Newcomers into the U.S. may think that the journey of immigration ends with becoming a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR). In reality, immigrants have the opportunity to gradually transition into U.S. citizens with equal rights as U.S.-born citizens. Some immigrants might falsely assume that being a green card holder is just as good as being a U.S. citizen.
However, there are unique challenges that legal permanent residents face that would go away if they became citizens. Immigrants might want to know the challenges that citizenship can help them alleviate. Understanding the milestone that is transitioning from a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) to a U.S. citizen can encourage immigrants to go through naturalization.
Stability and security
One of the primary challenges LPRs face is the lack of absolute security regarding their residency status. While green cards offer long-term residence, they require renewal. Furthermore, they can be revoked under certain circumstances, such as:
- Criminal offenses
- Prolonged absence from the U.S.
- National security issues
Becoming a citizen eliminates these vulnerabilities because U.S. citizens don’t have to worry about :
- Maintaining continuous residency
- Having their citizenship revoked without extraordinary circumstances
- Having their citizenship become admissible due to health reasons
Citizenship provides a sense of stability and security that LPRs lack.
Expanded rights and privileges
Once an immigrant adopts to the U.S. culture, they’ll likely want to vote to have a hand in the policies that impact their communities. Unfortunately, LPRs do not have the right to vote in federal, state or local elections.
The only way for immigrants to earn this right is through naturalization and becoming citizens. Aside from gaining the right to vote, citizenship can also enable immigrants to access a wider range of federal jobs and benefits. For example, they can now be eligible for certain scholarships and grants that are unavailable to non-citizens.
Easier family reunification
Family separation is a common struggle for immigrants; many have experienced lengthy waiting periods for family-based visas. U.S. citizens, however, can sponsor a broader range of family members for immigration. The best part is that citizens don’t have to endure such lengthy processing times, which is the norm with LPRs. This privilege enables faster and more reliable family reunification. Naturalization can empower immigrants to reduce the emotional strain of prolonged separation.
Immigrants have many reasons to invest time and resources in naturalization to become U.S. citizens. Citizenship is a milestone and a gateway to a better quality of life filled with new rights and great opportunities. By making this significant transition, immigrants can say goodbye to the challenges that have been holding them back.
