H.R. 6355 — Corporal Fernando Ruiz Baltazar Posthumous Citizenship Act of 2025

This section revises eligibility criteria under INA §329A(b) (8 U.S.C. 1440-1(b)) for posthumous naturalization of noncitizens who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. military during designated periods (as specified in INA §329(a)) and died due to service-related injury or disease. (As background, INA §329A grants posthumous U.S. citizenship to such service members' estates, enabling survivors to access certain benefits.) Specifically, it adds as eligible those who enlisted, reenlisted, extended enlistment, or were inducted in the Philippines and died during the period from September 1, 1939, to December 31, 1946 (previously limited to those meeting other specified honorable service requirements); directs the relevant executive department to determine satisfaction of these criteria; and, for such individuals, waives INA §319(d) physical presence requirements and restrictions under sec. 1703 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136). This section also makes conforming amendments to INA §329A(c)(2), including setting the application deadline at the date of enactment for the new eligibility category (previously enactment of §329A) and updating certification requirements from the relevant executive department.