Part 1
Pursuing Immigration and Citizenship
IN THIS PART …
Plan your immigration and path to U.S. Citizenship
Find out about U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and other agencies that affect immigration and citizenship.
Safeguard your future immigration plans with the appropriate visa.
Fill out the USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization.
Chapter 1
The Joys of Becoming a U.S. Citizen
IN THIS CHAPTER
The decision to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most important choices you can ever make. Before you can become a U.S. citizen, however, you first must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. For this reason, before you begin the process, you need to know what you want to achieve — legal immigration or naturalization — and whether you can expect to qualify for it.
This chapter gives you an overview of your immigration options, helps you understand the benefits and disadvantages of becoming a U.S. citizen, and shows you what to expect during the process. Although we go into more detail later in the book, this chapter helps you determine what your immigration and citizenship goals are and shows you how best to pursue them.
Determining Whether You Really Want to Become a U.S. Citizen
Becoming a U.S. citizen carries important duties and responsibilities as well as rights, rewards, and privileges. Before you make the decision to pursue U.S. citizenship, you need to be aware of what you stand to lose and what you stand to gain and be sure that you’re ready to fulfill all the obligations of a good citizen.
What you lose
When you become a U.S. citizen, you must give up all prior allegiances to other countries. Although nobody will care if you root for your birth country in a soccer match (actually, some soccer fans may care, but the U.S. government certainly won’t), you won’t be able to defend that country against the United States in times of conflict or war. You must also be willing to serve your new country, the United States of America, when required. What this means is that if the United States is at war or in the midst of some other type of crisis, you need to be willing to take up arms or otherwise aid the U.S. military effort in whatever capacity is needed.
Giving up your allegiances to other countries doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up your citizenship in other countries. You may be able to maintain your original citizenship(s) and hold U.S. citizenship (having citizenship in more than one country is known as dual citizenship). The United States allows dual citizenship (though it is disfavored). Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. If you are a citizen of such a country, you will likely give up your citizenship upon naturalizing to U.S. citizenship. This information may affect your decision to apply for U.S. citizenship. To find out if your citizenship can be affected, check with the embassy of each country where you have or are considering citizenship.
Furthermore, giving up your allegiance to other countries does not mean that you must stop speaking your native language, teaching your children about your culture, or practicing your religion. These are gifts to be shared not only with your friends and family but also your fellow Americans.
What you gain
The United States Constitution, the country’s most important document and essentially the rulebook for how the U.S. government runs, guarantees all people living in the United States, whether U.S. citizens or not, certain rights. Freedom of religion and speech, the right to peaceable assembly, and the right to a fair trial if you’re ever accused of a crime are all important freedoms guaranteed to everyone in the United States.
U.S. citizens, both born and naturalized, however, are eligible for many additional benefits based on their status as U.S. citizens. These include the following:
The right to vote and, therefore, to have a voice in government
The right to hold elected office (except for the offices of president and vice president, which are reserved for natural-born citizens)
Certain government jobs
Scholarships and/or grants
The ability to petition for immediate relatives to join you in the United States without being subject to visa limits
Protection from forced removal from the country
Certain types of public assistance
Your rights and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen
When you become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must take the Oath of Allegiance. The Oath of Allegiance is your promise to the government and the people of the United States that you will
Give up any prior allegiances to other countries.
Support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies.
Support, defend, and obey the laws of the United States.
Serve the United States, if required, in times of war or national emergency. You may be called to serve in the military or help U.S. military efforts in some capacity.
Swear allegiance to the United States.
In addition to the responsibilities outlined in the Oath of Allegiance, U.S. citizens have other important duties:
Serving on a jury: One of the most important rights in the United States is the right to a trial by a jury in most cases. Serving on a jury when asked is an important obligation of U.S. citizens in order to protect the U.S. system of justice, in which the power still rests with the people. Although there is a small chance you may never be called to report for jury duty, know that if you do receive a notice to report, you’re legally compelled to do so. Failure to report for jury duty can result in a fine, jail time, or both.
Voting: The United States has a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The ultimate political authority is not in the hands of the government or of any single government official — instead, the ultimate political authority is in the hands of the people. Citizens of the United States have the right to change or abolish the government or to amend the Constitution. U.S. citizens exercise their power by voting for elected representatives.