I'm posting this on the behalf of my girlfriend:

She's 19, lived in the US since she was 5, all schooling was done in the US, aced honors classes, has a passion for languages (was bored with college level language courses when she was in high-school, just to give you a perspective), very bright (not only 'book smart') was accepted into Wesley college, but couldn't go or afford it being that her mother only made 10k a year. Her mother being the very supportive type kicked my girlfriend out of the house out of the blue. [no she didn't do anything wrong there's no way to explain some of the actions her mother makes] That's a little background to get a feel.

So after her college dreams were crushed she decided to pursue the Navy with the hopes of doing CTI (cryptologist/linguist). She took her Asvab and got a 96 (automatically qualifying for Nuclear), passed medical, but when it came to chose a rating, she couldn't because she's a non US citizen. Something her recruiter didn't know about the rating she wanted. Now she's kind of stranded, looking at ratings for non US citizens, and they're almost pathetic. For example she cannot be a photographer, but she can be a photographer's 'mate'. Most of those ratings are also physical labor, or jobs where smarts are not always the most important thing. [I am in no way saying that all technicians and the like are dumb, it's a trade, they're great careers if you're into that.]

She would like to get her citizen ship but that could take up to several years to get processed and she doesn't have the money to get it on her own. The local naval recruiting office is very interested in her, but they can't do much to help.

What is the shortest amount of time the Navy could Expedite the citizenship? She is not looking forward to being stuck with a rating that she has no interest in.

Any advice, I'm just a concerned Boyfriend trying to do my part, any help/advice would be appreciated.

End of Novel.

Did she come to the U.S. with her mother or was she adopted from overseas? If she was adopted then it is an "automatic" process to become a citizen. It will take about 4-6 months but there is no test or anything else. If she immigrated with her mother then it is a different situation. If that is the case, is her mother a naturalized citizen? I believe it is easier for the child to become a citizen if the parents have been naturalized.

As far as the Navy expediting, that doesn't really happen other than eliminating the waiting period. It's still the same process of filling out the forms and waiting for ICE to process them.

If she chooses to enlist before obtaining citizenship, she could enlist as something like LS (formerly SK and PC) and then request to change ratings after obtaining citizenship. It might be easier, though, just to get the citizenship thing cleared up before joining. The fact that she has lived here since age 5 may make things go a little faster.

quote:

If she chooses to enlist before obtaining citizenship, she could enlist as something like LS (formerly SK and PC) and then request to change ratings after obtaining citizenship. It might be easier, though, just to get the citizenship thing cleared up before joining. The fact that she has lived here since age 5

That's kind of what I was thinking, but she seems hates when I'm right, go figure.

Her (biological) mother is not a us citizen either, which will make things harder. The reason she wants to join before is because the Navy will help with the application fees.

I'll have a talk with her about this.

Thank you, for your help.

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Her (biological) mother is not a us citizen either, which will make things harder.

Which country is her mother from?

The reason I ask is because of this little ditty when it comes to CTI's;

quote:

Prospective CTIs must be a U.S. citizen and all immediate family members of certain countries must be U.S. Citizens.

The NPC/CTI site does not state which countries those are and I did not do a search to try to find them.
Just a heads up.

BoatsBM1

She couldn't get college loans or scholarships? She should have at least filled out the FAFSA and been eligible for something, as there is an "eligible noncitizen" section

quote:

❏ Eligible noncitizen Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are:
• A permanent U.S. resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551);
• A conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or
• The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee” (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), “Victim of human trafficking,” T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant.”

If her mom is that poor, then she should diffinately qualify.