Living in the U.S. is a dream for many people, but there are a few things to know before making the move. One of the most important ones is the difference between citizenship and residency.
Residency
Residency is the term used for people who are not U.S. citizens but live in the country on a legal basis. This could be through a visa, work permit, student visa, or another type of legal immigration status. Being a resident of the U.S. does not automatically make you a citizen, and there are a few important things to remember about residency status.
First, residency does not come with the same rights as citizenship. Residents do not have the right to vote or hold public office. They also may have restrictions on what type of work they can do and how long they can stay in the country.
Second, residency is not permanent. It can get revoked at any time, which means that the person may have to leave the country.
Citizenship
Citizenship is an immigration status that’s used for people who are U.S. citizens by birth or naturalization. This means that they have the right to vote, hold public office, and reside in the country permanently.
There are a few things that set citizenship apart from residency. First, citizenship is more secure. Unlike what happens in residency, a person cannot have their citizenship revoked unless under certain special circumstances. Second, citizenship comes with more benefits. Citizens have access to social services and public benefits that residents do not.
In conclusion, citizenship is the highest level of immigration status in the U.S., and it comes with several rights and benefits that residents do not have. If you are thinking about making the move to the U.S., it’s important to understand the difference between citizenship and residency and what that means for your immigration status.
