OK, after we get the naturalization certificate, we apply for the passport. That part is straightforward.

Is there any other org that we're supposed to update with new status? Drivers license? Social Security? Anyone?

No - nothing really changes except that now - you can vote and travel as a US citizen (many countries let you fly in and stamp you for 30 or 90 days visit, without any questions being asked). The next time you fill out some forms, you can start marking US citizen instead of LPR. Good Luck

Report this to Social Security, the benefits that you will be entitled to from that department are different for citizens vs lawful residents. This has to do with SSI.

It's optional, but you probably ought to register to vote. If you want to vote, you generally need to register well in advance of the election. Different states have different deadlines.

Here's some info on how to register.

http://www.eac.gov/voter/Register%20to%20Vote

You have to go to social security to change your status. all you have to do is bring your certificate and you will have to fill out a form and they mail you a new card with the same number. well they sent me a new card, i dont know if they do that for everyone. best of luck.

When I took the oath ceremony the emphasis was really on informing Social Security. The did talk about getting a passport, and registering to vote but both these were kind of optional. However they again and again stressed on going first to the Social Security office and informing them of your change in status.

I have been a citizen since 1986 - I was never told that and I never informed SS - because they are irrelevant for me - my retirement is from a private institution. The SS card doesn't say anything about being a citizen on it either, does it?

You should read this:
http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

You missed my reason - SS is irrelevant for me. I have not paid into SS (I have a private pension plan) and will not be eligible for any SS benefits and I am okay with that (my benefits are about 5 times that of SS). As it is, we will probably live in USA only part-time and may be move out completely once we decide where we want to live. Good Luck

It might be irrelevant to you but AFAIK anyone who earns legal wages in the US has to pay SS.

Whoa! Are you saying I earned 'Illegal wages'? Why did I pay all those taxes then! Damn! I wish I had known earlier and never paid those taxes.
My whole point was that the SS notification is not valid for some of us. People actually receive SS even if they never become citizen - I have a friend who decided not to become a citizen and is receiving SS benefits - remember they used to issue permanent greencards - not this new method of 2 year and 10 year cards?

I don't see whats the point of arguing.. Now that we know we have that option, we can choose to utilize it or let it go.. Its entirely up to the individual. We are here to learn things and if a person chooses not to follow someones advice then thats their own business.

People learn by arguing Offcourse there are norms to be followed...

It is definitely up to the individual to do what they want but when we present our viewpoint, listen to other people's view point we gain more insight, sometime realize our mistakes, sometimes help others realize, and mostly just have fun

Motu I was not saying you earned illegal wages. My point was that you are probably payin SS since most people have to pay Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax which funds SS. And if you are not than by @#$#@$ why am I!!! If there is a legal way not to pay SS then I do not want to either since it is most probably going to be irrelevant by the time I retire.

However since paying the taxes towards SS are mandatory (AFAIK) and the benefits are different for citizens then why not take those benerifts? If I am paying SS then whatever tiny weeny bit I can garner from SS I would like to have that. If I do not need it then I can give it to charity but why let the govt keep it!

BTW If you are not paying FICA then what is the basis of your exemption?

I, like many others - and there are thousands of employees in city/state/federal agencies that fall under this - have 'alternative pension programs' - We paid our portion to our fund - (yes the same 8% that others pay for Social Security) - though it may vary from city to state to federal. Our employer (mine was the state of Colorado) - paid the matching portion (just like under SS) - but our pension administrator has lower costs for the state. Then the pension administrators takes care of the funds and have defined benefits (in my case) which are far superior to SS benefits. And since, we do not pay SS - we are not eligible for Social Security and other benefits - and there are hundreds of thousands of people like me, perhaps millions. There are people in private sector who salivate when they hear about our retirement program - the downsize is you may not make as much money as in the private sector. I thought retirement was something that didn't matter and after a few years of working, I realized that I could retire and collect pension as early as age 50! I did retire at age 55! Good Luck to all of you

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Thanks for clarifying this Motu .

This is simply not true. You should check your facts before offering bad information.

Lots of people are not required to pay SS tax on their wages - including many government employees.

According to the retirement-benefits-for-federal-employees training I had two weeks ago, at the federal level only people who started working for the federal government under the old system (CSRS) fall into that category. Everyone who's under FERS (which was put into place in the 1980s) pays Social Security. So the number of people *not* required to pay SS tax is dwindling rapidly as the people who didn't, are now retiring and are all expected to be retired in the next decade.

Um, there are plenty of government employees who do not work for the federal government. Most state employees do not pay into social security either - and their numbers are not "dwindling rapidly". Many local/county/city employees ALSO do not pay into social security.

It's a great example of how government requires everyone else to get screwed while it takes care of its own.

Ironically for a union free state practically all of our city, state, and teachers belong to very strong unions. I was a GS-11 a long time ago, no SS, could retire at 55 with 75% pay with full medical benefits, but couldn't put up with the pure BS of that job and the politics. My sister and brother-in-law struck it out and retired at 55 and were able to buy a second home in Florida, brother retired at colonel pay at the ripe old age of 43 after 25 years of service.

It does seem rather unfair to taxpayers, but don't fight them, join them. My son was born with a chronic disease where he was kicked off my medical insurance after one year causing me huge medical bills that almost killed me, same gene in the family who worked for the government, their kids were never kicked off. One nice thing about government jobs, if you are extremely incompetent, they don't fire you, but make a supervisor out of you. In my own dirty way, played stupid to upgrade myself from a GS-7 to a GS-11 and more than likely would have become a GS-15 in short order. But it didn't seem right to me. Can't argue, I made the choice. Did do very well in the corporate world, was general manager of a fortune 500 company for about ten years and a young one at that. But never anticipated my field would be shipped out to Mexico, Japan or China by our government. Could have gone to Mexico, but another bad choice on my part. I put my family first.

Just apply for a government job. A good place to start is to pick a winner and help some guy get elected to office. And also learn how to complain as to how hard you have to work.

One of the main reasons for informing and changin SS is because agencies can use that to verify your citizenship. It's always a good practice if you are now a citizen to make sure everyone is caught up and realizing you are a citizen.

Also if you work, you need to notify your HR and let them know. The I-9 I think it is will need to be updated by them...

Good point, warlord. Going back to the link Verika posted earlier, it's important not to overlook the first reason that they give for updating your status with Social Security:

"The social security database will be updated showing you as a US citizen. This database is shared with all federal agencies and many state agencies further validating your US citizenship status with the federal and state governments."

For example, I know that when you apply for federal student loans, if you claim to be a U.S. citizen on the application, they will check the SSA database to confirm your claim. There are probably many other cases where this database would be checked. Obviously you can provide other proofs of your citizenship, but you might have to deal with unnecessary delays if your citizenship cannot be immediately verified through the Social Security database. So notifying SSA when you have a chance is probably a good idea, even if it's just as a precaution and maybe not a matter of real urgency.

I agreed with you. My husband is government employees but his not paying the SS for his retirement.