2008-05-26 03:49:36 -

- A new tool of the non-lethal variety has been created for our soldiers to navigate the US immigration process. Vince DiPortanova, co-founder of the Charles Harvey, Jr. Foundation, states, "44,255 of our bravest US Armed Forces members have yet to become citizens. These men and women have a new web-based computer tool to shorten application filing time from one

to two days down to less than thirty minutes."

"Our goal is to help new immigrant service members apply for citizenship as part of their initial processing into the military. It can get very busy for these young heroes," continued DiPortanova, "once they are deployed overseas. If you just look at the current 44,255 finishing their application in a half an hour rather than one to two days that is 244 man years saved among them."

The Charles Harvey, Jr. Foundation received a generous in-kind donation of $2 million in software from Turbo Immigration, Inc. enabling the foundation to create a new web-based tool that will be available starting Memorial Day. This web-based tool will assist soldiers in navigating the arduous application process for US citizenship.

"While we cannot shorten the year or so it takes Custom and Immigration (CIS) to process the paperwork," explains DiPortanova, "the web application written by the Turbo Immigration folks, reduces the error rate in filling out the citizenship forms by 98%. This will save months of frustration for our immigrant servicemen and women from returned applications do to errors," states DiPortanova.

While doing research on Turbo Immigration, The Charles Harvey, Jr. Foundation heard of a US soldier who just finished his term of service with the US Army. He was standing tall in line at the US immigration department (CIS) in Virginia. After an hour wait, he made it to the front of the line. He proudly proclaimed to the CIS official at the desk, "I just got back from Iraq, and I want to become a citizen." The CIS clerk asked, "Are you out of the Army now?" The soldier replied politely, "Yes ma'am, I just finished my service with the Army." The bureaucrat replied, "Too late, you should have done it while you were in."

As of December 2007, the total US Armed Forces members that are not citizens include: Army, 17,234; Navy 14,653; Marine Corps 6,537; Air Force 1,580; and National Guard 4,251. Beginning this Memorial Day all current and future immigrant servicemen and women will be able to navigate the application process for citizenship, free of charge, through The Charles Harvey, Jr. Foundation website. This free service is a small token of appreciation for those who serve and protect us.

www.harveyfoundation.org

The Charles Harvey, Jr. Foundation
Vince DiPortanova, 202-577-5579
ainsley.glenn@harveyfoundation.org