Does the Department offer help to spouses who wish to naturalize?
Yes. The Family Liaison Office assists Department of State family members eligible for expeditious naturalization under Section 319(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which exempts certain spouses of U.S. Government employees from the otherwise-applicable residence and physical presence requirements of naturalization. (Naturalization under Section 319(b) does not exempt applicants from other requirements of naturalization, such as good moral character, knowledge of United States history and government, and English language skills.) For a Department employee’s spouse to qualify under Section 319(b), the employee must be a U.S. citizen “regularly stationed abroad” as part of his or her employment. Additionally, the applicant must be in the United States at the time of naturalization and make a good faith declaration of intent to take up residence within the United States immediately upon the termination of employment abroad by the U.S. citizen spouse.
