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CitizenshipTo become a naturalized United States citizen, one must be at least eighteen years of age at the time of filing, a legal permanent resident of the United States, and have had a status of a legal permanent resident in the United States for five years less 90 days before they apply (this requirement is reduced to three years less 90 days if they (a) acquired legal permanent resident status, (b) have been married to and living with acitizen for the past three years and (c) the spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least three years prior to the applicant applying for naturalization.) They must have been physically present for at least 30 months of 60 months prior to the date of filing their application. Also during those 60 months if the legal permanent resident was outside of the U.S. for a continuous period of 6 months or more they are disqualified from naturalizing (certain exceptions apply for those continuous periods of six months to 1 year). They must be a "person of good moral character", and must pass a test on United States history and government. Most applicants must also have a working knowledge of the English language.[5] There are exceptions, introduced in 1990, for long-resident older applicants and those with mental or physical disabilities. This requirement for an ability to read, write, and speak English is not regarded as too difficult, since the test requires that applicants read and write in English. Applicants for citizenship are asked ten questions, and must answer at least six correctly. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published a list of 96 sample questions (with answers), from which the questions asked are normally drawn. The full list of questions can be found in the "A Guide to Naturalization" which is available for free from the USCIS. The benefits of US citizenship are numerous. Many United States citizens find it advantageous to use their U.S. passport when traveling abroad, as it is welcome in many parts of the world. Green card holders, on the other hand, must travel on their native passport. There are certain restrictions that green card holders must be aware of when traveling abroad for longer periods of time. Several countries allow dual citizenship including the United States. Learn the Top 10 Reasons to become a United States citizen. United States citizens also have the ability to sponsor relatives for U.S. immigration benefits, including visas and Green Cards. In addition, US citizens are also eligible to apply for governmental jobs as many government contracts and jobs require the applicant to be a United States citizen. Download the United States Citizenship Application to learn more. * Only United States citizens can obtain a U.S. passport. * U.S. citizens can reside abroad for longer periods of time, while green card holders may have their permanent resident status revoked. * Green cards must be renewed every 10 years for a fee (currently $370), while citizenship does not expire or need to be renewed. * Many countries have waived visa requirements for U.S. passport holders, while green card holders with native passports may have to apply for visas in advance. * U.S. citizens are eligible to receive additional services and assistance from U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. * U.S. citizens do not have to carry proof of citizenship, while green card holders must always be able to prove their legal status in the United States by carrying a valid green card. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has detained permanent residents who did not have their green cards with them. * U.S. citizens have the right to vote in the United States. * U.S. citizens have the right to sponsor relatives and family members so they can immigrate to the United States. * United States citizens cannot be deported, while green card holders may be deported in certain cases, such as being convicted of a crime. * U.S. citizens have the right to run for public office. Finally, there are intangible benefits of US Citizenship. Many Green Card holders feel that they would like to make the United States their permanent home. Therefore, there is a psychological benefit to being a United States citizen, and being on equal footing with one's peers.
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