Janis Peterson-Lord Immigration Law Blog on Lawyers.com

THE BEST TEN BENEFITS OF BECOMING A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES

The Right to Vote-The Most Basic Benefit
Apply now to be a part of democracy. One of the basic rights you have as a U.S. citizen is the right to vote. As a U.S. Citizen you have the ability to vote on the way your country should be governed. Participating in an election is an important right that resonates with the pride you can feel as an American. Remember every vote counts, and not much can compare to the feeling that your vote helped decide legislation. Vote for President, vote on local tax issues, and vote for your local representatives.

Help with Reuniting Families/The right to sponsor relatives

You can assist qualified family members attain their immigrant visa without visa unavailability postponements. Your “immediate relatives”: spouses, parents, and minor unmarried children, will acquire immediate visa availability. There is no limit to the number of visas issued each year to the category of “immediate relatives”. There are also other privileges that immediate relatives have that may make it easier for them to attain permanent residence in the U.S.  “Immediate relatives” who are overstays can still adjust to permanent residents, while others cannot.

Protect Your Children's Rights

The benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen can also be granted to your children. Permanent resident children under the age of eighteen, who are in the lawful legal and physical custody of their naturalizing parent(s), automatically become U.S. citizens when their parent(s) become naturalized. 

Never Deported

New laws could be passed that adversely affect your rights as a permanent resident. As a citizen if you are charged of a crime, even a non-serious one, you possess many protected rights. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Immigration Courts have the jurisdiction to remove (or deport) permanent residents who are charged with such crimes. A U.S. citizen's right to remain in the United States cannot be taken away.

Travel Headaches

As a U.S. citizen you are not limited on the time you can travel outside of the U.S. You can also lessen a few travel headaches. Many countries do not necessitate U.S. citizens to acquire visas.  Permanent residents can be considered to have abandon their status if they depart the country for six months or longer. Permanent residents must acquire a re-entry permit if they will be outside of the U.S. longer than the allowed travel time. Another advantage of citizenship is the right to live overseas without endangering citizenship status in the U.S.

Government Benefits        

Some refugees and other non-citizens can only get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for up to seven years. If you are a current or former SSI recipient subject to SSI eligibility under the seven-year time limit, we encourage you to apply for Citizenship.                                                                                                                                                            

Run for Public Office/ Obtain State or Federal Government Jobs 

As a U.S. citizen you are granted the right to run for public office, and you become eligible for certain government agency jobs.                                                                       

Financial Consideration

Green cards must be renewed every ten years for a fee (currently $370.00), while citizenship once obtained does not expire or need to be renewed. Many financial aid grants, including college scholarships are available to only U.S. citizens.

Estate/ Taxes  

All property left to a spouse is exempt from estate tax, as long as the spouse is a U.S. citizen. In general, the U.S. gift tax and estate tax laws permit unlimited tax-free transfers of property between spouses if the transferee spouse (i.e., the spouse receiving property) is a U.S. citizen. This "marital deduction" often is said to reflect the view that a husband and wife represent a single economic unit. But the marital deduction is not allowed if the transferee spouse is not a U.S. citizen, even if the non-citizen spouse is a permanent resident of the United States.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weight of US Government behind you to protect you

U.S. Consulates and Embassies can provide you with assistance when overseas if necessary.