Is it worth it?

[JayDee 0]

I am a UK citizen and a permanent resident.

I will be eligible to apply for citizenship in a few months. I'm not sure i will.

As far as i see it i can do anything i want except vote. I have no family members requiring me to sponsor them, so, there are no benefits as far as i can see from being a citizen rather than a permanent resident.

this seems weird.

Is there somehting i am missing?

J

[Leafgal 3]

I don't see that as a problem as I don't intend on doing it either. I will continue to vote from the US in the Canadian election as my family is all here and I have an interest here in Canada. And who knows maybe someday we will move up here, so I will retain my Canadian citizenship.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

The major benefit I see in becoming a USC is that I will never have to deal with immigration again... I will keep my dual citizenship US/UK and have the best of both worlds

Kezzie

[john_and_marlene 162]

inheritance tax laws

social security survivor benefits rules

address change reporting

restriction of some government jobs

can be deported for some crimes (not everyone who gets convicted was guilty)

release of sponsor/cosponsors from financial responsibility

[Taye500 0]

inheritance tax laws

social security survivor benefits rules

address change reporting

restriction of some government jobs

can be deported for some crimes (not everyone who gets convicted was guilty)

release of sponsor/cosponsors from financial responsibility

Excellent reply, If you are not a US citizens you can be deported for any violent or drug felony conviction. Most good jobs are demanding citizenship requirements these days. And finally, it doesn't hurt to get it. It costs less than $500.00 to apply and believe me it's worth it !!! I'm in law enforcement today because i have it.

[JayDee 0]

Great answer kezzie--the main reason i'm cosidering it now is because they keep extending my 1-551 WITHOUT REMOVING CONDITIONS for no reason. it looks like i'm going to be eligible to apply for citizenship before my conditions are removed. See my recent post in the removing conditions forum for more info.sigh.

inheritance tax laws

social security survivor benefits rules

address change reporting

restriction of some government jobs

can be deported for some crimes (not everyone who gets convicted was guilty)

release of sponsor/cosponsors from financial responsibility

i had forgotten about the address change reporting. That's definitely one to consider. Especially since the system doesn't seem too great. i'm not too worried about the government jobs thing, i looked up the criminal deportation thing--i figure if i'm convicted of one of those crimes being deported will be the least of my problems. I'm interested in learning more about the inheritance tax laws and ss survivor benefits. Any good links? As for releasing my sponsor from financial responsibility? he'd be much worse off if he didn't have me around, so i feel no guilt there. I bring in the big bucks!

J

[I'm Gone 60]

social security survivor benefits rules

As long as you are in the U.S. legally it doesn't matter if you are a U.S. citizen or not to receive Social Security benefits. Outside the U.S. it does matter.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0300204010

RS 00204.010 Lawful Presence Payment Provisions

On August 22, 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA or Public Law 104-193) was signed into law. Section 401(a) of the Personal Responsibility Act places restrictions on the payment of benefits to aliens in the U.S. under title II of the Social Security Act. Section 401(B)(2) of PRWORA, however, provides an exception allowing any alien eligible for benefits under title II of the Social Security Act to be paid when he/she is “lawfully present in the United States as determined by the Attorney General.” The Attorney General defined the phrase “lawfully present in the United States” for purposes of paying title II benefits in regulations published on September 6, 1996 by the Department of Homeland Security (previously known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service).

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10137.html

Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States

If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below, Social Security payments will keep coming no matter how long you stay outside the U.S., as long as you are eligible for the payments.

Austria

Belgium

Canada

Chile

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Korea (South)

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United Kingdom

For other countries the 5 year rule applies.

If you receive benefits as a dependent or survivor of the worker, special requirements may affect your right to receive Social Security payments while you are outside the U.S. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years. During that five years, the family relationship on which benefits are based must have existed.

Children may meet this residency requirement on their own or may be considered to meet the residency requirement if it is met by the worker and other parent (if any). However, children adopted outside the U.S. will not be paid outside the U.S., even if the residency requirement is met.

[john_and_marlene 162]

http://immlaw.com/citizenship.html

Citizens have full rights and protections under the United States Constitution. Non-citizens, even lawful permanent residents with long term residence in the United States, may face the loss of their status under certain circumstances as a result of changes in immigration law.

U.S. citizens are able to sponsor immediate relatives (spouses, unmarried minor children and parents) for Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status without a long wait for a visa to become available. The may also sponsor these other relatives, subject to visa availability:

unmarried adult sons and daughters;

married sons and daughters; and,

brothers and sisters.

Possession of a United States passport.

Ability to travel, and even live, abroad without fear of jeopardizing LPR status.

Citizens may not be removed, or deported, from the United States. They are also able to re-enter the United States easily without being required to establish admissibility each time.

Ability to vote and fully participate in the U.S. electoral process.

Only U.S. citizens are able to hold elected public office.

Eligibility for many government-related jobs is restricted to citizens only.

Eligibility for public benefits from which non-citizens, including LPRs, may be excluded.

Receipt of Social Security benefits worldwide without concern over reciprocity agreements.

Entitlement to substantial deductions on U.S. estate tax.

No address change or other CIS reporting requirements.

Citizens are always eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, which many non-citizens may not be.

Edited July 16, 2006 by john_and_marlene

[I'm Gone 60]

Citizens are always eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, which many non-citizens may not be.

Once again if you are here legally you can receive Social Security benefits and are eligible for free Medicare Part A and can buy Part B. If you are not eligible for Social Security benefits, but have been a permanant resident alien for 5 years you can buy Medicare Part A and B.

[john_and_marlene 162]

Citizens are always eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, which many non-citizens may not be.

Once again if you are here legally you can receive Social Security benefits and are eligible for free Medicare Part A and can buy Part B. If you are not eligible for Social Security benefits, but have been a permanant resident alien for 5 years you can buy Medicare Part A and B.

What are the rules for SSI?

[I'm Gone 60]

Citizens are always eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, which many non-citizens may not be.

Once again if you are here legally you can receive Social Security benefits and are eligible for free Medicare Part A and can buy Part B. If you are not eligible for Social Security benefits, but have been a permanant resident alien for 5 years you can buy Medicare Part A and B.

What are the rules for SSI?

SSI is a little more complicated, but the majority of aliens won't be eligible until they have 40 Quarters of Coverage with permanant resident status and have been in the U.S. for at least 5 years.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500502100

SI 00502.100 Basic SSI Alien Eligibility Requirements

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500502135

SI 00502.135 LAPR with 40 Qualifying Quarters of Earnings

[meauxna 15]

http://immlaw.com/citizenship.html

My new UK-->US citizen spouse approves of this message!

Plus he said it's really cool to be dual.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I don't see that as a problem as I don't intend on doing it either. I will continue to vote from the US in the Canadian election as my family is all here and I have an interest here in Canada. And who knows maybe someday we will move up here, so I will retain my Canadian citizenship.

Just curious about how you are able to vote in Canadian elections. Elections Canada requires you to file an expected date of return to Canada in order to send you your ballot - and if you are resident in the US, then you do not have an expected date of return. In Canada, unlike the US, you do not vote for Prime Minister - you vote for the representative of the area in which you live. If you are not living in Canada, then you have no Canadian residential address - and therefore no one for whom you can vote.

[Reba 2]

exactly, you cannot vote in Canadian elections if you do not live in Canada unless you have a specific date of return.

One thing to put on the Con side of the list is that once you're a US citizen you have to file tax reports to the IRS, even if you leave the country for good. Pain in the ####### if you ask me.

[Anyta Holland 1]

My hubby is going to have dual.... We want to make sure that we can return to the UK should we want to, or at least give the option to our children should they want it...

Also, we wouldn't have to deal with Immigration anymore and I suppose this is worth millions!