Military Immigration Lawyer for Texas Bases: Help for Service Members, Veterans and Their Families

Why Military Families Have Different Immigration Options

Congress and USCIS have long recognized that service members should not have to choose between their duty and their families. Several benefits exist only for the military community, and they can solve problems that would otherwise have no fix.

The most important is military parole in place. It lets certain family members who entered without inspection be treated as paroled, which can open the door to a green card without leaving the country. Service members can also naturalize on faster, more flexible terms than civilians, and military spouses have special rules that account for time spent overseas on orders.

These options also reach families after the uniform comes off. A veteran's spouse, parent or child can still ask for parole in place if the veteran was not dishonorably discharged, even years after leaving the service.

These are discretionary benefits, and policies can shift, so each case needs to be built carefully and filed at the right time. As of October 2026, military parole in place remains available.

Who Qualifies

Military parole in place

Spouses, widows and widowers, parents, and sons and daughters may be eligible if their family member is on active duty, is in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, or previously served in either and was not dishonorably discharged. USCIS grants parole in place one year at a time, case by case.

Naturalization through military service

Service members with honorable service can apply for citizenship under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Current service members generally file Form N-426 so the military can certify their service, while veterans usually submit a DD-214 or other discharge documents instead. See our page on military naturalization.

Military spouses and children

Spouses of U.S. citizen service members may qualify for naturalization rules that count time abroad on official orders, and some can complete the process overseas. Children of service members may also have faster paths to citizenship. Learn more about military spouse naturalization.

Deferred action and other options

USCIS can also grant deferred action to certain military family members case by case. It offers temporary protection from removal when parole in place is not the right fit, and it is one more reason to have the whole family history reviewed before choosing a path.

What Parole in Place Does and Does Not Do

Parole in place is powerful, but it is not a green card by itself. It gives the family member a lawful period of parole, usually one year, and it can satisfy the requirement that a person was inspected and admitted or paroled before applying to adjust status.

It does not erase every problem. Certain criminal convictions, a prior removal order or a past finding of fraud can still block a green card, and parole generally ends if the person leaves the country. That is why we review the full history before filing and plan the green card step at the same time as the parole request.

How the Process Works

1. Confirm the service record. We gather proof of the service member's active duty, reserve status or discharge.
2. Map the family's full history. Entries, exits, prior applications and any arrests all shape which option is safest.
3. Request parole in place or file for citizenship. Parole in place requests go to the USCIS office with jurisdiction over where the family lives, with proof of the relationship and the service. Citizenship cases start with Form N-400, plus Form N-426 for current service members.
4. Apply for the green card. Once parole in place is granted, eligible relatives, such as the spouse of a U.S. citizen or the parent of an adult U.S. citizen, can apply to adjust status to permanent residence.
5. Prepare for interviews. We prepare each family member for USCIS interviews and plan around deployments, training and moves.

Documents to Gather

• Proof of service: military ID, current orders, a letter from the command, or a DD-214 for veterans
• Marriage certificate, plus proof that any prior marriages ended
• Birth certificates that show the family relationship
• Every immigration document the family member has received, including any notices from immigration court
• Evidence of how and when the family member entered the U.S., if known
• Records for any arrest or charge, even if it was dismissed

Mistakes Military Families Make

• Assuming veterans' families are out of luck. Family members of veterans who were not dishonorably discharged can qualify for parole in place too.
• Traveling abroad before the case is done. Leaving the U.S. at the wrong time can end parole or trigger the very bar that parole in place was meant to avoid.
• Waiting for a PCS move or deployment. A move can change which USCIS office has the case. Start early and tell your lawyer about new orders right away.
• Leaving out old history. A prior removal order, an old arrest or an earlier application can change the strategy. Disclose everything up front.
• Deploying without a plan. Sign what needs signing before you leave, and make sure your spouse knows where the service records and family documents are kept.
• Stopping at the base legal office. Legal assistance offices help with a lot, and many will point families to an immigration lawyer when the history gets complicated. Follow that advice early.

Texas Installations We Serve

We help military families at every Texas installation, including:

• Joint Base San Antonio. Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Randolph, a short drive from our San Antonio office.
• Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo. Close to our San Angelo office, which sees clients by appointment.
• Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio. Served from our Eagle Pass office and by video.
• Fort Hood, Killeen. The Central Texas post known as Fort Cavazos from 2023 to 2025, now Fort Hood again, served by phone and video.
• Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene. Served from our San Angelo office and by video.
• Fort Bliss, El Paso, and Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls. Served by phone and video.
• Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, NAS Kingsville and NAS JRB Fort Worth. Served by phone and video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is military parole in place still available in 2026?

Yes. As of October 2026, USCIS continues to accept military parole in place requests and decides them case by case. Because policies can change, we confirm the current rules before filing.

Can the parents of a service member get parole in place?

Yes. Parents are among the family members who may qualify, along with spouses, widows and widowers, and sons and daughters.

Does parole in place give my spouse a green card?

Not by itself. It grants a period of parole, usually one year, which can make the spouse of a U.S. citizen eligible to apply for a green card from inside the U.S. The green card application is a separate step.

My spouse is a veteran. Can I still qualify?

Possibly. Family members of veterans who served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and were not dishonorably discharged may be eligible.

Can I become a citizen while I am still serving?

Often, yes. Service members with honorable service can apply under special military provisions, and the military certifies their service on Form N-426.

What if my family member has a prior deportation?

Tell us right away. A prior removal order changes the strategy and may require additional waivers or filings, but it does not automatically end the conversation.

We might get new orders soon. Should we wait?

Usually not. Tell us about expected orders so we can plan around the move, because a change of address can send the case to a different USCIS office.

Do we have to come to your office?

No. We work with military families by phone and video anywhere in Texas, and our San Antonio, Eagle Pass and San Angelo offices see clients in person when that helps.

Work With a Board Certified Lawyer Who Served

You took care of the mission. Let us take care of the paperwork that keeps your family together.

Alfredo Lozano is a Marine Corps veteran, Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He understands orders, deployments and the pressure military families carry, and he builds cases around them.

Request your free case evaluation and tell us about your family. We will call you, in English or Spanish, and explain your options.

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