LPR Enlisting (Air Force) with 14 years OCONUS - Do I actually need foreign police certs for BMT naturalization?
Hey everyone,
I’m an LPR (Croatian citizen), booked a 1D731R, and shipping to Air Force BMT in June 2026. My situation is a bit unique and I’m looking for advice from anyone who has gone through the accelerated naturalization process at Lackland.
The Facts
Residency: I’ve lived in Japan for the last 14 years
Family: Wife is a U.S. citizen (dual Japanese), two kids (one born just this week).
Naturalization: Planning to do the expedited naturalization during BMT.
The Conflict: My recruiter says I don't need foreign police certificates from Croatia or Japan for the naturalization/security clearance process. He says he’s never seen anyone need them.
My Concern:
Because I’ve been OCONUS for over a decade, I’m worried that the USCIS officer or the DCSA investigator will hit me with a “Request for Evidence” (RFE) because they can’t run a standard domestic background check on my last 14 years. I already have old certs from my Green Card process, but they are over a year old now.
My Questions:
For those who were LPR recruits living abroad for a long time: Did USCIS ask for updated foreign police clearances during your BMT interview?
Did your security clearance (SF-86) get hung up because of your foreign residence?
Should I listen to my recruiter and "just ship," or should I bring fresh, translated police certs in my folder as insurance?
Thanks in advance for the help!