I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1806
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to change the requirements 
for naturalization to citizenship through service in the Armed Forces 
of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 11, 2003
Mr. PUTNAM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to change 
the requirements for naturalization to citizenship through 
service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS 
FOR NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE IN 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall en-
sure that applications for naturalization through service 
in the Armed Forces of the United States under sections
328, 329, and 329A shall be expedited to the greatest ex-
tent possible and shall be given priority consideration over 
all other applications for naturalization by the Bureau of 
Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
(b) VERIFICATION
OF MILITARY RECORDS.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that verifications of mili-
tary records required for the consideration of application 
for naturalization through service in the Armed Forces of 
the United States under sections 328, 329, and 329A of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act are provided as expe-
ditiously as possible. 
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURALIZATION TO CITIZEN-
SHIP THROUGH SERVICE IN THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) PERIOD OF REQUIRED SERVICE REDUCED TO 1 
YEAR.—Section 328(a) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘one’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON IMPOSITION OF FEES RELAT-
ING TO NATURALIZATION.—Section 328(b) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439(b)) is amend-
ed—
(1) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(2) by adding after paragraph (3) the following:
‘‘(4) notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, no fee shall be charged or collected from the ap-
plicant for filing an application under subsection (a) 
or issuing a certificate of naturalization upon admis-
sion to citizenship, and no clerk of any State court 
shall charge or collect any fee for such services un-
less the laws of the State require such charge to be 
made, in which case nothing more than the portion 
of the fee required to be paid to the State shall be 
charged or collected.’’. 
(c) CONDUCT
OF NATURALIZATION PROCEEDINGS 
OVERSEAS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF 
THE UNITED STATES.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Sec-
retary of State, and the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure 
that any applications, interviews, filings, oaths, cere-
monies, or other proceedings under title III of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act relating to naturalization of 
members of the Armed Forces are available through 
United States embassies and consulates and, as prac-
ticable, United States military installations overseas.
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