How To Get U.S. Citizenship

Why do immigrants want to become U.S. citizens? While green card holders can live and work in the United States and enjoy most of the same benefits as a U.S. citizen, permanent residents are not U.S. citizens and because of that, do not enjoy the same benefits as citizens. So what are these benefits?

Benefits Of U.S. Citizenship.

• Protection from deportation. Becoming a U.S. citizen protects you and your children from deportation.
• Citizenship for your children. You can pass down entitlement to citizenship.
• Family reunification. You can sponsor other family members to immigrate.
• Eligibility for government jobs. Some jobs, in the police, military and government, require citizenship.
• Freedom to travel. The American passport is widely accepted abroad.
• Ability to vote. You can vote for your leaders in Congress and elsewhere.

Requirements For Getting U.S. citizenship

The most common way to become a U.S. citizen is through the process of naturalization. To qualify, an applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of filing the application;
• Have been a lawful permanent resident for the past three or five years (depending on which naturalization category you are applying under);
• Have continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English;
• Demonstrate good moral character;
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
• Demonstrate a loyalty to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and
• Be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.

However, naturalization is not the only way someone can become a U.S. citizen. In fact, there are four types of citizenship.

The Four Types Of Citizenship are:

• Citizenship by family (jus sanguinis). If you are born to a U.S. citizen parent, you normally may be eligible to apply for citizenship.
• Citizenship by birth (jus soli). If you were born in the USA, you are thereby automatically a U.S. citizen.
• Citizenship by marriage (jus matrimonii). If your spouse sponsors you for a green card, you can gain citizenship on a special basis quicker than others.
• Naturalization, as already mentioned.

How Long Does It Take?

If you are a green card holder, you can apply for U.S. citizenship five years after getting your green card. You also must have been physically present in the United States for at two-and-a-half years of those five years. There is only one exception. The spouse of a U.S. citizen residing in the United States must have only continuously resided in the United States as an landed permanent resident for at least three years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application. In this case, the spouse must also show that he or she has been physically present in the U.S. for at least one and a half of those three years.

Why Is It So Hard To Become A U.S. citizen?

It is hard because of the long processing times, the financial and personal costs involved, and the fact that most immigrants do not have a direct relative that is a citizen of the United States. The requirements of U.S. citizenship are also complex and may not be understandable to some immigrants.

How Much Does It Cost?

The current naturalization fee for a U.S. citizenship application is $725. That total includes $640 for application processing and $85 for biometrics services, both of which are nonrefundable, regardless of whether the U.S. government approves or rejects an application. If you hire an attorney to help you, the attorney’s fee will be on top of these amounts.

Can I Buy U.S. Citizenship?

There is no such thing as U.S. Citizenship by investment. However, after getting a green card via the EB-5 foreign investor visa route, applicants can naturalize.

Does The U.S. Allow Dual Citizenship?

Yes. The U.S. government does not require naturalized U.S. citizens to relinquish citizenship in their country of origin.

What Are The Disadvantages Of U.S. citizenship?

The main disadvantage is you become liable for U.S. tax on your worldwide income, even if you leave the U.S. Unlike most other countries, U.S. citizens pay tax on their worldwide income, regardless of where they are living. So if you move to Canada for the rest of your life, for example, you are still required to pay U.S. taxes, including estate taxes on death.

In What Ways Can You Lose Citizenship?

1. Run for public office in a foreign country on the implied basis that you have broken your allegiance to the USA.
2. Enter military service in a foreign country on the basis you have broken your allegiance to the USA.
3. Apply for citizenship in a foreign country with the intention of giving up U.S. citizenship.
4. You renounce your citizenship through a formal legal process. It is common to employ a U.S. immigration attorney to help in this process.

Hopefully, this overview will enable you to better understand most of the rules governing U.S. citizenship. If you still have questions, it is advisable to consult a U.S. immigration attorney to get more detailed answers.