8-14, 2007, 12:36AM
U.S. military gets immigration help line

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 51645.html

DALLAS — Military members trying to check on immigration petitions for themselves or their families can now call a toll-free help line designated especially for them, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Monday.

Troops and their families can call 877-CIS-4MIL for information from Citizenship and Immigration Services staff whether they are in the United States or overseas.

They can find out about citizenship procedures, change their address or duty station; check on the status of a pending petition; receive information on bringing a spouse, fiancee or child to the U.S.; or submit an application for expedited processing.

Only people with legal status can join the U.S. military. About 40,000 non-U.S. citizens are serving in the military.

Immigrant military members who served honorably while on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, can immediately file for citizenship, bypassing a five-year waiting period.