The Road to American Citizenship
- Carolina
- Nov 18, 2016
- 4 min read
I will not talk about immigration policies, although is a hot topic nowadays. I am going to share my road to citizenship. I know a lot of people apply for citizenship as soon as they are able to by law. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there are a few other things to be considered before you rush to the UCIS site to start your application. Some countries still don’t allow dual citizenship and you might be required to renounce your primary citizenship, or if you decide to leave the United States for good after you gain your American citizenship, you may find some tax related issues, and in most cases you still have to comply with obligations of your country of birth, such as electoral duties and other documents.
There are a lot of requirements and different types of residency status here in the US. Since we’re talking about ladies, I will cover the most common way woman immigrant is granted the right to citizenship:
A Green Card may be acquired through a company if you are willing to stay in the U.S. for 5 years as a permanent resident without leaving the U.S. for 6 months or longer.
Or as a spouse of a U.S. citizen, you are required to complete 3 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the U.S. for trips of 6 months or longer.
I’m going through the process right now and I have way more than 5 years as a Permanent resident. I will apply for citizenship through marriage. It took me a long time to decide because I wasn’t sure about my life in US. Will I stay married? Will I want to explore other countries? Will I get so home sick that I have to return to my country? A lot of people have different reasons to apply as soon as they reach the limit of 3 to 5 years. Other people, like me, wait a little longer to make a decision. Some people never advance from their Permanent Resident status. This decision is going to depend on your situation and the diplomatic relationship your country of birth has with the U.S. Not every country allows dual citizenship, in which case, you must choose one or the other.
Here are a few benefits of applying for citizenship as soon as you’re able to by law:
Vote: Unlike Permanent Residents and Green Card holders, citizens are granted the right to vote. This has become increasingly more important!
U.S. Passport: All citizens have the right to a U.S. passport. A U.S. passport allows you to travel internationally -- in many cases without a visa -- and also re-enter the U.S. freely.
Bring your Family to the U.S.: Bring a family member to live with you in the U.S. As a citizen, you can request a Green Card for your spouse, children, parents, and siblings. Permanent Residents can only apply for spouses and children -- not parents or siblings -- and these Immigrant Visas are limited.
Avoid Deportation: Green Card holders have permanent immigrant status, but things can change if immigration laws change and your Green Card could be revoked. Citizens of the U.S. cannot be deported.
Scholarships and Grants: Citizenship affords you the opportunity to receive money for education. Citizens have the right to receive government issued grants for education, but Permanent Residents do not.
Unlimited Travel: Citizens can travel for an unlimited period of time without losing their citizenship status. Permanent Residents’ status will be considered “abandoned” and Green Cards will be revoked if the individual leaves the U.S. for up to 2 years. The individual won’t be able to re-enter the U.S.
Government Benefits: There are many government benefits that are only available to U.S. citizens. For example, citizens have full access to Social Security benefits while Permanent Residents only have partial access.
Federal Jobs: Some of the best jobs in the U.S. are federal government jobs and these jobs are only available to U.S. citizens. Postal workers, court clerks and FBI agents are all federal positions. These jobs offer great salaries, amazing benefits, and sometimes incredible pensions.
Doesn’t this sound appealing?
While these benefits are certainly alluring, here’s something important to think about when considering citizenship: TAXES! According to the IRS, “If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside.”
So, let’s say you decide to move back to your home country or a different country. You will still be responsible for paying taxes to Uncle Sam! This made it very difficult when I was debating my future living situation and citizenship status.
Depending on your priorities, the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen are much greater than the fear of the IRS. I have a child and my husband is a U.S. citizen; so, even if we move to Mars, we will still file U.S. joint income taxes. Also, I’d like my father to be able to come visit me without the conditions of a Visa. When he gets older and needs help, I’d like him to have the option to live with me.
So, last month I decided to take the plunge and pay the $680 fee to the U.S. government. Soon I will be saying: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The process is fairly easy, below is some links to get you started if this is your path right now.
Resources for Citizenship Application:
Resources for taxation and living outside the US:
Have you applied for citizenship? What are your thoughts? Please share your experience with us.
missplaced16@gmail.com
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