The U.S. government will request military service records for you if you are seeking a family or marriage-based green card from outside the United States and served in any nation’s army. They are the ones you will need to confirm in the “Employment History” field of your green card application (Form DS-260).
You will learn in this guide where and how to request a certified copy of your military records, whether you were in the U.S. military or abroad. We’ll show you what you need to do and provide advice on getting these documents.
If You Require Military Documents To Apply For A Green Card, Why?
Military documentation forms an important component of your green card application if you are outside the U.S. They’re used to confirm your military service and that the information you submit about your service is correct. These files are used by the U.S. government to verify dates, branches, and rank of your service and for anything that may impact your green card status.
You will need to provide your military records to the National Visa Center (NVC) following your Online Green Card Application (DS-260), and you will need to bring those documents with you to your green card interview.
Who Will Have To Submit Military Records?
A foreigner seeking a green card needs military records. If you are applying from the U.S., military records don’t count. This is especially critical if family members or spouses have an international green card application. – You’ll have to submit the records to the National Visa Center and bring them with you to the visa interview.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for a marriage green card, Law and Visas can check your case and guide you through the application process.
What Should Military Records Include?
Your military records will want to show these:
Nation/Region of Employment: Where you worked in the military.
Branch of Service: The military branch you served in (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) ).
Class or Position: Where you served.
Military Field of Specialization: Your military field of specialization.
Periods of Service: Your military service start and end dates.
Verhalten in the Line of Duty: A record of your behavior during the line of duty.
Also, if you were convicted of anything while serving, this should be written in the records. If you were discharged, retired, or retired from the military, your discharge certificate is required, too.
Where Can You Check Your Military Records?
What you will need to know to get military records if you were a soldier in the US or abroad.
For U.S. Armed Forces Veterans:
: If you were a US military servicemember, you can request military records through the military record authority, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Veterans can request their information via eVetRecs online or by filling out Form SF-180, which can be sent to us by fax or mail.
Your Service (full name, Social Security Number, and Service Dates) will be asked. The NPRC website provides more details on how to request this.
: If you are in the military now, or retired/discharged, visit the U.S. National Archives website for instructions on how to locate your records. It has documents separated by a branch of service so you know exactly where to look.
For Foreign Military Service:
You have to ask your military records to the right government department of that country if you had any service in another nation. The U.S. Department of State lists foreign military documents with the name of the person issuing them, the cost, and how to request an official copy.
To check, go to the State Department website, search for your country’s first letter, and select your country. Then click the “Military Records” link to learn all about requesting your records.
How To Get Military Documents When My Military Documents Aren’t in English?
if your military records are written in a language other than English, then you will need to send a certified English translation of the documents. You must have a translator in place who can test the translation.
What If I Lost My Military Records?
If you can’t find or access your military service records, you will have to sign a notarized affidavit of why the records aren’t available. This affidavit is a written description of the reason you’re not getting the documents.
Only in cases where military records are not permitted by the rules of a particular country are you not required to provide them. If so, you can communicate that to the US government in your green card application.
Are Non-citizens Legally able to Enter the U.S. Military?
Some immigrants can enlist in the US military, but only with certain qualifications:
U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card): You need to have a green card.
Languages: You have to speak, read, and write English.
Not only that, but you are not going to enter the U.S. military to get into the US or get a visa. If you already are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), then you should be already an enlisted person.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take For Military Records To Arrive?
When your military records are ready, they take time depending on the site where they’re stored and how you request them. It could take weeks to months for military veterans, so if you are applying for a green card, be sure to plan accordingly.
Why Do I Have To Give My Military Records Away?
If you have tried everything to get your military documents and still cannot, you will have to submit a notarized statement saying why. And if military records aren’t public due to a country’s law, you won’t be evicted for not posting them.
Should I Have Military Records to Apply for a Green Card If I Worked in an Offshore Country?
Oh, yeah, you’ll need to show that record if you had military service in another country when you applied for a green card. The U.S. government has to check all military service, regardless of where you went.
Get Started On Your Green Card Process With Law and Visas.
Military records can be a very important component of your green card application if you’re coming from overseas. If you’re a spouse of a U.S. military service member or an ex-military, with the right documentation, it will be easier.
We at Law and Visas assist you with the green card process which includes helping you get all the documents such as military records. So get started today to get your green card application completed and submitted.
Know how to get and submit your military records correctly so you don’t have to fight them, and proceed with peace of mind in your green card journey.
