Why Become a Citizen ?

90% of immigrants who are eligible to apply for citizenship *do not* apply for citizenship. We aim to bridge that gap to support immigrants in accessing the benefits of citizenship. United States citizenship provides many privileges and benefits. 

Below are 10 unique benefits of citizenship:

1.The Right to Vote: Direct participation in democratic elections is one of the most important privileges that this country offers its citizens. Only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in federal elections and to be candidates in most local, state and federal elections.

2. Family ReunificationU.S. citizens can petition for overseas family members to receive Green Cards and immigrate legally to the United States. Relatives of citizens are given priority by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

3. Citizenship for Children: Children of citizens receive automatic citizenship if they are under 18 years of age and have a Green Card. In most cases, this includes children born abroad to U.S. citizens.

4. Security in the United States: Your right to remain in the United States as a U.S. citizen cannot be taken away. When you naturalize, your chances of deportation go down to ZERO.

5. Freedom of Travel: U.S. citizens can travel outside of the country for unlimited periods of time and to any country they wish, without any fear of this affecting their immigration status.

6. Additional Government Benefits: You may qualify for certain government benefits that are only available to citizens.

7. Additional Job Opportunities: The federal government is one of the biggest employers in the world and offers many job opportunities in a wide range of industries. However, the vast majority of federal jobs are available only to U.S. citizens.

8. More Student Aid: The federal government has different types of financial assistance for students, including scholarships and grants that are available exclusively for U.S. citizens.

9. International ProtectionThe United States protects its citizens abroad through its embassies and consulates. The U.S. government assists citizens who are victims of crimes overseas and provides aid to U.S. citizens abroad in the case of international disasters or emergencies.

10. Run for Office: Only U.S. citizens can run for Federal office and most State and local offices.

 

Stay Connected

Skip to content