Main Differences Between US Green Card And US Citizenship.
There are a lot of Differences Between Green Card And US Citizenship, it must be noted that they have at least one similarity. Each allows you to live and work in the US. The US citizenship is the highest level of citizenship in the USA.
After someone has immigrated to the United States, legal permanent residency is the first necessary step. Being a valid green card holder means that the person has lawful rights to work and permanently reside in the United States.
See Also: Requirements for USA Citizenship
Major Differences Between Green Card And US Citizenship
As pointed out already, the Green card (legal permanent residency) is granted to someone who has immigrated to the US. However, the person must meet up with the requirements.
Let’s look at the differences by treating them separately.
USA Citizenship Application Guidelines & Requirements
US Green Card
Here is how to obtain the US Green Card
There are different ways that someone can obtain lawful permanent residency:
- A spouse, family member, or employer can sponsor (submit a visa petition) the immigrant.
- After receiving refugee status or asylum.
- Or winning the diversity visa lottery (offered in most countries).
US Green Card Rights & Benefits
Once legal residency has been obtained, the immigrant receives a green photo identification card that allows them to:
- Work and live in the United States permanently
- Travel and return the United States
- Petition for other family members to receive green card status
While legal residency does, for the most part, grant you asylum from deportation, violation of any of the terms of residency (such as failure to report address changes, committing crimes, and/or acts of terrorism or espionage) are grounds for arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and could result in deportation.
Benefits of Becoming U.S.A Citizenship
Green card holders are permitted to travel and return to the United States, but they are restricted on the amount of time that they can be away. Being outside of the United States for over the permitted amount of time could result in abandonment of their legal residency, and they can be rejected to reenter the United States.
Having seen the features and functions of the Green Card, let’s see the functions and features of the US citizenship.
U.S. Citizenship
To become a US citizen, here are the qualifications
- Being born in the United States
- Being born overseas to a United States Citizen parent
- Living in the United States as a child when a parent undergoes naturalization
- Joining the United States military
Read Also: Eligibility For USA Citizenship
US Citizenship Rights & Benefits
- A U.S. citizen is eligible to receive a U.S. passport, which is issued by the U.S. State department. Many countries allow visa-free travel for U.S. citizens.
- A U.S. citizen can leave and reenter the U.S. at any time without being subject to the grounds of inadmissibility or requiring a reentry permit. There are no restrictions on the number of days you can remain outside the United States.
- U.S. citizens can vote in U.S. federal and local elections, hold certain government jobs, and serve on juries. Many federal and state government grants, scholarships and benefits are available only to U.S. citizens.
- As a U.S. citizen, you can petition for a number of your relatives to immigrate. Your spouse, unmarried children under age 21, and parents will be considered immediate relatives, and eligible to immigrate just as soon as you can get through all the paperwork and interviews. Your married children and children over age 21, as well as your brothers and sisters, are considered preference relatives, and can be put on a waiting list to immigrate. (This may take several years, especially for the siblings.)
- U.S. citizens cannot be deported from the United States – unless, that is, they committed fraud in order to obtain their green card or citizenship.
Read Also: Eligibility For USA Citizenship
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