What are the Differences Between Being a Permanent Resident and a Citizen?
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Two important concepts in immigration law are the concepts of lawful permanent residency and citizenship. Citizenship is the end goal for many people who enter the United States. This is not an instant process. In order to eventually become a citizen, an individual must apply to begin the naturalization process and meet all eligibility requirements.
There are a number of differences between a lawful permanent resident and a citizen of the United States. An immigration lawyer can discuss these differences in detail with you and walk you through the steps of the naturalization process, from initially obtaining your green card to filling out your Application for Naturalization with you.
Eligibility for Permanent Resident Status
A lawful permanent resident is an individual who is permitted to remain in the United States indefinitely. These individuals hold documents known as green cards. To obtain a green card, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements. These requirements depend on the individual’s circumstances, such as whether he or she is married to a US citizen, a refugee or individual seeking political asylum, an individual working in the United States, or a “special immigrant,” such as a religious worker or an international broadcaster.
Eligible individuals must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status to obtain green cards. Green cards are valid for 10 years from their issue dates.
Lawful permanent residents can be deported if they are found guilty of certain crimes or if they fail to establish permanent residence in the United States. They also cannot vote in federal and local elections in the United States.
Eligibility for Citizenship
A lawful permanent resident can apply for citizenship if he or she meets the eligibility requirements for his or her circumstances.
Unlike lawful permanent residents, citizens can vote in elections, serve on juries, and hold certain government jobs. Citizens also cannot be deported from the country unless the court determines that they committed fraud in order to obtain their green cards or citizen status.
Other Differences Between Citizens and Permanent Residents
A citizen can petition for his or her family members to immigrate to the United States. Citizens can also us United States passports to travel to other countries, whereas lawful permanent residents, being citizens of other nations, must use passports for their home nations and carry their green cards when they travel to and from the United States.
Work with an Experienced Chicago Immigration Attorney
For many people, being a permanent resident of the United States comes before being a citizen. These are different stages of the naturalization process. If you are considering coming to the United States and beginning the naturalization process, or if you are already here and considering taking that next step, contact our team of immigration lawyers at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to set up your initial consultation in our office.
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Matthew Kriezelman, first of all, thank you very much; you and your team are the best immigration lawyers in Chicago. I had a great experience—your professionalism was outstanding, and you were always there whenever needed. I give you five stars for the wonderful work you and your team did. Thanks again.
We would like to take a moment to sincerely thank Khiabett for her exceptional work and dedication in handling my husband’s removal proceedings case. We also want to thank Agata for her great communication during the gathering of all documents. Khiabett, we are incredibly grateful for your expertise, guidance, and persistence throughout the entire process. I can't thank you enough for your empathy and for standing by me during such…
I used their services for my case, and everything went smoothly. Rafael and Matthew are very knowledgeable and helpful, and answered all my questions. I highly recommend them!
I have used their services since 2022, and my experience was great. My own case was successfully finished this year. I want to say Matt and Raf were of great help throughout, and also Jennifer, who attended the interview with me. I would highly recommend their services.
Mr. Jeffery and Mr. Kevin Racia were the attorneys handling a complex immigration case of mine. On the assurance of both attorneys that the case is going to be presented in a systematic way, I went ahead with confidence. I was able to become a legal permanent resident. I highly recommend Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC for all your immigration needs.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the remarkable team of Khiabett Osuna, Brittani Rivera, and Rafael Rodriguez, who were responsible for the successful release from detention of one of our parishioners, husband and father of four, after over 10 weeks of incarceration. From his detention to the payment of his bail and from Immigration Court to his reunion with his family, there were blessings aplenty made possible through the…
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my attorney, Brittni Rivera, for her professionalism and support during a very difficult time. I was in detention for 6 months, and thanks to her hard work and filing a habeas corpus petition, I was finally released. In addition, when I was released, ICE did not return my documents. Brittni did not ignore this issue — she took action and successfully…
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
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