FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Dec. 18, 2014) -- Fort Jackson is making it a little easier for military spouses to gain their U.S. citizenship.
On Fridays, foreign-born spouses can process the biometrics portion of the application on post. Traditionally handled at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Charleston, this step involves gathering fingerprint and handwriting data, as well as having a photograph taken.
"Fort Jackson is a new beginning for a lot of Soldiers, and a lot of Soldiers are of different nationalities," said German citizen Bijou Bachelor.
Because of the role the post plays in the U.S. citizenship process, she called Army Community Service to ask if any of these services were available to spouses like herself.
Her husband is a native of West Virginia assigned to Shaw Air Force Base. Bachelor said she's been struggling to gain her citizenship for years, but there have been constant obstacles in her path. First, she said, was the expense.
"It costs a lot of money, so we had to wait," she said. "And then (my husband) deployed before I got my paperwork done. I didn't have any way to get there by myself. It was difficult, especially when you're new to the area."
"She has a child," said Miranda Broadus, relocation program manager for ACS, "and her husband is deployed. To take that child to Charleston and sit there and wait, it's stressful. Also, a lot of foreign-born spouses don't drive. To have these services here at Fort Jackson would alleviate a lot of that stress for spouses."
Spouses who have their biometric appointments in Charleston can bring in their letter to the Fort Jackson office and have their biometrics done here on Fridays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Bachelor completed the biometrics portion of the citizenship process at Fort Jackson Dec. 5. She's a long way from finishing the citizenship process, but the services offered to spouses at Fort Jackson have saved her time and money, she said.
"Most of the spouses who want to become U.S. citizens have had their green card for a number of years," Broadus said. "The hardest part (after that) is the waiting."
Area residents can also arrange to take their Oath of Allegiance at Fort Jackson, as well.
"When taking the Interview and exam at Charleston, they need to inform them they want to take the oath here," Broadus said. "Then, they'll take the oath on a Wednesday during Family Day."
Broadus assists family members with citizenship issues, but primarily in an advisory and advocacy role. Because of liability issues, the office cannot review citizenship applications for accuracy.
In 2015, an immigration officer will visit the post to answer immigration questions for Soldiers and spouses. The first visit is schedule from 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 16.
The plan is to have the immigration officer visit the post every month. If there is not much interest in the idea, though, Broadus said the visitation schedule will probably become quarterly.
For more information, contact ACS Relocation at 751-9770.
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