USA Citizenship
US Citizenship offers the same rights and privileges held by indigenous US born citizens, including a US passport and the right to vote in US elections. Although the famous US green card is by far the most recognisable US immigration service, permanent residents are not granted the same rights as a US citizen, and in some circumstances, permanent residency may be revoked whereas US citizenship cannot be.
If you are a US permanent resident and you would like to apply for US citizenship Global Visa can help you. To find out whether you qualify, visit the online assessment area and submit one of our application forms today. A qualified US immigration consultant will contact you to discuss your application.
Why Apply For Citizenship?
United States citizenship offers a range of benefits which make it a worthwhile consideration for people who already have permanent US residence. Both citizenship and permanent residence permit the candidate to live and work in the USA for any employer they choose and without any restrictions on their stay. However, only US citizens may play their part in influencing the political and democratic procedures of the United States as only citizens are granted the right to vote. Citizenship also guarantees irrevocable permanent residency in the United States, whereas a grant of permanent residency itself, paradoxically does not necessarily guarantee permanent residence.
Is Applying for US Citizenship For Me?
In some circumstances, US permanent residency may be withdrawn, although a US green card is designed to allow a non-US national to live and work in the US indefinitely there are some situations in which this right may be revoked. Firstly, a permanent resident may be deported for committing a crime, even if the crime is not of a serious nature. A US citizen cannot be deported for committing a crime.
Another key situation in which permanent residency may be retracted may occur where a permanent resident is believed to be spending too much time outside the United States. Permanent residency is based on the candidate making the USA their main home and a candidate who spends long periods away from the US may be seen as neglecting their permanent residency status. Once again, this situation would not occur for a US citizen.
US Citizenship and Family Immigration
The range of relatives who may immigrate to the USA is broader where the sponsoring party is a US citizen. A permanent resident may sponsor their spouse or fiance on a K3 visa or K1 visa respectively. However, as a US citizen, it is possible to sponsor a parent or sibling and in addition, the IR-3 and IR-4 visas which apply to adopted children who were not born in the USA are only available to full US citizens.
Applying for US Citizenship - Eligibility
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must be proficient in the English language. However, the main requirements for a grant of US citizenship are based on the minimum residency requirements and upon a candidate’s understanding of US culture and society.
Firstly, the citizenship process requires a candidate to have been living in the US for the last five years at least, on a grant of US citizenship. Where an applicant is already married to a US citizen, they need only have been living in America for three years. However, it is important to note that simply possessing a green card is not enough. Applicants must have been living and working in the US for long enough to satisfy the residency requirements. The 3 or 5-year requirement does not necessarily mean that a candidate has to live continuously in the US for this period, however at least half of their time must be spent there and the three months directly prior to applying must be spent in America.
The other key requirement is that applicants must be able to show that they have an understanding of US culture, history, and society. Citizenship is granted to those who are deemed to be of good character, will adhere to the US Constitution, and have a genuine desire to become a US citizen.
Exemptions
The US does not allow certain groups of people to become Citizens. This applies whether or not individuals from these groups otherwise meet the requirements of citizenship. The USA will not permit anyone who has ever held or is believed to hold views which may be damaging to the United States.
As specialist US immigration consultants, Global visas help candidates to obtain anything from a short-term tourist visa through to a grant of full US citizenship. If you would like to become a US citizen, Global Visas are committed to ensuring that you receive the best available support with your application. Visit the online assessment are today to begin.
