Whats the pros and cons of being a citizen of the USA vs Permanent Resident?

Question

I have a buddy of mine who's lived in the USA since he was two he and his parents have green cards and have lived here for 20+ years.

I asked him if he's going to become a citizen and he said he might but he admitted he doesn't feel like doing all the work (he is a lazy ***)...and he doesn't have any incentive in becoming one.......he wondered what benefits (apart from voting) he could get from becoming a citizen..so I ask what benefits is it to being a citizen?

Answer 1

Above all answers, you can start working and file for social security for retirement benefit.

Answer 2

Government work/job reserved for citizens only

Answer 3

I am a permanent resident and I am planning on becoming a citizen for a couple of reasons.  

I DON'T want to stand in line at the INS every 10 years - what am I going to do when I am old and grey??

I DO want to vote - I live here, I SHOULD.

I want to be able, God forbid I ever need to, qualify for any kind of Medicaid health coverage - you can't if you're not a citizen.

There's not a huge number of reasons for obtaining citizenship, but the ones that exist are pretty good!!!

Answer 4

Benefits.

1- there's a risk of having permanent resident status revoked.

2- will be held in higher regard as a citizen, pride of citizenship, etc.

Detriments.

1- once a citizen, you are subject to u.s. tax laws even after you leave the united states.  for foreign-earned income, you won't have to necessarily pay any taxes, but you are still governed by the tax code, technically ahve to file a return in most cases, etc.

2- he may lose or forfeit citizenship in his current mother country when he becomes a u.s. citizen.  depending on what country he is from, in an extreme case country A may consider him to be a really really nasty guy for renouncing citizenship there.

Answer 5

No vacancies, USA currently is full. Don't bother.

Answer 6

Dos he know if you are not a citizen that you can not collect SSI when he is 62.That's why so many Mexicans that are here for years ran and got their citizenship.If he dosn't want to become a citizen he should go where he came from along with his parents.

Answer 7

you can travel pretty much anywhere with a u.s passport! I love that privilege.  Also you don't have to renew the green card every ten years or so - that's extra money, in addition to extra time filling out forms

Answer 8

If you're a citizen you can vote, collect SS (if there's any left when our generation reaches that age) and travel as you see fit - which is pretty cool.

Down side? If you're male, you HAVE TO register or your application is turned down. No joke - on the application, it askes if you've registered for the Reserves and if the answer is "No" it tells you to "Stop" and that you are not eligible.

So, I guess you got to weigh it in as follows... become a citizen so you don't have to go through the hassle of renewing residency every 10 years or whatever OR join the army and God only knows what will happen to you if we have anymore warmongers in office.

Answer 9

Good thing about being a citizen:

-vote

-hold government jobs

-can live anywhere in the world for as long as they want, and still return to the u.s.

-sponsor a spouse and other families to become a legal immigrant.

Bad thing about being a citizen:

-jury duty

-taxes

i have go disagree with the above answerer who said that people having a greencard do not collect social security nor have medicaid after retirement.  my dad, who is a greencard holder and retired, have medicaid and collects social security (after years of owning his own business in the states).  i know of other people, who were sponsored by their adult children, are retired and are greencard holders who also have both and they never worked in the u.s. before.  

as a greencardholder, you also are entitled to collect unemployment and disabiltiy.