Becoming a US citizen carries important duties and responsibilities, as well as rights, rewards, and privileges. Before you make the decision to seek US citizenship, you should be aware of what you may lose and gain and ensure that you are prepared to fulfill all the obligations of a good citizen.
Naturalization refers to the process by which immigrants become citizens. In most cases, if you were not born in the United States, you must obtain US citizenship to become a US citizen.
What to lose
When you become a US citizen, you must relinquish all previous allegiances to other countries. Although no one would care if your country rooted for a soccer match (indeed, some soccer fans might care, but the US government certainly wouldn’t), you won’t be able to defend that country against the United States in some times of conflict. or war. You should also be willing to serve your new country, the United States of America, when needed. What this means is that if the United States is at war or in the midst of another type of crisis, you need to be willing to take up arms for the United States or assist the military effort in any capacity required.
Relinquishing allegiance to other countries does not necessarily mean that you have to renounce your citizenship in other countries. You may be able to keep your original citizenship(s) and hold US citizenship (obtaining citizenship in more than one country is known as dual citizenship). The United States allows dual citizenship (although it is not). Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. If you are a citizen of such a country, you are likely to renounce your citizenship upon naturalization of US citizenship. This information may influence your decision to apply for US citizenship. To see if your citizenship could be affected, check with the embassy of each country where you hold citizenship.
What you gain
The United States Constitution, the country’s most important document and rulebook for how the United States government is run, guarantees certain rights to all people living in the United States, whether or not they are American citizens. Freedom of religion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to a fair trial if accused of a crime are all important freedoms guaranteed to all in the United States.
However, US citizens, whether born or naturalized, are eligible for several additional benefits based on their status as US citizens. These include the following:
- The right to vote and, therefore, to have a voice in government
- Right to hold an elective office (except for the posts of President and Vice President which are reserved for natural-born citizens)
- Certain government jobs
- public education
- Scholarships
- Grant
- The ability to petition for immediate relatives to join you in the United States without being subject to visa restrictions
- Protection from forced removal from the country
- Certain types of public assistance
To explore more when you’re considering citizenship, visit US Immigration News for the top 10 reasons to become a US citizen.
Your rights and responsibilities as a US citizen
When you become a US citizen by naturalization, you must take an oath of allegiance. The oath of allegiance is your promise to the government and people of the United States that you will
- Support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies.
- Support, defend, and abide by the laws of the United States.
- I swear allegiance to the United States.
- Service the United States, if necessary, in times of war or national emergency. You may be called up to serve in the military or assist the US military effort in some capacity.
- Renouncing any previous allegiances to other countries.
In addition to the responsibilities set forth in the Oath of Allegiance, US citizens have other important duties:
- Jury Work: One of the most important rights in the United States is the right to a jury trial in most cases. Serving on a jury when asked is an important obligation on the citizens of the United States in order to protect the justice system in the United States, where power remains in the hands of the people.
Although there is a small chance that you may never be called to report for jury duty, know that if you receive a notice to report, you are legally obligated to do so. Failure to report jury duty can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.
- Voting: The United States has a government of the people, of the people, and of the people. Final political power is not in the hands of the government or any single government official—instead, the ultimate political power is in the hands of the people. Citizens of the United States have the right to change or abolish the government or amend the Constitution. American citizens exercise their power by voting for elected representatives.
- Tolerance for others: The United States is a melting pot of many different cultures and ethnicities. The people who live here need tolerance of all races, religions and cultures.
Although you are not legally obligated to perform some of these duties—for example, no one will take you to prison if you do not exercise your right to vote—you will deprive yourself of the important benefits of living in the United States if you do not participate.