Are you ready to pledge your allegiance to the United States? The process of becoming a full-fledged U.S. citizen is called “naturalization,” and it comes with a host of new rights, benefits, and responsibilities. What exactly can naturalization do for your family, your career, and your life in general? Let’s look at some of the main benefits.
1) Citizenship runs in the family.
U.S. citizenship makes it easier for you to stay close with family. The first perk is for your children: once you are naturalized, your children under 18 will automatically become citizens. There are only a few requirements: these children must be green card holders, and they must be living in the United States under your legal and physical custody. If you later have a child who is born abroad, that child can usually become an automatic U.S. citizen too. As a naturalized citizen, you can also petition your parents, siblings, and married children into the United States (generally with a much shorter wait time).
2) You get to cast your ballot.
Naturalization comes with rights that are exclusive to U.S. citizens. Perhaps the most important is your right to vote in any federal and state elections. In case you ever want to run for public office, you’ll also earn the right to become an elected official.
3) Access to government jobs and public benefits.
U.S. citizenship is required for most jobs with local, state, and federal government agencies. You can also apply for more federal grants and scholarships, many of which are exclusive to citizens. If you’re planning to live in the United States for a long time, you may also want to take advantage of the public benefits that aren’t available to permanent residents and other non-citizens. Naturalization will grant you access to public programs like Medicare, a health care program for seniors, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program for disabled adults and low-income children.
4) Kiss your green card goodbye.
Another perk of naturalization is the fact that you’ll no longer have to carry a green card. New United States citizens will forego the need to renew their green cards every 10 years, and instead they’ll upgrade to a U.S. passport for travel. What’s more, they cannot be deported for committing certain types of crimes.
5) Ease of travel abroad.
First of all, citizenship allows you to travel outside of the U.S. for as long as you want, whereas green card holders must return within 180 days. International travel can also be difficult and expensive for a permanent resident, depending on your country of citizenship. Naturalization can make it much easier for you to travel abroad, and it will also let you seek assistance from a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad if you should ever need help.
If you think it’s time to show your stars and stripes, get in contact with a dependable immigration attorney. The detail-minded lawyers at Sánchez-Roig Law Firm, P.A. will handle the application procedures on your behalf and guide you throughout the process. Contact us to improve your chances of becoming a fully naturalized citizen.
