frambuesas

Thanks - didn't think of #2, but I think you're the second or third person to mention that to me. Quite a reassuring thing to think that you have a right to stay no matter what! And you're right, you never know.

hobbes79

Didn't happen (as I said, it's extreme) but here's a recent case where it could have easily gone that way:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1606817.html

frambuesas

I agree. I haven't really got any reasons not to, now I have had a little time to consider it. But I like to see what people feel as well as the factual side of the argument. It's good to know people like you have benefitted both for yourself and for your family. That's really important to me.

That's great! And definitely something I would like for our kids.

Again, this is a great comfort.

Exactly. I guess it's just no holidays to Cuba now!

celticgrid

Because it made sense, for pretty much all the reasons people have given so far, given the long term plan to make the US my home.

Because I want to get onto the school board and that's restricted to citizens - it isn't just voting that comes with citizenship but the right to seek votes!

And because there's a longer list of crimes which I can now commit without fear of deportation.

frambuesas

Yeah, my husband just said, "That would just... no, that couldn't happen. It's so unlikely."


The issue is, of course, that it is unlikely but it IS possible. And in the world of immigration law, when you've been through so much to be here, that possibility is enough to make you want to do everything you can to avoid it.

In the case above, the non-USC actually committed the crime himself, rather than being a naive participant or an accessory, right? I'm amazed that there weren't further deportation efforts. I guess the letter from the other man in the video, and his long-standing US residency, did help with that.

frambuesas

Bahahahaha, all excellent reasons!

hobbes79

Yes, that wasn't a naive one. A more worrying scenario would be driving home one day and not noticing the cars ahead have stopped... BANG and the driver in the car in front is dead. Again, I'm coming up with scenarios that I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy, but you have to think it COULD happen.

Here's an article about it below (I copied and pasted the most relevant part)

A greencard holder can also be deported if he has a criminal arrest or conviction. Examples are almost any drug conviction including even simple possession or a misdemeanor, theft offenses, depending on your immigration status and the sentence you received, violent crimes such as assault, battery, rape or murder, domestic violence convictions or convictions for violating an order of protection, any conviction for sex offenses including consensual sex with a minor, gun convictions.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/views-and...ty-mike-templo

Please don't misunderstand my point as being "become a USC so you can become a drug crazed, gun wielding sex maniac!"

But who knows... wrong time in a bar in the wrong part of town... bar fight considered assault and out the country you go

I prefer to just have the peace of mind, no matter how incredibly unlikely, I'll NEVER get deported.

frambuesas

Well, I'll know who to blame if that happens. Heh heh. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply again, and with such interesting (and useful!) information.

London1947

I think many are getting of the main subject. The point is that becoming a USC has all the advantages one could ask for. Many people would give up a kidney to be able to hold two passports and have duel citizenship. To be able if one wished to live in the UK or the US.

John in Va

frambuesas

Thanks John. Just having a giggle - this was supposed to be a casual thread anyway! But you're right. There are so many advantages, it seems daft to not do it. I will start saving!

Steve_

The selective service thing is silly, this is just the way the US does it. Been various attempts to scrap it over the years and they haven't happened mainly because of stupid inertia.

The reality is that nowadays it would only be used in times of some national crisis and all the demographic info is already in the SSA database so they could just use that.

On the tax thing - yes you have to file tax forms for life but as a US citizen you can at least be non-resident for tax purposes. As an LPR you can't, "permanent resident" means exactly that in US law. You already crossed the line into filing a tax return by moving to the US, at least you can live abroad if you become a US citizen.

Steve_

Such as?

You don't become eligible for social security or premium-free Medicare until you've contributed for 10 years, so having US citizenship doesn't really help when it comes to govt. benefits. You qualify for medicare as a citizen but you have to pay for it, which you can do as an LPR, or in a non-immigrant status for that matter.

Most of the advantages are pretty obvious, basically right to vote, right of abode even if you go abroad or murder someone.

MarylandNed

Although even the right to vote doesn't appear to be taken that seriously. The turnouts for elections in the US is pretty low considering it promotes itself as the model of democracy and the leader of the free world. But then again, freedom includes the freedom to decide not to vote.

dreamercon

A green card holder can not be deported for just an arrest. There needs to be a conviction or an admission of guilt.

frambuesas

That's good to know! Thanks!