The Adjusted Residency for Military Service (ARMS) Act Fast Facts

The Adjusted Residency for Military Service (ARMS) Act will provide the opportunity to adjust the residency status of individuals who join the United States Armed Forces and meet certain criteria.
ARMS Act applicants are granted conditional non-immigrant status and are not subject to deportation through the Secretary of Homeland Security for five years if the individual filing:
• Shows intent to enlist and get accepted into a branch of the United States Armed Forces
• Obtained a high school diploma or an equivalent
• Arrived in the United States before the age of 16
• Maintained residence in the United States for the preceding five consecutive years
• Has demonstrated “good moral conduct” as defined by U.S. Code Title 8 Section 1227(a)
The individual’s non-immigrant status will be revoked if he or she:
• Does not enlist and get accepted into a branch of the United States Armed Forces within nine months of having their status adjusted
• Fails to continue demonstrating “good moral conduct”
• Becomes a public charge as an individual who is primarily dependant on the government for subsistence
• Receives a dishonorable discharge or other than honorable discharge from the Armed Forces
Following the initial five year conditional status period, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall extend the individual’s non-immigrant status for an additional five years if he or she:
• Has served at least two years on active duty status, or at least four years reserved status, or was otherwise honorably discharged
• Continues to demonstrate “good moral conduct”
• Has maintained residence in the United States (absences for military service abroad are excused)
Upon receiving the non-immigrant status extension, the conditional non-immigrant may file to have their status changed to permanent resident.


• Currently, immigrants without legal status cannot enlist in the United States military. The ARMS Act would provide them the opportunity to serve and to earn legal status.
• The ARMS Act does not ensure automatic residency. Applicants must meet a set of criteria and demonstrate good moral conduct and a record of service to the United States.
• The ARMS Act requires the applicant to demonstrate at least 10 years of “good moral conduct”; five years before applying for conditional non-immigrant status and five years during the conditional status period, before they are eligible to apply for legal permanent residency status.
• The ARMS Act requires the individual to enlist in the military within nine months of applying for adjusted conditional status, and that they serve a minimum of two years on active duty, or four years in the reserves, or be honorably discharged, to be eligible for an extension of non-immigrant status and eligibility to apply for legal permanent residency status.
• The applicant’s non-immigrant status can be revoked if they do not enlist in the military within the prescribed time period, do not continue to demonstrate “good moral conduct”, become a public charge dependant on the government or receive anything other than an honorable discharge.

let's call the republicans bluff and get some heavyweights to cosponsor the bill.

So I can apply for permanent residency 5 years after enlisting in the military? And how long does it take to get permanent residency? Overall, it will take more than 10 years before USC?

It takes ten years just to become a resident. Then another five to become a citizen. Man in 15 years I can marry and divorce twice. The only good thing is that it would let you be a reserve so I would do it. Since being part of the reserve you just go one weekend a month and if you are call to service then you do two years.

Compared to Durbin's DREAM Act, how stringet do you think it is? For some reason, the good moral character section seems a little more intense.

I am not complaining; I am clean. I am just comparing two bills.

Five years to residency; eight to citizenship.

4 years in the reserves is nothing wtf are you bitches complaining about?! walk in the park baby. pick up your skirts, grab your balls and lets pass this fuckin thing!!!!!!!!!!

lol this bill is absolutely ridiculous. It's never going to get Democratic support.

10 years of being their mutt before I can get a GC? Then another 5 for USC?

and what about dreamers who don't make the cut? What if they don't have the skill or ability to get accepted into the armed forces?

At least pass a STEM act along with it or something. Leaving out the college graduates is bad.