What U.S. Citizenship Provides: Rights and Responsibilities

U.S. citizenship is about success, prospects, safety, and prestige, after all.

Many immigrants set the goal of becoming U.S. citizens, but if you ask them what specific advantages this citizenship provides and how it differs from residency, the most common answer is: the right to vote in elections.

However, the rights of a U.S. citizen are not limited to voting. Let’s take a closer look at the information provided by the official U.S. immigration website.

List of Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens

The Right to Vote

Every U.S. citizen has the right to vote. The right to vote is guaranteed in federal elections and cannot be revoked. There are various elections, from presidential elections to elections for the House of Representatives, and so on.

Serving on a Jury

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a judge and take part in the U.S. judicial system, this is the best way to fulfill that desire. Only citizens have the right to be selected as jury members and participate in court proceedings.

Traveling the World with Minimal Restrictions

Unlike many other people on this planet, U.S. citizens (as of 2022) can visit around 110 countries without significant restrictions for stays ranging from one week to indefinite periods. In all these cases, there’s no need to pay any government fees. In most other countries, U.S. citizens can also pay a small fee to get a visa more easily than people from other countries.

Family Reunification

Every U.S. citizen has the right to bring their closest relatives to the U.S. for permanent residency.

Citizenship for Children under 18

In most cases, even if a child is born in another country, they have the right to automatically receive U.S. citizenship if the parents are U.S. citizens.

Working as a Public Official

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger took advantage of this opportunity and became the governor of California. Every citizen, even if born outside the U.S., can run for mayor, governor, and other positions.

Applying for Federal Jobs

This right allows U.S. citizens to work in certain government sectors where one of the main requirements is U.S. citizenship.

Maintaining Residency and Citizenship

Once someone becomes a U.S. citizen, they cannot lose that citizenship, even if they leave the U.S. for decades after obtaining it.

Access to Benefits

There is a specific list of benefits applicable to U.S. citizens, which all U.S. passport holders can take advantage of.

The Right to Scholarships and Federal Grants

Every U.S. citizen has the right to financial aid, including grants and scholarships, as well as access to education in colleges and participation in various programs that are exclusively available to U.S. citizens.

As you can see, U.S. citizens enjoy considerable benefits. In addition to these bonuses, U.S. citizens also have the right to:

• The right to happiness and self-expression;
• The right to worship and practice any religion;
• The right to a trial, a fair and swift jury trial;
• And so on…

However, along with these benefits and rights come responsibilities:

• The responsibility to support, uphold, and defend the U.S. Constitution;
• The responsibility to stay informed about issues affecting your community;
• The responsibility to participate in the democratic process;
• The responsibility to respect and obey all federal, state, and local laws;
• The responsibility to respect the rights, freedom, and beliefs of others without infringing upon them;
• The responsibility to contribute to the development of your local community;
• The responsibility to serve on a jury if required by the government;
• The responsibility to defend the country if the need arises;
• The responsibility to pay income and other federal, state, and local taxes honestly and on time.

Additionally, it is recommended to read the following resources:

The U.S. Citizen’s Almanac (8.53 Mb)