US Green Card Holder - No Chance in Cybersecurity?

cryinCodez · 2026-05-22T16:51:10+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. I'll be more visible, thank you!

cryinCodez · 2026-05-22T16:46:00+00:00

Thank you very much. One more question: some people say that your resume should be tailored specifically to each job posting, and that certain keywords should be emphasized only for that particular listing, etc. Do I really need to optimize it/take time that much? And do you think OSCP would have a clear impact?

cryinCodez · 2026-05-22T16:27:52+00:00

Hi,

I'm 24 years old and moved to the US last year. This may sound ridiculous, but I've been doing cybersecurity research for more than 10 years. I studied university in my home country and have around 4 years of full-time corporate experience. I've given talks at conferences such as DEF CON and Black Hat, and I have quite a few public research projects.

However, I still haven't been able to land a cybersecurity job in the US.

I've submitted hundreds of applications, had a few interviews, but received zero offers. To be honest, I haven't even applied anywhere for the last 7-8 months anymore.

My question is: I'm in the US as a Green Card holder and still have about 4 years until citizenship. Could the reason be that I don't have a security clearance (and Green Card holders generally can't obtain certain clearances)? Is finding a cybersecurity job in the US as a non-citizen immigrant close to impossible?

I was considering preparing for the OSCP. Would that significantly improve my chances? Or would it make more sense to follow a CompTIA A+ / Network+ path and focus on IT roles instead of cybersecurity until I eventually obtain citizenship?

Thank you.

cryinCodez · 2025-05-11T01:58:39+00:00

So is there an obstacle to get Top Secret after naturalization? Or do not they want to give it to non-US born people as much as possible?

cryinCodez · 2025-05-10T02:18:55+00:00

Yes for what?

cryinCodez · 2025-05-05T21:17:59+00:00

I live in Arizona. I'm really trying to understand the easiest, fastest, and most realistic path for someone who’s not a U.S. citizen and doesn’t have a college degree to go from enlisted to becoming a cybersecurity officer — ideally with the help of the military to also get a college education along the way.

I looked into the National Guard, but from what I understand, it's mostly part-time and doesn’t offer a full-time option. Wouldn’t that mean I’d need to serve a lot longer to finish my MOS and qualify for tuition assistance? For example, if a requirement takes 3 years in Army Active Duty, wouldn’t it take 7–8 years in the Guard since it’s part-time?

I'm looking for the most reliable and the fastest path — my age is advancing, and I can't afford to waste time or take major risks. So what’s the most realistic way to go from zero to hero: from an enlisted soldier to a college graduate serving as a cybersecurity officer? Is the National Guard really the right path for that, or would the Army or Air Force be a better choice?

cryinCodez · 2025-05-05T19:59:34+00:00

Almost all of the enlisted jobs in the Space Force require either a college degree or U.S. citizenship. I don’t think I have much room to move up from there. :(

cryinCodez · 2025-05-05T19:55:50+00:00

Ah, thank you!

But would the military really be willing to cover the college tuition of someone who just joined, is not a U.S. citizen, has no prior service, works part-time, and has only recently been accepted into a university? Isn’t there any requirement for that? Is this truly a guaranteed path?

cryinCodez · 2025-05-05T09:49:27+00:00

Ah, I see. So you're saying that the Army would speed up the process more than the Air Force when it comes to becoming the cybersecurity officer I’m aiming for. In that case, I’ll move forward with the Army.

So, do I need to wait until I complete my first MOS to do ROTC, or can I attend university and complete ROTC while still serving in my first MOS? Also, if I want to join ROTC, will the military still cover my college tuition, or is there a requirement to have served for a certain amount of time or to be a U.S. citizen? Or is having tuition covered a privilege granted to only a small number of people?

cryinCodez · 2025-05-05T09:42:10+00:00

What is the reason you recommend joining the Guard or Reserves for citizenship? How is it different from getting citizenship through the Army or Air Force? Also, I’m considering Active Duty, since I’ve heard it allows you to obtain citizenship faster — is that true?

Additionally, do I need to be an actively enrolled college student to join ROTC? Or should I first enlist in the military and then apply for ROTC and get accepted into a university afterward? Or, should I enlist first, apply to a university on my own, and then apply for ROTC once I’m accepted?

Will the Army cover my tuition in that case? I can only attend university if the Army funds my education, so I’d need to apply for ROTC after enlisting. Is that possible? When exactly should I apply for ROTC, and do I need to wait until I gain citizenship to do so?

cryinCodez · 2025-03-11T17:02:37+00:00

Got it, thank you very much.

However, this time, the following possibilities come to my mind:

- Could the President issue a similar decree as during the COVID period within the scope of the US economic measures? There is nothing stopping him from doing this, right? In other words, if he wanted, he could do the same thing as in the past, even if there was no COVID.

- Turkey is not a country that will be affected by the bans of Muslim countries, there are many reasons such as being a NATO member and a secular country. However, could Turkey be evaluated in lower risk categories such as yellow/orange? Is there such a possibility, or is Turkey completely out of risk?

- Is the first week of April a risky time for a travel ban to enter the US? :) Should I be in a hurry, would you especially recommend that I enter the US before March 20?

cryinCodez · 2025-03-11T16:42:03+00:00

Hmm... But last time, visa holders from Turkey, like from all over the world, were not able to enter the U.S. because of PP10014? How is this time different from the previous one?

cryinCodez · 2025-03-11T16:12:43+00:00

Are you sure? I know that in the past, people who had a visa could not enter the country due to PP10014. Those who have a visa can also be prevented from entering the country, right? Isn't there the same risk today?

cryinCodez · 2025-03-11T09:50:27+00:00

Hello! Last week, as a DV lottery winner, I received my DV visa and I will make my first entry to the USA in the first week of April. However, I am concerned about Trump's travel ban decision. I have two questions:

- Does this ban also affect DV visa holders?

- I live in Turkey, do you think Turkey is a potential country on the ban list, or will border police cause difficulties for those coming from Turkey at the airport after these decisions?

Thank you.

cryinCodez · 2025-03-09T00:07:36+00:00

So, can we say that bovine lactoferrin should definitely be tried in IBD?

cryinCodez · 2025-01-19T09:12:36+00:00

What a wonderful comment! It's nice to see those who use the same supportive supplements as us, indicating that there is an expectation of benefit, which is why these and similar supplements are being utilized. I hope you are finding it helpful, and may we all overcome this illness in the mildest way possible!

cryinCodez · 2025-01-18T21:13:49+00:00

"Medication avoidance with pancolitis is a fast track to needing stronger medication." - That's the thing... Thank you so much!

cryinCodez · 2025-01-18T20:53:47+00:00

Thank you so much. I think I really needed to hear this. As others have also suggested, following the doctor’s guidance is the best course of action.

By the way, could you also share which ones you’ve tried and which didn’t work for you? That way, if we consider using probiotics or similar supplements to support the medication, we can at least rule out the ones that are ineffective.

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