How To Replace Your Green Card

The Green Card (USCIS Form I-551), also known as Permanent Resident Card, is a proof of permanent resident status in the United States. Without a valid card, it may be difficult for you to prove that you are a permanent resident, and it might affect your ability to travel or to prove your eligibility to work in the United States.



When do you need to replace your Green Card?



You are required to apply for a replacement Green Card in the following reasons and situations:

*If any information on your card needs to be changed, for example, if your name has legally changed due to marriage or divorce;



*If your card has been lost, stolen, or damaged;



*If you became a permanent resident before you turned 14 years old. You are required to replace your card when you become 14 years old;



*If your card is about to expire. This does not apply to you if you are a conditional permanent resident whose green card is about to expire (see below);



*If your Permanent Resident Card was issued with incorrect information because of an administrative error made by the USCIS;



*If you never received the previous card that was issued to you by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);



*If you have a previous version of the alien registration card which is no longer valid (e.g., USCIS Form AR-3, Form AR-103 or Form I-151)

What are the Advantages of US Citizenship?

There are many advantages of being a U.S. citizenship. Becoming a U.S. citizen entitles one to benefits that are not available to Green Card holders including the right to vote, the ability to travel with a US passport, and preference in sponsoring relatives for US citizenship.



One of the advantages of U.S. citizenship is the right to vote in local and national elections. By voting, U.S. citizens can influence local, state, and federal politics. They can elect political representatives and make their voices heard on taxes, schools, and foreign policy, among other issues. U.S. citizens can also be elected to public office. Additionally, they are eligible for certain unelected government jobs and certain jobs requiring security clearances that are not available to Green Card holders. U.S. citizens can make a big impact in the accountability and efficiency of the U.S. government.



US citizens can spend as much time as they like outside of the U.S. with no immigration consequences. Green Card holders may lose their status as permanent residents if they spend too much time outside of the U.S. because of certain legal requirements to be physically present in the U.S.. If Green Card holders lose their status, they have to start the process of permanent residence all over again, which takes time and costs money.



A more intangible advantage of U.S. citizenship is the sense of belonging that citizens feel. Obtaining citizenship helps people feel a part of the community of the United States of America. It is one of many ways to demonstrate commitment to the country and its ideals.

Claiming U.S. Child Citizenship at Birth

Becoming a US citizen is the ultimate dream of many immigrants. It is not an easy process and cannot be achieved in a short period of time. One has to first become a permanent resident and satisfy several eligibility criteria in order to get the citizenship status. However, people who are born in the US are lucky in this aspect as they automatically become US citizens by being born in the US.

How to acquire US citizenship by birth?

When a child falls under any of the below mentioned category, then it indicates that the child has become a US citizen by birth.

• The child should have been born in the US or the outlying US territories
• In case the child is born outside the US, it should have one parent or both the parents as US citizens at the time of its birth.

In order to document their citizenship they need to file in Form N400 (Naturalization certificate) if they were born in the US and Form N-565 – Certificate of citizenship if they were born outside the US to US citizen parent/ parents. The latter type is referred to as derived or acquired citizenship.

What happens when a child is born abroad to US citizen parents?

This kind of a birth should be immediately reported to the nearest US embassy so that an official record of the child’s birth can be issued in the form of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.  This can be obtained overseas when the child is still under 18 yrs of age.  Both the Consular Report of Birth and the Certificate of Citizenship are equally acceptable as proof of the US citizenship status.

Process of claiming US citizenship

Using N-600

When a person has been born outside the US to US citizen parent/parents, then he/she automatically becomes a US citizen if

• At least one parent is a US Citizen by birth or through the process of naturalization process
• The child currently resides in the U.S. with his/her US citizen parent
• The child  is still under 18yrs of age
• The child is the biological offspring who is now in the legal custody of the U.S. citizen parent prior before reaching his/her 16th birthday
• The child is the biological offspring who was born out of wedlock without having been legitimated and whose mother has become US citizen through the process of naturalization process.
• The child has been living consistently in the US after becoming a  permanent resident
• Of both the child’s parents, the parent who has been awarded  both the legal and physical custody of the child should be a US citizen
• The only surviving parent should be a  US citizen by naturalization.
• If both the child’s parents are US Citizens and one of them has resided in the US prior to the child’s birth.
• If one of the child’s parent is a foreign national and the other is a US citizen who had been physically present in the US for a period not less than five years before the child’s birth. At least two of those years should have been after the parent’s 14^th year

If the child who is claiming for citizenship is below 18 yrs of age on February 27, 2001, but does not meet up with all the above mentioned criteria, then the child can file in Form N-400 to get naturalized as a US citizen. For that he/she needs to become 18 years or older than that and become a permanent resident besides satisfying several other criteria and qualify for it.

The DREAM Act

The DREAM Act: Important Immigration Legislation



The idea behind the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM Act, is to provide these young men and women, who meet certain requirements, the opportunity to obtain conditional permanent residency.




What are the specific eligibility requirements to qualify for the DREAM Act?


* The individual entered the United States before the age of 16


* The individual must have lived in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the DREAM Act


* The individual must have graduated from high school in the United States, or
have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher
education, such as a college or university


* The individual must be between 12 and 35 years of age when they apply for conditional permanent residency


* The individual must be someone who has good moral character

U.S. Citizen Benefits and Privileges

The Benefits of Becoming a US Citizen


*The Right to Vote

Voting in elections is one such privilege. New citizens are expected to participate in elections and to adhere to the principles of tolerance and understanding towards differing points of view, which is the philosophical basis of the system of government of the United States.



*A Way to Protect your Children's Right to Remain in the U.S.

Permanent resident children under the age of eighteen, who are in the lawful legal and physical custody of their naturalizing parent(s), automatically become U.S. Citizens when their parent(s) becomes naturalized.



*International Travel Made Easier

As a U.S. Citizen, you are not restricted on the amount of time you can spend outside of the U.S. and are not subject to obtaining a re-entry permit. Additionally, travel can be more convenient as many countries do not require Visas of U.S. Citizens.



*A Chance to Reunite Families

Certain immigrants are exempt from the numerical limitations imposed on immigration to the United States. Immediate relatives are: spouses of U.S. Citizens, children (under 21 years of age and unmarried) of U.S. Citizens, and parents of U.S. Citizens 21 years of age or older.


*Government Protection

In the event a Permanent Resident is ever accused of an illegal activity, they will remain within the authority of the USCIS and the Immigration Courts, and can be removed (or deported) for such activity. However, U.S. Citizens have the right to an attorney and a fair trial without the threat of being deported.



SOURCE:

US Citizenship Benefits

American Citizenship Process and Benefits

An individual may become a U.S. citizen either by birth or through naturalization. Generally speaking, if a person is born in the U.S.A or born to U.S. citizen parents, he or she automatically becomes a citizen of United States.

The benefits and rights associated with American citizenship are many. One of the most important benefits is that you are given the right to vote. You may also apply for federal jobs that offer high range salaries, good benefits, and job security. You may sponsor and bring your family members to the United States and you may obtain citizenship for your children born abroad. You may also travel abroad with a US passport.

If you were born outside United States to U.S. citizen parents then you may claim American citizenship through your parents. Your birth certificate that is registered in the U.S. Consulate is the proof of your citizenship. If you require further proof you may obtain a U.S.passport. In addition, your parents may file a petition to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for you using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.

Benefits of Applying for U.S. Citizenship Online

How to Get US Citizenship?

Becoming a US citizen is no easy process and it sure takes a good number of years. First step to achieve this goal is becoming a permanent resident. Once a person becomes a Green Card holder, then filing the citizenship application, after becoming eligible, ensues.

In order to file the citizenship application, a Green Card holder should be at least 18 yrs old. They should have been a permanent resident of the US for at least 5 yrs (at least 3 years if married to a US citizen).If the permanent resident is a spouse of the service member of  United States military, then they can file their citizenship application sooner than the stipulated time period.

Additionally, the applicant should have maintained continuous residence in the US for at least five years. This continuous residence time limit refers to the 5 years that immediately precede the time of filing the citizenship application.

Moreover, the applicant should be sufficiently fluent in English unless inhibited by some physical or mental impairment. Possessing sufficient knowledge about the  United States government and its Constitution is also mandatory. Finally, the applicant should be a person of good moral character.

Online Completion of the Citizenship Application

All that a person needs to complete their citizenship applications online is to have access to the internet. Choosing the immigration service provider amongst the many available is the next step. After deciding on this, the applicant should be clear whether he/she should file Form N400 or Form N-600.Once done with this, the citizenship application process is all set to begin.

• Log on to the website of the online immigration service provider
• Create a user account
• Follow the instructions and provide all the requested information
• Print and submit the completed citizenship application to the USCIS

Benefits of Applying Online

There are so many advantages of applying online that the number of applicants who take this route is on the increase. Though an additional fee for guidance for completing the citizenship application is demanded by the service providers, it is definitely worth it.

While filing the citizenship application through online method, the applicant is instructed at each and every step as to how to proceed. An applicant may miss out some portions of the highly elaborate form, even though he/she checks it thoroughly. Human errors like these cannot be eliminated totally. Online preparation helps avoid this problem as an applicant will not be able to proceed on to the next step if any portion of the form is left empty without entering the required details.

Submitting an error free form will ensure a quick processing of the citizenship application. This is done in an effective manner by online preparation of applications. The application process does not stop here. Once the citizenship application is cleared for interview, the applicant has to prepare for it. Abundant materials are available on the internet in the form of e-books and DVDs that are highly useful for the applicants to acquaint themselves with the citizenship test.

Going for online preparation of citizenship application is indeed a good choice as the applicant can very well be assured of his/her application being not rejected.