# How to Get Military Records

Where to get an official record of your service in the military for your green card application

## Requirements

## Who must submit their military records?

Only the family member or spouse applying for a green card from _abroad_ must provide military records. (There is no such requirement for spouses applying for a green card from _within the United States_.) You must send your records to the National Visa Center (NVC) _after_ submitting your [Online Green Card Application](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/the-ds260-and-ds261-online-forms) (DS-260). You must also bring your military records to your [green card interview](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/the-green-card-interview-explained).

## What should my military records show?

Your military documents must contain the following information:

- Country or region where you serve or previously served
- Branch of service
- Rank or position
- Military specialty
- Dates of service
- Your conduct while serving

Additionally, if you were **convicted of any crime** while serving, the records must reflect the conviction. If you were **discharged**, **retired**, **or resigned** from military service, you must also submit your discharge certificate.

## Where to Get Military Records

**If you’ve served in the U.S. armed forces**, you can request your military service records by following the [instructions](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records) from the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR). Veterans can request their documents online — through [eVetRecs](https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html) — or by completing [Form SF-180](https://www.archives.gov/files/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf) and sending it via fax or mail. To locate your records, you will need to provide information about your service, such as your name, U.S. Social Security Number, and dates of service.

Those who are in active military duty, are retired, or have been discharged generally should check the U.S. National Archives’ “ [Locations of Service Records](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/locations)” list. The locations of the records are categorized by branch of service.

**If you’ve served in a country other than the United States**, you can request a certified copy of your military records from the appropriate government agency in that country. The U.S. Department of State’s website lists this information, including the name of the [issuing authority](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html), as well as the current fee and procedures for obtaining an official copy. (On the upper left-hand side of the webpage, you will need to select the first letter of your country’s name, select your country, and click on the “Military Records” tab to view the details you need.)

### Other Frequently Asked Questions

**What if my military records are not written in English?**  
Military records that are written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a [certified English translation](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/translating-immigration-documents-english/).

**What if I can’t find my military records or access them from an official source?**  
If, for any reason, you cannot obtain your military service records, you must provide a **notarized personal affidavit** (written statement) in which you explain to the U.S. government why those documents are _not_ available. The only time you are _not_ required to submit military records is if a particular [country’s guidelines](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html) for such documents specifically indicates that they are “ **unavailable**.”

**Can you be an immigrant and be in the military?**  
Some non-citizen immigrants can join the U.S. military, but they must meet these requirements:

- Have a [U.S. Permanent Resident Card](https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/the-green-card-explained/) (Green Card)
- Speak, read, and write English **fluently**

Note: You cannot join the military to enter the U.S. or to get a visa.