Pros and Cons to U.S. citizenship.
Pros:
- Voting
Your chance to participate in steering America in the right direction.
- Retaining residency and avoiding deportation
Naturalization is the only way to guarantee you have the right to remain in the US. PRs are at risk of losing their status if they spend long periods of time outside the US or commit certain, sometimes not very serious, crimes.
- Bureaucracy
Your dealings with the US immigration authorities finally come to an end and you no longer have obligations, for example, to inform them of your change of address. Also, you will release your spouse or joint sponsors from financial responsibility of sponsorship under the I-864
- Government benefits
Some US permanent residents are restricted from access to public benefits, especially from receiving them whilst abroad. This is a continuing and deepening trend. This can include access to Social Security benefits.
- Immigration for family members
Unlike U.S .citizens, green card holders cannot sponsor parents or siblings, and USC receive priority for spouses and children.
- Running for political office
Many types of elected positions require the officeholder to be a USC.
- Tax
USCs and PRs are not always treated the same for tax purposes. This is particularly true for estate taxes. If both parties are USCs married to each other, then the estate passes from one party to the other without taxation. If both parties die, then the estate passes to whoever is named in the will or determined by probate court. In 2005, the first $1.5M are not taxed. From 2006 to 2011, the first $2M is protected from estate taxes. Beyond 2011, if congress does not extend the repeal, then only the first $650K is free of taxes. However, for non-citizens, the rules are different and any estate over $650K is taxable.
- Federal grants
Some federal grants are only available to US citizen applicants.
- Federal jobs
Most federal government jobs and many state/local government jobs, require the applicant to be a USC
Some government-related jobs in corporations require a USC, especially in the energy and defense sectors.
Security Clearance, for the above type of jobs, with citizenship, you can have a higher level, but don't forget that having ties to your home country via friends, family, property etc might still limit the level of clearance you may gain.
- US Passport
As a USC you are entitled to a US passport (which may have better visa-free travel) and to consular protection from American missions overseas. However, US consular protection is not available in any other country of which you are a citizen.
- NAFTA Rights
USCs have simplified access to work permits in Canada and Mexico due to NAFTA treaty provisions.
- Citizenship for non-US born children
As a naturalized USC you will be able to pass on US citizenship to children born outside the United States
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Cons:
- Jury Duty
You can no longer escape this by ticking the non-citizen box
- Dual citizenship
For a small minority of people, there may be dual citizenship issues. (See http://www.richw.org/dualcit/)
- Tax
You are now liable for US tax on your worldwide income if you leave the US. Unlike most other countries, US citizens pay tax on their worldwide income, regardless of where they are living. So if you move to the Cayman Islands and live there 20 years, you are still required to pay US taxes. This is a very important point to note. Tax Treaties with certain countries mean you will not be doubled taxed if you paid taxes on monies earned in that country to that tax authority.
Also note that if you wish to maintain your PR status while living abroad for a year or two and have the appropriate re-entry permit, you must continue to pay US taxes as proof of un-abandonment of residency.
- Cuban holidays
Are now a no-no! (although this is also the case for green card holders and even temporary residents of the U.S.).
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What does it take to become a U.S. citizen?
Well first of all you need to become a permanent resident of the United States.
There are four ways to become one:
- Family Immigration
- Marriage to a USC
- Employment sponsor.
- Diversity Visa Program (Green Card lottery) - this option is only available to nationals of selected countries.
Once you have a green card (permanent resident status) then you can apply for U.S. citizenship 90 days prior to the 5th anniversary of obtaining your green card. However, if you obtain residency through marriage then you can apply for citizenship 90 days prior to the 3rd anniversary of obtaining your green card provided you are still married and living with the U.S. citizen.
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What makes a immigrant legal and what makes them illegal?
Simple - a legal immigrant is some who followed the immigration laws to be in the country i.e went through the correct channels and applied for a visa to be here. An illegal immigrant did the opposite.
Now a legal immigrant can quite easily become illegal if they do not obey the terms and conditions of the visa which they entered under, these conditions vary depending on which visa they entered the country with, but can range from:
- Working when not permitted
- Overstaying the date on their I-94
- Not filing the correct forms at the correct time
- Committing a criminal offense
- Lieing on their visa application
This list is endless.
I think I have covered most, if not all of your questions. Good luck with your paper.What is the true cost of becoming a us citizen?
You have to be TOUGH! Tough enough to take war to someone's home land and come up with ZERO result!
Immigrant illegal is when they came to USA without a proper visa like crossed the border or come by boat illegally. There were some immigrants came legally but then they choose to stay here and did not come back to their home country, over stayed, also consider illegal. Illegal immigrant means immigrant who doesn't have the right to live and work in USA.
Legal immigrant is people who live here with proper visa, many kind of visa, either student visa, work visa, spouse visa or other kind of visa. They can live and work here legally, paid taxes. Also there is a permanent residence. Permanent Residence is people who can live and work in the US permanently with no limit until they died, they get the most right as much as citizen accept they can't vote. So that means no wonder if they don't bother to get citizenship. People who doesn't have US Citizenship doesn't mean they illegal.
Become a US Citizens need to pay some fee which is still affordable. Some people may think twice to get it since there are some tests for that. Also they need to give up their original country citizenship, if their country doesn't recognize dual citizenship.
Your sanity.
Why would they want to become a citizen ? If they do they have to start paying federal tax, state tax,county tax,city tax, work tax, school tax,library tax,health tax, rent, insurance , for food , medication, Dr.bills and etc. Think about it
Let's see, if you are ';IN'; Mexico you might earn up to $10. for the whole day doing HARD labor.
If you come to the States, you can earn that much per hour in the fields, dish washing, or hundreds of other jobs.
Plus your children get great free education.
And you can use many of the governments agencies and get free resources.
How can you possibly put a price tag on the American Dream?
That shows ';citizenship';!
I would make a suggestion of simply quit sending money back to Mexico (billions) and be a citizen by spending your money here in the states.
Giving up your birth country and your history your
ancestry. My mother is from a Mexican Border town
and married an American (my dad) and NEVER gave her
Mexican Citizenship she is what is called a legal resident
oh also some countries like Mexico will not allow an
American to own land (so you can keep your property)
Illegal is when the immigrant fails to comply with the
US Immigration Policies and fails to file proper paperwork
necessary to become legal.
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