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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We have been in the dark with our case for over 2 decades, while working with other big firms who just kept me in the dark and sat on our case without making any effort to move it forward until I met the wonderful team at Kriezelman & Burton. AO and JP are truly God-sent angels who with their knowledge, collaboration, sense of direction and outside the box thinking, managed…
Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
We hoped and prayed for this day, not knowing if it would ever come. Deportations are incredibly scary and overwhelming. We wanted to give a very special thank you to Jennifer Peyton of Chicago for securing this victory for us! With Jennifer on our side we were able to get our loved one back. On behalf of our family, thank you. When we started this journey, we had hoped and…
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.
Hay momentos en la vida en los que una familia siente que el mundo se detiene. Nosotros vivimos uno de esos momentos y, en medio de la incertidumbre y el miedo, tuvimos la fortuna de encontrar a la abogada Sheila McNulty y al paralegal Rafael Rodríguez . Nos escucharon con empatía, nos guiaron con paciencia y defendieron nuestro caso con un profesionalismo, una dedicación y una calidad humana realmente excepcionales.…
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 standing by me during such a…
Justin Burton is extremely professional knowledgeable and helpful. I’m extremely thankful for his help and patience with my case. I strongly advise to use his services and refer him to anybody in need of legal help. Thank you.
I wanted to share my experience and say that attorney Britney Rivera is extremely competent in her work. I had heard from friends that she was a very strong lawyer, and she certainly proved to be one. She won our case in a very short time, and my family and I are incredibly grateful to her!🌹And a big thank you to her team as well!🌹🌹🌹
Huge thanks to Attorney Matthew for his incredible support on our immigration case! 🙏 He was professional, responsive, and his expertise led to a successful outcome. We truly appreciate his hard work and highly recommend his service.
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