Citizenship vs Permanent Residence

[jaycali 415]

What are some major benefits that a citizen has that an LPR doesn't?

My wife and I plan to remain in the US for a long long time, maybe forever, but my country doesn't allow dual citizenship and I don't want to lose my citizenship.

I can do without voting, don't plan to work in the government, and none of my family members want to be petitioned for. But are there other major benefits that LPRs don't have?

Edited June 19, 2012 by jaejayC

[nickbits 43]

You can never be denied entry into the US or deported.

There are some differences in social security benefits.

My wife is mostly interested in voting privileges.

[JohnR! 5,495]

What are some major benefits that a citizen has that an LPR doesn't?

My wife and I plan to remain in the US for a long long time, maybe forever, but my country doesn't allow dual citizenship and I don't want to lose my citizenship.

I can do without voting, don't plan to work in the government, and none of my family members want to be petitioned for. But are there other major benefits that LPRs don't have?

The biggest and only, difference is that as a citizen you have the privilege of voting. Other than that you can remain a LPR to your dying day.

[UK_Fan 192]

jury duty...

[JohnR! 5,495]

jury duty...

Oh yeah... THAT's a winner!!! :rofl:

[Caryh 5,206]

A Co-owner of the company I work for is from Norway. He's opted for staying a LPR, and never went for citizenship. He's been living in the USA and married to a USC for nearly 30 years. Apparently, he likes keeping the citizenship from the country of his birth. I'm not sure what advantage that gives him there, could be just sentimental. But it hasn't stopped him from owning a home, raising a family or owning a business in the USA.

[afoyoswa 178]

If you come from a developing country: ease of travel to developed countries. A US passport gets you no-questions-asked access to a whole lot more of the world than a Ugandan one does. That, and being able to stay outside the US as long as you like without having to worry about jeopardizing your LPR status. Being able to travel and live together wherever we want is the biggest reason Aaron will be going all the way to naturalization once he gets here.

[UK_Fan 192]

Oh yeah... THAT's a winner!!! :rofl:

dang straight.

[amyandjorge 76]

This is a good question, I always wonder if there is something I am missing in the difference between the two...

Anywho, I want my husband to go for it so we can spend extended amounts of time in Honduras and still freely return to the US.

[aaron2020 11,651]

A US citizen is entitled to live in the US. The government can't take away this right.

An LPR is not entitled to live in the US. An LPR has permission from the US government to live in US. The US government can revoke this permission at any time and deport The LPR. iIr does not matter how long the LPR has been living in US. It could be for 30 or 40 years. Having a US citizen spouse, US citizen children, US businesses, or ties to the US is irrelevant. And LPR is a guest of the US, and can be forced to leave at anytime.

[Krikit 1,164]

Some disadvantages in remaining an LPR include tax implications with regard to out-of-country inheritances, etc.

I also have a vague recollection of things like the death of the USC spouse and social security benefits. (Sorry I can't be more specific. I'd saved all the data on my desktop and the motherboard just fried. )

And if you ever move back home with US citizenship status then you will enjoy a lifetime of reporting to the IRS.

[ceadsearc 516]

A USC can live out of the US as long as they want. An LPR needs to always maintain residency in the US.

[fantonledzepp 159]

What about owning guns? Is that only a USC right?

[newlyweds2010 208]

A US citizen is entitled to live in the US. The government can't take away this right.

An LPR is not entitled to live in the US. An LPR has permission from the US government to live in US. The US government can revoke this permission at any time and deport The LPR. iIr does not matter how long the LPR has been living in US. It could be for 30 or 40 years. Having a US citizen spouse, US citizen children, US businesses, or ties to the US is irrelevant. And LPR is a guest of the US, and can be forced to leave at anytime.

Uhm, I don't think that one day the US Gov't will wake up and decide to kick out LPRs just because. There must be some (serious) grounds. Then of course the law can change at any time, but I wouldn't want to live in a country that removes people from its territory for no reason. If that day ever came, I'd grab my stuff, leave and move on as a free man.

To the OP: bear in mind that once you become a US Citizen, you get married to the IRS for life, regardless of where you live.

Edited June 20, 2012 by newlyweds2010

[Moomin 292]

What about owning guns? Is that only a USC right?

Nope.

Some agencies/work places require US citizenship. You can't vote, you have to renew greencard every 10th year.

I admit it sounds appealing however as someone else said, maybe it's the sentimental aspect that makes me not want to give up Danish citizenship. I'll look into it in about 10 years. Maybe they'll change the laws regarding dual citizenship by then. If not, I'll be just fine with staying LPR.