicial rem-
edies have been exhausted. 
SEC. 8. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR CERTAIN IMMEDIATE 
RELATIVES 
OF 
UNITED 
STATES 
CITIZEN 
SERVICE MEMBERS OR VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of an application for 
adjustment of status pursuant to an approved petition for 
classification under section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)), an 
alien described in subsection (b)— 
(1) is be deemed to have been inspected and ad-
mitted into the United States; and 
(2) shall not be subject to paragraphs (6)(A), 
(6)(C), (7)(A), and (9) of section 212(a) of such Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1182(a)). 
(b) ALIEN DESCRIBED.—An alien is described in sub-
section (a) if the alien is the beneficiary of an approved 
petition for classification under section 204(a)(1)(A) of 
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1154(a)(1)(A)) as an immediate relative (as defined in 
section 
201(b)(2)(A)(i) 
of 
such 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1151(b)(2)(A)(i))) of a citizen of the United States who— 
(1) served, for a minimum of 2 years, on active 
duty in the Armed Forces or in a reserve component 
of the United States Armed Forces; and 
(2) if discharged or released from service in the 
Armed Forces, was discharged or released under 
honorable conditions. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the Military Family Immi-
gration Advisory Committee established pursuant to 
section 4. 
(2) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate; 
(D) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate; 
(E) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives; 
(F) the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives; 
(G) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(H) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives. 
(3) 
ARMED
FORCES.—The 
term 
‘‘Armed 
Forces’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘armed 
forces’’ in section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code.
(4) COVERED
FAMILY
MEMBER.—The term 
‘‘covered family member’’ means the noncitizen 
spouse or noncitizen child of— 
(A) a member of the Armed Forces; or 
(B) a veteran. 
(5) IMMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘‘immigra-
tion laws’’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101). 
(6) 
NONCITIZEN.—The 
term 
‘‘noncitizen’’ 
means an individual who is not a citizen or national 
of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a))). 
(7) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code.
SEC. 10. REGULATIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland shall promul-
gate regulations to implement this Act. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 
2022. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7946 
AN ACT 
To provide benefits for noncitizen members of the 
Armed Forces, and for other purposes.