Becoming A Naturalized US Citizen Can Positively Affect Many Aspects of Your Life

The EB-5 program gives foreign investors the opportunity to obtain a Green Card. Once investors and their family members have had green cards for 5 years, they are eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalization, provided certain requirements are met. Prospective immigrants from the world over know that there are numerous advantages of having US citizenship, and that US naturalization can positively effect many aspects of a person’s life.

Travel

When traveling abroad, US citizens have the full support of the American government, which will provide assistance when there is no one else to turn to. Particularly, in case of a crisis such as a natural disaster or war that renders a country’s infrastructure void, the US Department of State can arrange to have Americans evacuated to a place of safety.

Traveling as an American Citizen also makes things considerably more convenient. Americans can stay outside of the US for however long they like without jeopardizing their citizenship. This is in contrast to Permanent Residents, who must obtain a re-entry permit if traveling outside of the U.S. for longer than 1 year. Furthermore, as of the date of this writing, there are over 186 countries and territories that either allow visa-free travel or grant visas on arrival to American citizens. Not having to apply for visas prior to visiting these countries takes the hassle out of traveling and makes it that much more fun and enjoyable.

Learn more about traveling as an American at the US Department of State Passports and International Travel Website.

Family

Being a U.S. Citizen comes with certain benefits for your family. Children born abroad to Americans usually acquire American citizenship upon birth. Additionally, U.S. Citizens may have foreign family members who want to immigrate to the U.S. When petitioning for family members’ permanent residence, citizens generally get priority over Permanent Residents.

Education

The United States is home to numerous world-class educational institutions. In recent years, the cost of attending most American universities has skyrocketed, and so it is important to note that certain financial aid grants are only available to U.S. citizens. 

Employment

Being an American opens up the possibility of working for the government. Almost all federal government jobs and most state government jobs require that employees have U.S. citizenship. These jobs tend to offer unrivaled benefits, such as full health coverage and competitive retirement plans.

In order to be able to run for any government office in the U.S., you must be an American citizen. The presidency is the only office that mandates that the president be a native born U.S. citizen and is therefore not available to naturalized citizens.

Upon retiring, Social Security benefits are available to U.S. citizens even if they move abroad. U.S. Permanent Residents, on the other hand, may not be eligible to receive the full benefits once they move overseas.

Patriotism

Finally, there’s no better way to show your love and patriotism for your newly adopted country than to become a U.S. citizen. Citizenship will also grant you the right to vote, which is one of the cornerstones of democracy, and is a right that is only available to U.S. citizens.

If you have any questions about U.S. citizenship or are a U.S. Permanent Resident wishing to apply for naturalization, please contact Jatoi & de Kirby, A.P.C.