Ensuring Security for Military Spouses Act
The Ensuring Security for Military Spouses Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove the usual three-month residency requirement for naturalization for a specific group: spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty at a location within the United States. In practical terms, if an individual is a lawful permanent resident married to a service member on active duty in the U.S., they would not have to satisfy the state residency (and the related service-district residency) requirement that would otherwise apply before applying for naturalization. The bill preserves all other naturalization requirements (e.g., moral character, English and civics knowledge) but waives the residency clock for this group. The short title of the bill is the “Ensuring Security for Military Spouses Act.” As introduced, it would be added to the INA by creating a new subsection (f) under Section 319. The sponsor identified is in the House, with the bill referred to the Judiciary Committee; the text indicates it is an introductory measure and not yet law.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new waiver: The three-month state residency requirement for naturalization would not apply to certain military spouses.
- 2Eligibility scope: Applies specifically to spouses of active-duty Armed Forces members who are serving at a location within the United States and who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
- 3Scope of the waiver: The waiver covers residency requirements in both the state and the service district; those particular residency rules would not apply to these spouses.
- 4Other requirements remain: All other naturalization requirements (such as age, good moral character, English and civics knowledge, etc.) continue to apply.
- 5Legislative status: Introduced in the 119th Congress (May 13, 2025), referred to the House Judiciary Committee; not yet enacted.