8 USC § 1443a - Naturalization proceedings overseas for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t8/s1443a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "8 USC § 1443a - Naturalization proceedings overseas for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children"
title_number: 8
title_name: "ALIENS AND NATIONALITY"
section_number: "1443a"
section_name: "Naturalization proceedings overseas for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "Nationality Through Naturalization"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(d), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 674(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 186.)"
---


# § 1443a. Naturalization proceedings overseas for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children

8 U.S.C. 14018 U.S.C. 1430(e)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any applications, interviews, filings, oaths, ceremonies, or other proceedings under title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( et seq.) relating to naturalization of members of the Armed Forces, and persons made eligible for naturalization by section 319(e) or 322(d) of such Act [, 1433(d)], are available through United States embassies, consulates, and as practicable, United States military installations overseas.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(d), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 674(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 186.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in text, is , . Title III of the Act is classified principally to subchapter III (§ 1401 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, and not as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2008— inserted “and their spouses and children” after “Armed Forces” in section catchline and “, and persons made eligible for naturalization by section 319(e) or 322(d) of such Act,” after “Armed Forces” in text.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , and applicable to any application for naturalization or issuance of a certificate of citizenship pending on or after such date, see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date

Section effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 2003 Amendment note under .

### Finalization of Naturalization Proceedings for Members of the Armed Forces

> **“(1)** A high priority for grant of emergency leave.
> 
> **“(2)** A high priority for transportation on aircraft of, or chartered by, the Armed Forces.”

, , , provided that: