1.U.S. Citizens Can Bring their Immediate Family Members to the U.S. Quicker, and Bring Certain Relatives that Permanent Residents Can’t!

 There is no immigration quota or limit for a U.S. Citizen’s spouse, minor children, and parents, which means the waiting time to obtain a green card is significantly reduced. A U.S. Citizen can also obtain green cards for their married adult sons and daughters, including siblings, unlike permanent residents (who are limited to sponsoring only unmarried immediate relatives, except their own spouse).

2.Long Trips and Retirement Outside the U.S., Without the Fear of Losing Permanent Residence.

Thinking about retiring in Italy, the Philippines, or Mexico? Be careful. Permanent residents who take trips outside the U.S. lasting over 6 months are at risk for losing their permanent residence status. Without a prior authorized travel document or extenuating reason for the lengthy absence, a permanent resident could be refused re-entry into the U.S., even if they have been living in the U.S. for most of their life; Not so for a U.S. Citizen.

3.Only the Fiancé(e) of a U.S. Citizen is Permitted to Obtain a Fiancé(e) Visa (K-1 Visa) and Qualify for the Fiancé Green Card Petition Process.
It can take many years for the newly-married spouse of a permanent resident to obtain a green card to come to the United States. While the fiancé(e) or newly-wedded spouse of a U.S. Citizen can remain in the U.S. pending permanent residence approval, the fiancé(e) or newly-married spouse of a permanent resident generally has no comparable legal basis to stay in the U.S. while awaiting his or her green card.

4.The Risk of Deportation and Removal Never Goes Away for Permanent Residents.

Non-U.S. Citizens and their non-U.S. Citizen children can be removed from the U.S. if they commit certain crimes or engage in certain illegal activity at any time while they are in the U.S.

5.U.S. Citizenship Benefits Pass to Children.

Children of permanent residents cannot derive U.S. Citizenship from their parents, no matter how long the parent and child have been living in the U.S. However, once a parent naturalizes, his or her “children” can automatically become U.S. Citizens as of the date of their parent’s naturalization if they are LPRs in the U.S. and still under their parent’s custody.

6.Special Survivor Immigration Benefits Accorded to Immediate Family Members of U.S. Citizens Killed During Active U.S. Military Service.

These benefits are simply not available to LPRs, unless they are awarded U.S. citizenship “posthumously.” I discuss survivor benefits a little more in this article.

7.Assistance from U.S. Consulates and Embassies Worldwide.

I hate to say it, but the world is increasingly becoming a dangerous place, and when you are abroad, it’s a relief to know you have somewhere to go for help when you need it. In the event of an emergency evacuation or crisis overseas, the Department of State has said that its priority is assisting U.S. Citizens. In addition, the consulate can help you quickly replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport.

In contrast.if you are a permanent resident and you lose your foreign passport or need immediate assistance when you are outside of the U.S., you will have to contact the embassy of the foreign country listed in your passport. This applies even if you have called the U.S. your home for a number of years.

8.It Costs Way More to Renew Your Green Card, and It Takes Longer to Receive It.

When you naturalize, you will no longer need to renew your green card every 10 years. The cost of renewing a green card is TRIPLE that of renewing a U.S. passport: $365 plus the $85 biometrics fee, as of the date of this article. Although you do need to renew a U.S. passport every 10 years, it only costs $110 plus a $25 execution fee. (*Update: Filing fees for both U.S. Citizenship and green card renewal will increase before the end of this year, so act fast! Read more HERE.)

Plus, if you want to travel abroad, you will still also have to factor in the costs of renewing your foreign passport.

Time-wise, the wait to receive a green card after renewal can take months, at times 6-10 months. In contrast, you can receive a U.S. passport within a couple of weeks if you renew in-person, or a few weeks if you renew by mail.

More Articles

• USCIS Immigration Fee Increases are coming before the end of 2016
• To Vote for President, You Must First Become a U.S. Citizen
• Do I “Need” an Immigration Attorney For My Petition or Visa?
• Is it Time to Renew Your Green Card?
• Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President’s Effect on Immigration Law