fbpx

The American citizenship is what allows an immigrant to obtain the protection, and the rights, privileges and obligations that are exclusively for the citizens of the United States of America. Citizens can work and build their lives as they wish in the country.

Details

  1. How Can I Get the American Citizenship?

The most common way to get it is by birth either if you’re born in the U.S. or through jus sanguinis i.e. “right of blood”  (when you’re born outside the U.S., but your parents are American). Of course, you have to meet certain requirements in this case.

The other way is naturalization. In most cases, naturalized citizens are legal permanent residents who meet all requirements and have passed the official exam on civics and English.

  1. How Can I Prove that I’m American?

Several documents serve to prove that a person is an American citizen.

As we already said, those who are born in any of the 50 states that make up the American Union or any of its territories become citizens right after birth.

On the other hand, those who are American because they have an American parent but were born abroad can submit the Consular Report of Birth Abroad as evidence.

  1. An American Citizen’s Rights

pexels-photo-mediumOne important thing to consider is that in the United States, American citizens are given priority. Not even legal permanent residents have the same rights as the naturalized ones.

For example, legal permanent residents don’t have the right to vote or to get food stamps. They don’t have protection against deportation.

  1. Losing the American Citizenship

It’s not common at all, but it’s not impossible for someone to lose their citizenship. It’s important to know that people who want to renounce their citizenship on their own initiative have to do this abroad at a consular office. This decision is irreversible. There’s no turning back.

  1. Dual Nationality: U.S. + Another Country

Dual nationality means that a person has the citizenship of two countries simultaneously. This is accepted in the U.S. However, people in this condition must know that they may be adversely affected in jobs that require a security clearance.