Benefit of N-400

[AAD... 4EVER!!! 0]

We are currently working on our AOS papers, ans I am wondering and wasn`t sure where to post this question so the moderator can feel free to move it. But any way, what made you decide to file for the N-400 over just keeping a greencard? Or is there legal differences? Is it really not an option like I have heard that it was? Sorry if I am asking alot of questions! We are just planning our next steps!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I think there are a lot of personal relevancies that apply here, however there are several pros and cons of taking out US citizenship. You are the best one to decide if they are important for you or not.

Pros:

-can vote in all elections (nice to have a say in the government where you live)

-can hold political office (if you wish)

-has more beneficial tax situation if spouse dies

-has more beneficial tax situation if inherit from overseas (out of the US)

-eligible for certain governmental benefits restricted to US citizens

-eligible for certain educational benefits/scholarships at Colleges and Universities

-some jobs are restricted to US citizens only

-can't be deported

-children under 18 automatically gain citizenship through parent

-still receive full SS benefits if you retire abroad

-don't have to renew green card every 10 years

-can live anywhere in the World and still be allowed to return to the US without going through the immigration process again

and the biggest benefit for most - don't have to deal with USCIS again!

Cons

-have to file a tax return with IRS wherever you live for the rest of your life (tax treaties generally prevent double taxation)

-eligible for jury duty

-may not be able to retain citizenship in birth country (some countries allow/recognize dual citizenship; some don't - Canada does)

-children's children may not have claim on citizenship of your birth country (some countries restrict derivative citizenship to 1st generation - Canada does)

-swearing allegiance to another country may bring conflicting emotions

-agree to join military or to assist military action in non-combative role if called upon by US to do so

Those are the ones that come to mind. I became a US citizen from pragmatic reasons as much as because I really believe that if you are living in a country you should participate in the governance of that country and I want to have my say by being allowed to vote.

[AAD... 4EVER!!! 0]

I think there are a lot of personal relevancies that apply here, however there are several pros and cons of taking out US citizenship. You are the best one to decide if they are important for you or not.

Pros:

-can vote in all elections (nice to have a say in the government where you live)

-can hold political office (if you wish)

-has more beneficial tax situation if spouse dies

-has more beneficial tax situation if inherit from overseas (out of the US)

-eligible for certain governmental benefits restricted to US citizens

-eligible for certain educational benefits/scholarships at Colleges and Universities

-some jobs are restricted to US citizens only

-can't be deported

-children under 18 automatically gain citizenship through parent

-still receive full SS benefits if you retire abroad

-don't have to renew green card every 10 years

-can live anywhere in the World and still be allowed to return to the US without going through the immigration process again

and the biggest benefit for most - don't have to deal with USCIS again!

Cons

-have to file a tax return with IRS wherever you live for the rest of your life (tax treaties generally prevent double taxation)

-eligible for jury duty

-may not be able to retain citizenship in birth country (some countries allow/recognize dual citizenship; some don't - Canada does)

-children's children may not have claim on citizenship of your birth country (some countries restrict derivative citizenship to 1st generation - Canada does)

-swearing allegiance to another country may bring conflicting emotions

-agree to join military or to assist military action in non-combative role if called upon by US to do so

Those are the ones that come to mind. I became a US citizen from pragmatic reasons as much as because I really believe that if you are living in a country you should participate in the governance of that country and I want to have my say by being allowed to vote.

So Canada does still recognize dual citizenship? I heard they had quit? That is prob one of the big factors of her keeping a greencard and for the children to be able to have claim to eithier country, because we do plan to travel ALOT in between and keep strong ties to her family there.......hmmmmmm, lets just all be one country and forget immigration to/from Canada.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

So Canada does still recognize dual citizenship? I heard they had quit? That is prob one of the big factors of her keeping a greencard and for the children to be able to have claim to eithier country, because we do plan to travel ALOT in between and keep strong ties to her family there.......hmmmmmm, lets just all be one country and forget immigration to/from Canada.

Hehehe, it would be lovely if we could be all one big wide world without borders. May be one day in a Star Trek type of future .

Yes, Canada does recognize dual citizenship. First generation children born to a Canadian mother outside of the US also have a claim to derivative Canadian citizenship, however, their children - your grandchildren - would not have a similar claim. They would have to be born in Canada themselves to obtain Canadian citizenship.

The US does not 'officially' recognize dual citizenship, however, since it isn't their call there is really nothing they can do about it. It is up to the country of original citizenship if they will still recognize the individual as one of their own. As far as the US is concerned, they will be American citizens only. The US does, however, recognize that there are people with another citizenship in addition to the US citizenship - they just tend to overlook it for their own best self-interests.

There are pros and cons of dual citizenship as well, and those will vary depending upon the countries of other citizenship. For Canadians, however, the pros of dual citizenship with the US generally outweigh the cons. You use either your US or Canadian passport to enter Canada or to leave the US and you use your US passport to re-enter the US. If you are going to a country that requires a visa, however, best to get the visa in the same passport that you will be using to re-enter the US - so you need to leave on your American passport as well.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Kathryn41

[antda 13]

Hi antdirt, (lol..cool...another Canadian "ant" too....)

That's great that you thinking about applying for US citizenship later on down the road....

Lol...And yes, start saving up the $675+ (gosh knows how much it will cost later on) application fee and gathering the paperwork now, and when your turn comes, you'll be ready to file for such!

By the way, according to the USCIS, one has to meet all of the following conditions in order to become a US Citizen (based on marriage):

-Been a permanent resident for 3 years

-Been married to the same USC for 3 years

-Your spouse/you must have been a USC for at least 3 years (which if born in the USA, since their birth)

-Been residing physically in the USA for 3 years

So when you've met ALL those requirments/conditions, you are good and ready to file...

The earliest you (and anyone else applying based on marriage) can file for US Citizenship is 3 years minus 90 days from the "residence since" date on your 2yr/10yr green card.

As for my reasons on becoming a US Citizen...(which I also included in my N-400 application cover letter, though optional):

On a personal note, I (Ant) would like to become a US Citizen through Naturalization for the following reasons:

• I love living here in America, and feel like I belong more here when I become a US Citizen, for example, in being able to vote

• (another positive personal reason...)

• (another positive personal reason...)

• Immigration fees are high and frequently increase, which will be more hardship if I apply later

• I want to end on a good experience with the USCIS, despite having unreasonable delays before

Lol..I guess those reasons, both the positive and the negative ones were good enough...

As my citizenship application was approved.....and I became a US Citizen as of November 2009!

And now I'm a dual American/Canadian Citizen!

As for how becoming a US Citizen has impacted my life...

Well, yes, it has made a difference...

Lol..besides the obvious fact of "getting rid of the USCIS" for the rest of my life...

Being a US Citizen has made me feel like I "belong" more in the country and a part of a place where I will spend the rest of my life in....

No worries about deporation, leaving, or anything else like that!

I can stay forever, and be with my family here!....

(then of course, there are other reasons too..but that's another story..would rather not discuss that here on vj..lol...)

I'm sure you'll think of reasons too as to why you want to apply for US Citizenship, and may this be a positive experience for you and your family too...

As well, you can read the VJ Guides here about that too...

US Naturalization (N-400) Step-by-Step Guide

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...alization_guide

And if you want to read about my experiences, feel free to look up my past VJ posts about the citizenship process...

Hope this helps too. Good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

P.S. And yes, as a dual Canadian/American citizen, you are allowed to keep both citizenships and allowed to travel with both passports too (though you have to enter the USA with a US passport/WHTI travel document as a US Citizen).

P.P.S. I agree, "lets just all be one country and forget immigration to/from Canada".....

Both countries are "so close yet so far" from each other! Lol..I tend to think of Canada as "the 51st state", be it that they are so close in so many ways. However, they are two separate countries, with different cultures, customs, history, etc, so in that way "Canada is a different country". And yes, there is this thing called "immigration" and "a border" that gets in the way of things too. Lol...funny, I moved only a few hundered miles/kilometres from Canada to the USA...and groan..I'm stuck with dealing with the USCIS....Wish there was one thing called "automatic US citizenship" for Canadians...wishful thinking though....lol...(though interestingly enough, Canadian/American children can have dual citizenship through their parents.....that's another story..)

We are currently working on our AOS papers, ans I am wondering and wasn`t sure where to post this question so the moderator can feel free to move it. But any way, what made you decide to file for the N-400 over just keeping a greencard? Or is there legal differences? Is it really not an option like I have heard that it was? Sorry if I am asking alot of questions! We are just planning our next steps!

Edited January 24, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Oh, another benefit of taking out US citizenship - you don't have to notify them with an AR-11 and a new I-865 every time you move to a new address.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Kathryn41

[antda 13]

Oh, another benefit of taking out US citizenship - you don't have to notify them with an AR-11 and a new I-864 every time you move to a new address.

..Agreed! None of the USCIS' business where we move to after US Citizenship...lol....(though the IRS..that's another story...)

And hence I said..."the obvious fact of "getting rid of the USCIS" for the rest of my life..."

Btw..It's the AR-11 Alien Change of Address and I-865 Sponsor Change of Address..

(I had to fill those ones out when I moved...what a bother!...and I didn't even get a receipt for the AR-11....see my timeline for more info)

Not I-864 Affidavit of Support..lol...(minor issue here..but make sure you fill out the right forms if need be...lol..)

Ant

Oh and other benefit of US Citizenship...Your sponsor and/or co-sponsor doesn't have to deal with the I-864 anymore! Contract is over...

Edited January 24, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[a&o 4]

Main benefit, IMO, for those with a spouse from a poor country: a U.S. passport eliminates the need for pesky and expensive tourist visas when traveling internationally. My husband had to go in person to a consulate six hours away (by car) and complete an expensive and lengthy tourist visa application process just to go and visit Peru with me this past Christmas. I guess it doesn't matter to some countries that he is a permanent resident...surprised us, but when I looked into other places to vacation, the same tourist visa would be necessary. Major headache, since we love to travel.

If you're from a rich country that gets you into most other countries visa-free, would need to look at other benefits.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Good point - not just poor countries but whatever country requires a personal visit to obtain a visa for citizens from your spouse's country. It could mean travelling a fair bit to arrange for a visa. Friends of mine had to fly to Miami to visit the appropriate Consulate in person there to obtain a visa for the non-US partner.

Another benefit - Driver's Licenses! They are only issued for limited periods of times to some permanent residents - for example in Georgia you can only renew a DL for 3 years or until the expiry of your green card - whichever comes first while US citizens can renew for 10 years. Some states have special notations recorded on DL of permanent residents stating the fact that they are not US citizens which can lead to some people being treated unfairly.

And yet another - freedom from worry that the US will completely change the rules about immigration and Permanent Residents and finding yourself having to jump through all sorts of new hoops - and paying more fees - that don't exist now.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Kathryn41

[mamaSue 38]

I'm eligible for citizenship in August.

My main reason for applying is.... we travel a lot.... we're both retired.

If we want to stay out of the country for long spells, I don't have to be counting days out of the country.... worrying about abandonment of GC status.

Also..... I want the freedom of being able to vote, move house, etc.... without additional hassles..... and being able to stand in line with myhusband at immigration when we enter the US.

[NickD 203]

Wife's first comment in the car, after her oath ceremony and looking at her certificate, was, I no longer feel like an outsider. Both she and her daughter love this country, they can drive on our roads and feel safe, and drink the greatest water in the world from the tap. Daughter was negative at first, but after seven years, this is her country, speaks perfect English and is waiting to get her USC this summer.

Guess all I have to say is, if you like it here, become a part of it.