Overview:
A person may acquire U.S. citizenship in a variety of ways:
- By being born in the United States or a U.S. Territory;
- By being born to one or more U.S. Citizen parent(s) abroad;
- By being born to a parent who naturalized before the child’s 18th birthday while the child was a Green Card Holder residing in the U.S.;
- By naturalization; and,
- More.
Most persons seeking to become a U.S. Citizen usually become citizens via naturalization. For more information about becoming a U.S. Citizen via naturalization, click here.
Benefits of U.S. Citizenship:
If a person only has a Green Card, he or she may simply continuously renew his or her Green Card and remain and work legally in the United States. However, having a Green Card, as opposed to being a U.S. Citizen, poses numerous risks. For instance, a Green Card Holder is subject to (1) inadmissibility when returning to the U.S. after traveling abroad and (2) deportation from the United States for certain violations of U.S. law. In addition, Green Card Holders, unlike U.S. Citizens, are subject to changing immigration laws. Consequently, gaining U.S. citizenship, if possible, is strongly encouraged.
U.S. citizenship provides numerous benefits, including:
- Ability to vote in federal elections;
- Shorter wait times when petitioning to sponsor some family members to immigrate to the U.S.;
- Ability to sponsor more types of family members to immigrate to the U.S.;
- Ability to travel abroad without worrying about inadmissibility and losing one’s Green Card;
- Not being subject to deportation, subject to some exceptions;
- Not having to continuously renew one’s Green Card;
- Eligibility for additional federal jobs, grants, scholarships, and government benefits; and,
- More.
Contact Us:
For more information about obtaining U.S. citizenship or if you require immigration representation, please contact us by clicking here.