---
kind: "section"
citation: "8 U.S.C. § 1430"
title: "8"
title_heading: "Aliens and Nationality"
number: "1430"
heading: "Married persons and employees of certain nonprofit organizations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/8/1430"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Immigration and Nationality"
  - "Subchapter III — Nationality and Naturalization"
  - "Part II — Nationality Through Naturalization"
---

# §1430. Married persons and employees of certain nonprofit organizations

- (a) Any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) whose [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) is a citizen of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) who obtained status as a lawful [permanent](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-31) resident by reason of his or her status as a [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) or [child](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-1) of a [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty, may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of this subchapter except the provisions of paragraph (1) of [section 1427(a) of this title](/usc/8/1427.md?p=a) if such [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) immediately preceding the date of filing his application for [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23) has resided continuously, after being [lawfully admitted for permanent residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-20), within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) for at least three years, and during the three years immediately preceding the date of filing his application has been living in marital union with the citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) (except in the case of a [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) or [parent](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-2)), who has been a [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) citizen during all of such period, and has been physically present in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) for periods totaling at least half of that time and has resided within the [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or the district of the [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) in which the applicant filed his application for at least three months.
- (b) Any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3), (1) whose [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) is (A) a citizen of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), (B) in the employment of the Government of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or of an American institution of research recognized as such by the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5), or of an American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or a subsidiary thereof, or of a public international [organization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-28) in which the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) participates by treaty or statute, or is authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona fide [organization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-28) within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or is engaged solely as a missionary by a religious denomination or by an interdenominational mission [organization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-28) having a bona fide [organization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-28) within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), and (C) regularly stationed abroad in such employment, and (2) who is in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) at the time of [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23), and (3) who declares before the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5) in good faith an intention to take up [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) immediately upon the termination of such employment abroad of the citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35), may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of the [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23) laws, except that no prior [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) or specified period of physical presence within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) or within a [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or a district of the [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) or proof thereof shall be required.
- (c) Any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) who (1) is employed by a bona fide [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) incorporated nonprofit [organization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-28) which is principally engaged in conducting abroad through communications media the dissemination of information which significantly promotes [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) interests abroad and which is recognized as such by the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5), and (2) has been so employed continuously for a period of not less than five years after a lawful [admission](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-13-A) for [permanent](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-31) [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33), and (3) who files his application for [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23) while so employed or within six months following the termination thereof, and (4) who is in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) at the time of [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23), and (5) who declares before the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5) in good faith an intention to take up [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) immediately upon termination of such employment, may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of this subchapter except that no prior [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) or specified period of physical presence within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) or any [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or district of the [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or proof thereof, shall be required.
- (d) Any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) who is the surviving [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35), [child](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-1), or [parent](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-2) of a [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) citizen, whose citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35), [parent](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-2), or [child](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-1) dies during a period of honorable [service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) in an active duty status in the Armed Forces of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) and who, in the case of a surviving [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35), was living in marital union with the citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) at the time of his death, may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of this subchapter except that no prior [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) or specified physical presence within the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), or within a [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or a district of the [Service](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-34) in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) shall be required. For purposes of this subsection, the terms “[United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) citizen” and “citizen [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35)” include a [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) granted posthumous citizenship under [section 1440–1 of this title](/usc/8/1440–1.md).
- (e)
  - (1) In the case of a [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3) [lawfully admitted for permanent residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-20) in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) who is the [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) of a member of the Armed Forces of the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38), is authorized to accompany such member and reside abroad with the member pursuant to the member’s official orders, and is so accompanying and residing with the member in marital union, such [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) and physical presence abroad shall be treated, for purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) and [section 1427(a) of this title](/usc/8/1427.md?p=a), as [residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-33) and physical presence in—
    - (A) the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38); and
    - (B) any [State](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-36) or district of the Department of Homeland Security in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38).
  - (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a [spouse](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-35) described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be eligible for [naturalization](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-23) proceedings overseas pursuant to [section 1443a of this title](/usc/8/1443a.md).

## Source credit

(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title III, ch. 2, § 319, 66 Stat. 244; Pub. L. 85–697, § 2, Aug. 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 687; Pub. L. 90–215, § 1(a), Dec. 18, 1967, 81 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 90–369, June 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 279; Pub. L. 101–649, title IV, § 407(b)(1), (c)(5), (d)(4), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5040, 5041; Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title V, § 1503(e), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1522; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XVII, § 1703(f)(1), (h), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1695, 1696; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 674(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 185.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–181 added subsec. (e).

2003—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–136, § 1703(h), inserted “, child, or parent” after “surviving spouse” and “, parent, or child” after “whose citizen spouse”, and substituted “who, in the case of a surviving spouse, was living” for “who was living”.

Pub. L. 108–136, § 1703(f)(1), inserted at end “For purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘United States citizen’ and ‘citizen spouse’ include a person granted posthumous citizenship under section 1440–1 of this title.”

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–386 inserted “, or any person who obtained status as a lawful permanent resident by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty,” after “citizen of the United States” and “(except in the case of a person who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a United States citizen spouse or parent)” after “has been living in marital union with the citizen spouse”.

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(c)(5), substituted “application” for “petition” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(b)(1)(A), substituted “has resided within the State or the district of the Service in the United States in which the applicant filed his application for at least three months” for “has resided within the State in which he filed his petition for at least six months.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(d)(4)(A), substituted “before the Attorney General” for “before the naturalization court” in cl. (3).

Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(b)(1)(B), substituted “within a State or a district of the Service in the United States” for “within the jurisdiction of the naturalization court”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(d)(4)(B), substituted “Attorney General” for “naturalization court” in cl. (5).

Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(c)(5), substituted “application” for “petition”.

Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(b)(1)(C), substituted “district of the Service in the United States” for “within the jurisdiction of the court”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–649, § 407(b)(1)(B), substituted “within a State or a district of the Service in the United States” for “within the jurisdiction of the naturalization court”.

1968—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 90–369 added subsec. (d).

1967—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–215 added subsec. (c).

1958—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–697 inserted provision relating to persons performing religious duties.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 674(d), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 186, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 1433 and 1443a of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008] and apply to any application for naturalization or issuance of a certificate of citizenship pending on or after such date.”

### Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XVII, § 1703(f)(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1695, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to persons granted posthumous citizenship under section 329A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440–1) due to death on or after September 11, 2001.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–136 effective as if enacted Sept. 11, 2001, see section 1705(a) of Pub. L. 108–136, set out as a note under section 1439 of this title.

### Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

### Requirements for Citizenship for Staff of George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

Pub. L. 101–193, title V, § 506, Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1709, as amended by Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 671(g)(1), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–724; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title IX, § 923, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1863, provided that: For purposes of section 319(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1430(c)), the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, located in Garmisch, Federal Republic of Germany, shall be considered to be an organization described in clause (1) of such section. Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to periods of employment before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1989]. No more than two persons per year may be naturalized based on the provisions of subsection (a). Each instance of naturalization based on the provisions of subsection (a) shall be reported to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives and to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives prior to such naturalization.”