To amend section 1059(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to clarify that a period of employment abroad by the Chief of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, interpreter, or in a security-related position in an executive or managerial capacity is to be counted as a period of residence and physical presence in the United States for purposes of qualifying for naturalization, and for other purposes.
PL 112-227 (H.R.6223), enacted 12/28/2012

126 STAT. 1608 
PUBLIC LAW 112–227—DEC. 28, 2012 
Public Law 112–227 
112th Congress 
An Act 
To amend section 1059(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2006 to clarify that a period of employment abroad by the Chief of Mission 
or United States Armed Forces as a translator, interpreter, or in a security- 
related position in an executive or managerial capacity is to be counted as a 
period of residence and physical presence in the United States for purposes 
of qualifying for naturalization, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO ABSENCE FROM THE 
UNITED STATES DUE TO CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT BY 
CHIEF OF MISSION OR ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1059(e) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) NATURALIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A period of absence from the United 
States described in paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(A) shall not be considered to break any period for 
which continuous residence or physical presence in the 
United States is required for naturalization under title 
III of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 
et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) shall be treated as a period of residence and 
physical presence in the United States for purposes of 
satisfying the requirements for naturalization under such 
title. 
‘‘(2) PERIOD OF ABSENCE DESCRIBED.—A period of absence 
described in this paragraph is a period of absence from the 
United States due to a person’s employment by the Chief of 
Mission or United States Armed Forces, under contract with 
the Chief of Mission or United States Armed Forces, or by 
a firm or corporation under contract with the Chief of Mission 
or United States Armed Forces, if— 
‘‘(A) such employment involved supporting the Chief 
of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, 
interpreter, or in a security-related position in an executive 
or managerial capacity; and 
‘‘(B) the person spent at least a portion of the time 
outside the United States working directly with the Chief 
of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, 
interpreter, or in a security-related position in an executive 
or managerial capacity.’’. 
Dec. 28, 2012 
[H.R. 6223] 
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126 STAT. 1609 
PUBLIC LAW 112–227—DEC. 28, 2012 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6223: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): 
Dec. 5, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 17, considered and passed Senate. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 1059(e) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 
(8 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
Approved December 28, 2012. 
8 USC 1101 note. 
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