What are the benefits of citizenship?

[implife 318]

11 hours ago, HarryWL said:

Vote Trump out of office in 2020.

 

Major pro.

Vote gop out of office THIS YEAR.

[AshMarty 359]

17 minutes ago, Cam54 said:

They still make you sit there and wait in my area

 

 

1 hour ago, JT4/25 said:

Actually, in regards to jury duty.  Alot of companies give you regular pay and you give them your jury duty check.  It is harder and harder to get out of serving...I even had a lawyer on our jury.....but it is alot easier.  You used to have to go and sit all day until your number was called.  Now you call the night before to see if they need you.

Most places send out numbers a couple of months before to a large group of citizens. The night before they will have an estimate of how many potential cases there will be, and from this estimate only call in a certain number of people will be asked to come in.

 

The people that go in still have to sit around see if the cases actually go to trial (if cases are not able to come to a settlement prior). If they go to trial them some of the people called in for Jury get to go in and start the process of being selected for Jury Duty. They ask a billion questions to the 100 + potential jury in the room and the lawyers select the Jury based on their opinions. 

 

I was once chosen for attempted murder once. It was actually a really interesting day the case was eventually dismissed because of witnesses going back on their statements. 

 

It you travel overseas (Which I am sure you have because this is an immigration forum). The waiting is less painful than waiting for delayed or cancelled flights, in my opinion. 

Edited March 9, 2018 by AshMarty

[AshMarty 359]

19 minutes ago, Cam54 said:

They still make you sit there and wait in my area

and neither my company or my husbands company pay so it's lost earnings and I know people think I'm being trivial worrying so much about a day a year but when the rent on your crappy rat infested apartment is $1850 a month and you're getting a steal for the area every penny counts towards saving to buy, id say wev lost around $800 to jury duty so far in the 4 years I've lived here due to lost income although ofcourse filing for green card every 10 years would cost too.

The one pro that i actually feel is worth it from this list so far is security knowing I would never have to leave the country or have trouble reentering. I don't worry so much about the vote due to living in an area that shares my liberal views so it's doing a good job of staying a blue state without my help.

You will likely pay more than 800 dollars in continuing immigration fees for renewing Green Cards and having to miss days of work to fill out paperwork or go into USCIS because of mistakes with filing or renewing paperwork. 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 39,313]

12 hours ago, HarryWL said:

Vote Trump out of office in 2020.

 

Major pro.

Prepare yourself for a shock in 2020.

[Talako 756]

With citizenship comes certain responsibilities.  If time off for jury duty is going to make or break you and is going to determine your citizen status, I'd say you have bigger issues to deal with.

[implife 318]

11 hours ago, carmela said:

HarryWL , if you dont  like President here, get out !!

Oh honey, that's not how it works... That's ok, you'll learn eventually. 

[implife 318]

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

Prepare yourself for a shock in 2020.

I can guarantee that nothing will surpass the shock of 2016.

[Cam54 84]

5 minutes ago, Talako said:

With citizenship comes certain responsibilities.  If time off for jury duty is going to make or break you and is going to determine your citizen status, I'd say you have bigger issues to deal with.

I think ultimately the real reason I'm put off is I don't like how this country is run in terms of public institutions, no real maternity or work benefits by law etc but moving home is no longer a reality so I have to suck it up and for the sake of my future children and security in this country citizenship is necessary 

[AshMarty 359]

14 minutes ago, Cam54 said:

I think ultimately the real reason I'm put off is I don't like how this country is run in terms of public institutions, no real maternity or work benefits by law etc but moving home is no longer a reality so I have to suck it up and for the sake of my future children and security in this country citizenship is necessary 

Well one thing you can do to change it, is become a citizen and vote in your local and state elections. That is where the big changes all start but no one thinks to vote for changes starting there. 

 

No to mention in the US most states set the individual state laws that typically influence you. For example California can one day decide that any employer of California requires Maternity leave (but it might not be a federal law). But if that issue ever comes up in a local election, you have to be a citizen to vote. 

Edited March 9, 2018 by AshMarty

[Roy&Chanel 109]

One of the Pros that no one mentioned yet: You get to work in Government jobs that requires to be a US Citizen. 

Such jobs like USCIS, TSA, Customs Border so on. Maybe you're not interested but I'm very interested in working for USCIS haha! 

[Talako 756]

30 minutes ago, Cam54 said:

I think ultimately the real reason I'm put off is I don't like how this country is run in terms of public institutions, no real maternity or work benefits by law etc but moving home is no longer a reality so I have to suck it up and for the sake of my future children and security in this country citizenship is necessary 

Coming from the UK, I can see how the US can be a bit "different."  My suggestion would simply view the positives.  While the political climate and discourse in this country has deteriorated dramatically in the last 9 years, the US is still a beautiful place to live.  Whether an psychotic orange clown or the Queen of Evil and Corruption, this country will or would have survive(d).

 

So, focus on the positives.  Great and beautiful country, exorcism of USCIS from your life, and worry-free unrestricted travel.  

[POA 175]

14 hours ago, Cam54 said:

 

I am eligible to apply for naturalization next month and id like people's ideas on pros and cons. A big con to me is jury duty as it's such an inefficient system here and id rather not yearly have the threat of lost earnings compared to the U.K. Where you're only called a couple times in a lifetime. I'm 4 months pregnant so not sure if that will sway any pro ideas.

Personally, below are the pros for me.

 

1. Can be qualified for jobs only open for USC's.

2. I don't have to carry my gc. (Can result to jail for up to 30 days and/or fine if was asked for proof and I don't have my gc).

3. I don't have to pay for my gc renewal or lost.

4.  I can renew my passport anywhere in the US. Not sure how the UK embassy requires passport renewal but for PH, we have to go in person in the Ph Embassy and I can only go to one specific embassy. 

5. I can vote.

6. I can go to a lot of countries without getting a visa(This doesn't matter to you since you have the same if not more benefit as UK citizen).

7. Get my husband out of the AOS.

8. Can be eligible for public benefits if anything unexpected happen.

9. AND FINALLY DONE WITH USCIS. 

Edited March 9, 2018 by POA

[Gary_UK 17]

Funny Story I was called to attend jury duty while I was still a legal permanent resident.! here in North Indiana !

I did call their office and brought this to their attention to which they quickly apologised and said that they would take me off the register.

 

I became a citizen last July and as others have said. I chose to become one  partially because of the current political climate. but also to help ensure that I can do ( if need be ) my civic duty. I have made the US my home and I am not planning on moving back to the UK any time soon. BUT !, that being said. it keeps doors of opportunity open. I am kicking myself that I did not become a citizen sooner. I can now vote and apply for Federal jobs if something comes up. 

 

But most of all its cool as heck to run around with two Passports

[implife 318]

26 minutes ago, Gary_UK said:

Funny Story I was called to attend jury duty while I was still a legal permanent resident.! here in North Indiana !

I did call their office and brought this to their attention to which they quickly apologised and said that they would take me off the register.

 

I became a citizen last July and as others have said. I chose to become one  partially because of the current political climate. but also to help ensure that I can do ( if need be ) my civic duty. I have made the US my home and I am not planning on moving back to the UK any time soon. BUT !, that being said. it keeps doors of opportunity open. I am kicking myself that I did not become a citizen sooner. I can now vote and apply for Federal jobs if something comes up. 

 

But most of all its cool as heck to run around with two Passports

At my USC interview, when asked why I wanted to become a citizen, I said: to travel with an American passport.

[jkstark 97]

26 minutes ago, Gary_UK said:

Funny Story I was called to attend jury duty while I was still a legal permanent resident.! here in North Indiana !

I did call their office and brought this to their attention to which they quickly apologised and said that they would take me off the register.

 

I became a citizen last July and as others have said. I chose to become one  partially because of the current political climate. but also to help ensure that I can do ( if need be ) my civic duty. I have made the US my home and I am not planning on moving back to the UK any time soon. BUT !, that being said. it keeps doors of opportunity open. I am kicking myself that I did not become a citizen sooner. I can now vote and apply for Federal jobs if something comes up. 

 

But most of all its cool as heck to run around with two Passports

I can't count the number of times I received a jury summons while a LPR...  Kept sending it back with the same comment, to the point where I think on the last time around I just sent the form back without any other documentation telling them to go look in their files to find the copy of my GC... 

 

Both my son and I are now dual citizens, and I can once again brag to him that I can visit one more country in the world without a visa than he can, though we both have the same passport...  For me, it is the country where I was born, which makes a special exception to people born there - not that I expect to visit there anytime soon...