Becoming a U.S. citizen gives permanent residents new rights and privileges. Citizenship also brings with it new responsibilities. This section discusses reasons to consider U.S. citizenship and describes what you need to do to become a citizen.
Why Become a U.S. Citizen?
To become a citizen, you must be willing to:
● Swear your loyalty to the United States;
● Give up your allegiance to any other country; and
● Support and defend the United States and its Constitution.
When you become a citizen, you accept all of the responsibilities of being an American. In return, you get certain rights and privileges. Permanent residents have most of the rights of U.S. citizens, but there are many important reasons to consider becoming a U.S. citizen, such as:
● Voting: Only citizens can vote in federal elections. In most states, only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in elections.
● Serving on a Jury: Only U.S. citizens can serve on a federal jury. In most states, only U.S. citizens are allowed to serve on a jury. Serving on a jury is an important responsibility for U.S. citizens.
● Traveling with a U.S. Passport: A U.S. passport enables U.S. citizens to get assistance from the U.S. government when overseas, if necessary.
● Bringing Family Members to the United States: Generally, U.S. citizens get priority when petitioning to bring family members permanently to this country.
● Obtaining Citizenship for Children Born Abroad: In most cases, a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen is automatically a U.S. citizen.
● Becoming Eligible for Federal Jobs: Certain jobs with government agencies require U.S. citizenship.
● Becoming an Elected Official: Only citizens can run for federal office and for most state and local offices.
● Keeping Your Residency: A U.S. citizen’s right to remain in the United States cannot be taken away.
● Becoming Eligible for Federal Grants and Scholarships: Many financial aid grants, including college scholarships and funds given by the government for specific purposes, are available only to U.S. citizens.
● Obtaining Government Benefits: Some government benefits are available only to U.S. citizens.
