In order to be eligible for a VA loan, you have to be able to prove your military service. This has to be done in an official manner in order to be accepted. The document required is the DD-214. This document shows the history of your military service as well as the reason your time ended. You must obtain a copy of this document if you are not actively serving in the military. This document is provided to all veterans. If you no longer have a copy of your DD-214, you can obtain a copy; there are several methods you can use to obtain the verification, whether you prefer to operate online or through the mail. Following are your options:
Online Verification
If you wish to obtain your military service verification online, you will need to provide the following information:
- Personal Information – Name used while in the service, service identification number, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number
- Service Information – Branch you served in and the dates you served
If you have specific deadlines pertaining to your request, you must include those as well as the reason for your request so the processing can be prioritized.
Every online request will also require a written signature mailed to the appropriate department. The signature should be from the veteran or the next of kin of the veteran is deceased.
Written Requests
If you prefer to request your verification of military service through the mail, you will need to complete Form SF-180. With this method, you will need the same information as required for the online verification, including:
- All personal information that you can provide including your full name, service identification number, social security number, and date/place of birth
- All service information that you can provide including the branch of service and the dates you served in it
How Long Does it Take?
The timeframe for every request varies, depending on its urgency as well as the workload of the department. Typically, the companies request that follow-ups for verification documents do not occur sooner than 90 days after the request is made. This is the general timeframe of any request; however, some requests take longer, especially if the documents involved were a part of the fire of 1973.
Additional Documents
The additional document required for a VA loan is the Certificate of Eligibility. This document shows your eligibility to receive VA benefits and must be obtained in order to get a VA loan. You can obtain the certificate on your own by filling out Form 26-1880 either online or through the mail or you can ask the lender to file the request for you. If you already have a lender that is VA approved, this is the faster method as they have instant access to the system and can gain access to your certificate right away. If you choose to order it yourself, prepare to wait 90 days or longer for your certificate to arrive.
The military documents required for a VA loan are simply to ensure that you are entitled to the benefits provided to our veterans. The VA loans offer great terms including no down payment, low closing costs, and low-interest rates in an effort to provide the people that served our country with the ability to become homeowners. The documents that are necessary might take some time to receive, but they are the best way to guarantee that a person is eligible for this lucrative financing option that our government is able to provide our veterans.
