Should I Consider U.S. Citizenship? (2024)

Citizenship is the common thread that connects all Americans. We are a nation bound not by race or religion, but by the shared values of freedom, liberty, and equality.

Throughout our history, the United States has welcomed newcomers from all over the world. Immigrants have helped shape and define the country we know today. Their contributions help preserve our legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity. More than 200 years after our founding, naturalized citizens are still an important part of our democracy. By becoming a U.S. citizen, you too will have a voice in how our nation is governed.

The decision to apply is a significant one. Citizenship offers many benefits and equally important responsibilities. By applying, you are demonstrating your commitment to this country and our form of government.

Important Reasons to Consider U.S. Citizenship

Vote.
Only citizens can vote in federal elections. Most states also restrict the right to vote, in most elections, to U.S. citizens.

Serve on a jury.
Only U.S. citizens can serve on a federal jury. Most states also restrict jury service to U.S. citizens. Serving on a jury is an important responsibility for U.S. citizens.

Travel with a U.S. passport.
A U.S. passport enables you to get assistance from the U.S. government when overseas, if necessary.

Bring family members to the U.S.
U.S. citizens generally get priority when petitioning to bring family members permanently to this country.

Obtain citizenship for children under 18 years of age.
In most cases, a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen is automatically a U.S. citizen.

Apply for federal jobs.
Certain jobs with government agencies require U.S. citizenship.

Become an elected official.
Only citizens can run for federal office (U.S. Senate or House of Representatives) and for most state and local offices.

Keep your residency.
A U.S. citizen’s right to remain in the United States cannot be taken away.

Become eligible for federal grants and scholarships.
Many financial aid grants, including college scholarships and funds given by the government for specific purposes, are available only to U.S. citizens.

Obtain government benefits.
Some government benefits are available only to U.S. citizens.

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

Below you will find several rights and responsibilities that all citizens should exercise and respect. Some of these responsibilities are legally required of every citizen, but all are important to ensuring that America remains a free and prosperous nation.

Rights

  • Freedom to express yourself.
  • Freedom to worship as you wish.
  • Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury.
  • Right to vote in elections for public officials.
  • Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship.
  • Right to run for elected office.
  • Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”


Responsibilities

  • Support and defend the Constitution.
  • Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
  • Participate in the democratic process.
  • Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
  • Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
  • Participate in your local community.
  • Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.
  • Serve on a jury when called upon.
  • Defend the country if the need should arise.

Additional Resources

Should I Consider U.S. Citizenship? (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of people fail U.S. citizenship test? ›

The diagram below shows that 95.7% of all applicants pass the naturalization test. In fiscal year 2022, over 88% passed it during the initial interview, and another 7% of all applicants passed during a re-exam.

Why should someone consider becoming a U.S. citizen? ›

Once you become a United States citizen, you can vote in local, state, and federal elections. Voting and the right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. You can elect the leaders you believe will best represent you and vote on issues that matter to you, your family, and your community.

What is the best answer for why do you want to be a U.S. citizen? ›

You gain international protection. U.S. citizens are protected by the United States government to a certain extent when they travel abroad. For example, the U.S. helps citizens abroad who are the victims of crimes, natural disasters, or international emergencies. You can sponsor other relatives who want green cards.

Is it worth it to get U.S. citizenship? ›

You will have a voice in our government and justice system. You can vote, serve on a jury or be elected to public office. You will be included in all aspects of life in the US and enjoy the many freedoms and rights that US citizens enjoy. There are so many reasons to make US citizenship your goal.

What is the hardest question on the citizenship test? ›

Arguably the hardest question on the U.S. citizenship test is number 67: The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. This answer is unknown to even most American citizens because the Federalist Party ceased to exist back in 1824.

Why is the citizenship test so hard? ›

The questions on the U.S. Citizenship Test are designed to be difficult in order to test your knowledge of the United States. It's important to prepare for the test by studying American history, geography, government, and civics in order to get the best score possible.

What are the disadvantages of becoming a U.S. citizen? ›

What are the pros and cons of U.S. citizenship? U.S. nationality has pros such as voting rights, travel benefits, and family sponsorship, and cons such as tax obligations, jury duty, and possible loss of original nationality.

How long can a U.S. citizen stay out of the US? ›

There is no time limit for how long U.S. citizens may stay overseas. The validity of your Vietnamese visa, which allows you to legally stay in Vietnam, is determined by the Vietnamese government. Lawful Permanent Residents risk losing their status if they are outside the United States for over one year.

What are the 5 requirements to become a U.S. citizen? ›

  • 1) Lawful permanent resident of the U.S. ...
  • 2) You must be 18 years old. ...
  • 3) You must have resided for three months in the state where you will apply for U.S. citizenship.
  • 4) Continuous residency and physical presence in the U.S. ...
  • 5) You must be a person of good moral character.

What are the most asked questions on the U.S. citizenship interview? ›

Do you support the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. government? Will you obey the laws of the United States? Do you understand and are you willing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States? If necessary, would you be willing to defend the United States in a war?

What are the pros and cons of being a U.S. citizen? ›

There are several advantages to naturalization, including protection from deportation and the right to vote. Disadvantages exist as well, particularly if your current country of citizenship will make you give up your rights of citizenship there.

What are the most common questions asked in the U.S. citizenship test? ›

  • The 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers for the naturalization test are listed below. ...
  • What did the Declaration of Independence do? ...
  • We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? ...
  • What are two Cabinet-level positions? ...
  • Who is the Governor of your state now?

What are 3 benefits of citizenship? ›

With a U.S. passport, you can travel to more than 180 destinations for short-term trips without a visa, take as many trips abroad as you want for as long as you want, and seek assistance from the local U.S. embassy during times of trouble. You can obtain federal benefits available only to U.S. citizens.

Is citizenship better than green card? ›

U.S. citizenship is the highest status someone can attain under U.S. immigration law. It means a truly permanent right to live in the United States. Citizens are not subject to the grounds of deportability that affect green card holders.

Is U.S. citizenship better than green card? ›

As a green card holder, I have the legal right to live and work in the United States indefinitely, but I am not a citizen. Citizenship goes a step further, providing additional privileges such as the ability to vote in federal elections, obtain a U.S. passport, etc.

What is the rate of approval for U.S. citizenship? ›

And they can never be deported. Of the applications submitted each year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves about 23%, denies about 2–3%, and leaves about 70% pending. This article covers the U.S. citizenship by naturalization process and statistics on that process.

Do you get deported if you fail the citizenship test? ›

A foreign national who is interested in applying for U.S. citizenship may be concerned about whether a denied citizenship application would result in their deportation from the U.S. Fortunately, this is uncommon, but it is one of the risks of applying for citizenship in some situations.

How many can you miss on the US citizenship test? ›

The USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the civics test.

What happens if you fail the test are you still eligible for citizenship? ›

If you fail again, your citizenship application will be denied and you will have to reapply after studying and preparing some more. You should also request a hearing on the denial if you feel that you passed the tests and the USCIS officer wrongly failed you. A different officer will give the tests at the hearing.

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