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By Vipul Jain
Permanent residence and U.S. citizenship differ in a few important ways. Although the names are occasionally used collectively, they are not the same. Green card holders are considered "permanent," although their status is not as secure as that of U.S. citizenship. So do you also want to know the difference between citizenship vs permanent residence? If yes then it is a perfect blog for you. In this post, we will lighten up the key difference between Permanent Residence vs Citizenship. Before that, we will understand both of the terms and their benefit.
When we talk about permanent residence then it belongs to a person who has been granted to stay in the United States of America for an indefinite period of time. Additionally, permanent residents of the US are able to work and study and they can also hold the citizenship of another country.
“Alien registration cards” which are also known as green cards are allotted to permanent
Residents. By using a green card citizens can prove employment eligibility and apply for a social security card.
The highest legal position in a nation is citizenship, which entails all rights, obligations, and privileges. Citizenship, as opposed to Permanent Resident status, is usually obtained by naturalization, birth, or descent.
Permanent residence vs citizenship are quite different and both have different benefits. In this part of the blog, we will check the advantages of permanent residents and citizenship.
Permanent residents of the US can work without restriction in the United States of America.
They can travel outside the US and return to the United States without a visa after short trips.
They can apply for a green card after three years if they are married to a U.S. citizen or five years if not.
Permanent residents are considered U.S. tax residents and are subject to U.S. income tax.
If they fulfill certain eligibility criteria then they can qualify for Social Security benefits.
They qualify for most student financial aid and in-state tuition
Cannot be deported to your country of origin.
They can apply for a state-issued driver's license.
Citizens of the United States can apply for a US passport and there are many countries that allow them to enjoy Visa-Free travel.
US citizens are allowed to leave and reenter the United States without being subject to the grounds of inadmissibility.
They don't have restrictions of time to remain outside the US.
US citizens can vote in federal and local elections, serve as juries, and hold government jobs.
They can access the scholarships and other benefits that are granted by state government only to U.S. citizens.
Citizens who belong to the US are eligible for security clearance required for jobs, with the U.S. government and other employers.
Another benefit of US citizenship is that you can apply for permanent residence status for certain relatives. Including spouses, unmarried children under age 21, and parents they all are considered immediate relatives and don’t have to wait longer for citizenship.
Without doing any fraud or misrepresentation to get a citizenship or green card they cannot be deported from the US.
|
Factors |
Permanent Residence |
Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
|
Rights and responsibilities |
Permanent residents are allowed to work and live in the USA but cannot vote. |
Citizens are allowed to vote, hold a passport, and sometimes run for political office. They also have obligations, like allegiance and military service |
|
Length of stay |
The Permanent residence status is for the long term, but it can be lost if the resident is not able to fulfill certain conditions. |
Citizenship is for life unless it was obtained fraudulently |
|
Benefits |
Permanent residents can have access to a country's stability and resources. |
Citizens have a stronger relationship with the country and have greater freedom of movement. |
Till now we learned about permanent residence vs citizenship, their benefits, and differences. Next, we will compare the cost of both by which you will get an idea about how much you have to pay for permanent residence and citizenship.
Maybe your Green Card Status is about to expire and you are already a permanent resident. Even though you're not sure if you're ready to become a citizen of the United States, you don't want to pay the renewal cost again. Either way, USCIS charges a fee. You will need to renew your green card again in ten years (or sooner if you misplace your card), but you can pay to do so. On the other side, you can purchase naturalization and get U.S. citizenship rights. You will never be required to pay another USCIS fee because your citizenship is permanent! When you naturalize, your children who are permanent residents and under the age of 18 live with you and automatically become citizens of the United States. There's no extra cost, and it will save them significantly over their lifetimes.
Read More: Lost or Stolen Green Card
By going through this blog on permanent residence vs citizenship readers will get to know various things. Including what is permanent residence and citizenship, differences, benefits, and cost comparison. Visament is one of the finest immigration service providers. If you are suffering from any Green card, Visa, Passport, Aadharcard, OCI, NRI, PAN card, and any related issue then must choose this service provider. Here you will get 24*7 client support, help in filling out mistakes applications, speedy approvals, and various services.
So if you are in seek of any of the above-mentioned services and facing issues then must try to hire them and enjoy the hassle-free process.
Read Also:- Guide to USCIS Form N-400: Required Documents, Cost and Eligibility
No, a green card is not the same as citizenship
No right to vote, No automatic extension, Non-transferrable, Expiration, Deportation, and Lower priority for sponsoring family are some of the disadvantages of having a green card.
After obtaining a green card, the time required to get citizenship depends on the applicant's marital status and military service.
Green card's validity is 10 years.
No, the U.S. government prohibits citizens from taking away their green cards.
No, U.S. tax residents are taxed in the same manner as U.S. citizens on their worldwide income.
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