US Citizenship vs Greencard

[travelchick747]

I am toggling whether or not I want to get my US Citizenship because except for cost, I do not see a benefit. I have a green card now.

- I don't vote
- I have no kids & am not having any.
- I don't want to serve on a jury (I travel a lot/work contract)
- I don't plan on doing any criminal acts which may deport me.
-I own my own business so I won't be looking for grants to go back to school or a job that require US Citizenship.

Is there a benefit to becoming a US Citizen that I am just not seeing? Is there a financial advantage? My interview is coming up and now I'm reconsidering my options.

[rayb]

If your interview is "coming up," you have already applied for citizenship.

The biggest advantage you will gain from being naturalized is freedom of movement with a U.S. passport. Also, you may later spend an indefinite amount of time outside the U.S. and return with no problems. In addition, as a citizen, you can petition family members to come to the U.S. that you cannot petition as a Green Card holder (parents, siblings).

--Ray B

I am toggling whether or not I want to get my US Citizenship because except for cost, I do not see a benefit. I have a green card now.

- I don't vote
- I have no kids & am not having any.
- I don't want to serve on a jury (I travel a lot/work contract)
- I don't plan on doing any criminal acts which may deport me.
-I own my own business so I won't be looking for grants to go back to school or a job that require US Citizenship.

Is there a benefit to becoming a US Citizen that I am just not seeing? Is there a financial advantage? My interview is coming up and now I'm reconsidering my options.

[travelchick747]

If your interview is "coming up," you have already applied for citizenship.

The biggest advantage you will gain from being naturalized is freedom of movement with a U.S. passport. Also, you may later spend an indefinite amount of time outside the U.S. and return with no problems. In addition, as a citizen, you can petition family members to come to the U.S. that you cannot petition as a Green Card holder (parents, siblings).

--Ray B

Thanks for this. I don't think any of your advantages apply to me because I have a Canadian passport, don't plan on living outside of the US and there won't be any Canadian family members wanting to come here (whew! relief).

I am still "thinking" about it/waying the options before my interview to just update my GC vs citizenship. It may be huge financial hit to change my mind since I've paid the fees already.

The only advantage I can see for myself for US citizenship is to stop the bureaucratic nonsense every ten years when updating my green card. The lines seem longer, paperwork crazier and I'm getting older.

Thanks again.

[cafeconleche]

Your reasoning is good. I'd also say that as you plan on living in the US anyway, just go through with it. You'll probably get jury duty once (a ridiculous practice, if you ask me - I wouldn't trust my peers), and if you can't argue your way out of it, just go for it. Chances are high that you won't be selected after a day, anyway.

In future if you want to renounce US citizenship, it'll cost you, as of today, $450. It could go up, or it could be ruled unconstitutional eventually.