4 ms·

I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, r

I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, regarding most practical aspects of daily life, being permanent resident seems pretty much equivalent to that of an US citizen. Pros: - can vote - can get security clearance, potentially more income - even long periods abroad do not bear the risk of loosing privilege - can do jury duty Cons: - need to do jury duty - need to declare income to IRS regardless of residency - potentially be taxed by IRS Any other cons I'm not aware of? I heard that getting rid of the US citizenship (e.g. for tax reasons) will make it hard to get a visa ever again.

sieabahlpark 2y ago
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colmmacc 2y ago
I became a US citizen because I wanted to be able to vote and be a full participant of my community, and it's easier to be in the same line as my wife and child at the airport. But even though I am not a criminal, it was also on my mind that if I were ever falsely convicted in some travesty of justice, I could also be deported, which would make it even worse.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- Abrecht 2y ago
  Good point. That's why I listed voting and jury duty, I was summoned to serve on a jury multiple times, and I always feel weirdly excluded when I have to explain that I'm not eligible. I know it can be a burden though.. At the airport, citizens and legal residents always share a line, in my experience. We tried to maintain Global Entry for the whole family for a while, but as the entry process got streamlined for citizens and GC holders over the years, the advantages of that vanished.
tehlike 2y ago
As long as you keep your greencard, you still need to declare your income worldwide. Depending on your home country, having US passport opens up a lot of other possibilities for travel too.
- zahllos 2y ago
  Furthermore if you have held* a green card for the last 8 (of 15 years) i.e. you hold permanent resident status you also become in-scope for the tax expatriation law that apply to US Citizens, and possible ongoing declaration requirements: https://www.expatriationattorneys.com/green-card-u-s-exit-tax-8-years/ https://www.expatriationattorneys.com/green-card-u-s-exit-ta... I've never been US-resident; the reason I know about this is talking to someone who relinquished theirs when I asked if they could keep it. *from the U.S. Government's point of view.
douglee650 2y ago
Major con: infinitely easier to deport
- mettamage 2y ago
  Why is that, could you elaborate?
  - douglee650 2y ago
    If you get a criminal conviction, you can become deportable.
junar 2y ago
I wouldn't frame the tax parts like that. Just by having a green card, you are generally subject to the same worldwide taxation as US citizens, with only subtle differences. Perhaps a bigger difference is that it's somewhat easier to abandon the green card than to renounce US citizenship.
mikeweiss 2y ago
I think your forgetting one of the most important pros: an inalienable right to re-enter the country after going abroad. Also a pro is that while traveling you have the services of the U.S embassy to you, which could be a life saver depending on what other citizenship you hold and the circumstances.
- bastloing 2y ago
  That exact thing happened to a bunch at our shop. They went back to India for family, then could never come back. Took us two years to clean up all their coding issues, although we still find some from time to time even now, 5 years later
maronato 2y ago
> As a green card holder, you generally are required to file a U.S. income tax return and report worldwide income no matter where you live.[1] You’ll probably get a tax discount if you’re still paying taxes in your original country, but you must file US returns regardless. If you haven’t been filing returns for the past 5 years, you should hire a CPA to get a professional opinion and possibly file late returns before applying for citizenship. [1] https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/freq https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/freq...
throwaway2037 2y ago
What is your timeline to stay in the US? If 5 years or less, I would say avoid it, unless have a specific "pro" that you want. Also, if you have a spouse and children, they might be important factors in your decision.
Taniwha 2y ago
pros: if you leave the US you can still claim your SS on retirement (some countries have a reciprocal agreement, most dont)
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
tehlike 2y ago
Main pro: You are an American.

sieabahlpark 2y ago

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colmmacc 2y ago

I became a US citizen because I wanted to be able to vote and be a full participant of my community, and it's easier to be in the same line as my wife and child at the airport. But even though I am not a criminal, it was also on my mind that if I were ever falsely convicted in some travesty of justice, I could also be deported, which would make it even worse.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
Abrecht 2y ago
Good point. That's why I listed voting and jury duty, I was summoned to serve on a jury multiple times, and I always feel weirdly excluded when I have to explain that I'm not eligible. I know it can be a burden though.. At the airport, citizens and legal residents always share a line, in my experience. We tried to maintain Global Entry for the whole family for a while, but as the entry process got streamlined for citizens and GC holders over the years, the advantages of that vanished.

tehlike 2y ago

As long as you keep your greencard, you still need to declare your income worldwide. Depending on your home country, having US passport opens up a lot of other possibilities for travel too.

zahllos 2y ago
Furthermore if you have held* a green card for the last 8 (of 15 years) i.e. you hold permanent resident status you also become in-scope for the tax expatriation law that apply to US Citizens, and possible ongoing declaration requirements: https://www.expatriationattorneys.com/green-card-u-s-exit-tax-8-years/ https://www.expatriationattorneys.com/green-card-u-s-exit-ta... I've never been US-resident; the reason I know about this is talking to someone who relinquished theirs when I asked if they could keep it. *from the U.S. Government's point of view.

douglee650 2y ago

Major con: infinitely easier to deport

mettamage 2y ago
Why is that, could you elaborate?
- douglee650 2y ago
  If you get a criminal conviction, you can become deportable.

junar 2y ago

I wouldn't frame the tax parts like that. Just by having a green card, you are generally subject to the same worldwide taxation as US citizens, with only subtle differences. Perhaps a bigger difference is that it's somewhat easier to abandon the green card than to renounce US citizenship.

mikeweiss 2y ago

I think your forgetting one of the most important pros: an inalienable right to re-enter the country after going abroad. Also a pro is that while traveling you have the services of the U.S embassy to you, which could be a life saver depending on what other citizenship you hold and the circumstances.

bastloing 2y ago
That exact thing happened to a bunch at our shop. They went back to India for family, then could never come back. Took us two years to clean up all their coding issues, although we still find some from time to time even now, 5 years later

maronato 2y ago

> As a green card holder, you generally are required to file a U.S. income tax return and report worldwide income no matter where you live.[1] You’ll probably get a tax discount if you’re still paying taxes in your original country, but you must file US returns regardless. If you haven’t been filing returns for the past 5 years, you should hire a CPA to get a professional opinion and possibly file late returns before applying for citizenship. [1] https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/freq https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/freq...

throwaway2037 2y ago

What is your timeline to stay in the US? If 5 years or less, I would say avoid it, unless have a specific "pro" that you want. Also, if you have a spouse and children, they might be important factors in your decision.

Taniwha 2y ago

pros: if you leave the US you can still claim your SS on retirement (some countries have a reciprocal agreement, most dont)

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

tehlike 2y ago

Main pro: You are an American.