Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/312

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 360 -JUNE 1, 1948 8U. S.C., Supp.I, § 601 et seq. Naturalization of persons who served in armed forces. Restriction. Waiver of certain re- quirements. 54 Stat. 1140,1150. 8 U.S. C. . §703, 726. Affidavits of wit- nesses. Proof of service In armed forces. 54 Stat. 1157. 8U.S .C. § 734 (e). Act of 1940, as amended (54 Stat. 1137; 8 U. S . C . 907), be amended by adding a new section to be known as section 324A, as follows: "SEC. 324A. (a) Any person not a citizen who has served honorably in an active-duty status in the military or naval forces of the United States during either World War I or during a period beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946, or who, if separated from such service, was separated under honorable conditions, may be naturalized as provided in this section if (1) at the time of enlistment or induction such person shall have been in the United States or an outlying possession (including the Panama Canal Zone, but excluding the Philippine Islands), or (2) at any time subsequent to enlistment or induction such person shall have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. The executive department under which such person served shall determine whether persons have served honorably in an active-duty status, and whether separation from such service was under honorable conditions: Provided, however, That no person who is or has been separated from such service on account of alienage, or who was a conscientious objector who performed no military or naval duty whatever or refused to wear the uniform, shall be regarded as having served honorably or having been separated under honorable conditions for the purposes of this section. "(b) A person filing a petition under subsection (a) of this section shall comply in all respect with the requirements of this chapter except that- "(1) he may be naturalized regardless of age, and notwithstand- ing the provisions of sections 303 and 326 of this Act; "(2) no declaration of intention, no certificate of arrival, and no period of residence within the United States or any State shall be required; "(3) the petition for naturalization may be filed in any court having naturalization jurisdiction regardless of the residence of the petitioner; "(4) there shall be included in the petition the affidavits of at least two credible witnesses, citizens of the United States, stating that each such witness personally knows the petitioner to be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States; "(5) when serving in the military or naval forces of the United States, the service of the petitioner shall be proved either (1) by affidavits forming part of the petition, of at least two citizens of the United States, members of the military or naval forces of a noncommissioned or warrant officer grade, or higher (who may be the same witness described in clause (4) of this subsection), or (2) by a duly authenticated certification from the executive depart- ment under which the petitioner is serving. Such affidavits or certifications shall state whether the petitioner has served honor- ably in an active-duty status during either World War I or during a period beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946; "(6) if no longer serving in the military or naval forces of the United States, the service of the petitioner shall be proved by a duly authenticated certification from the executive department under which the petitioner served, which shall state whether the petitioner served honorably in an active-duty status during either World War I or during a period beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946, and was separated from such service under honorable conditions; and "(7) notwithstanding section 334 (e) of this Act, the petitioner 282 [62 STAT.