U.S. Citizen vs. Permanent Resident: An Overview

U.S. immigration law is complex.

It’s an ever-expanding network of visa categories, humanitarian relief, and diverse pathways to citizenship.

Though it may be daunting, you must have total confidence in your immigration status—today, tomorrow, and for years to come. 

More importantly, whether you’re working in the U.S. or on the fast-track to citizenship, you need to know your rights and responsibilities before the law.

In other words, you must understand the difference between being a U.S. citizen vs permanent resident. Though the terms are used interchangeably, they diverge in several ways. 

In this article, we aim to simplify the complexities of immigration law by answering three fundamental questions: 

• What is a US citizen? 
• What is a lawful permanent resident? 
• What are the fundamental differences between U.S. citizen vs permanent resident?

Let’s dive in.

What Is Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status?

A lawful permanent resident (LPR) is legally authorized to live and work in the United States. 

Upon declaration of permanent residence, you will receive a green card—a photo ID card—that officially proves your status. That’s why LPRs are commonly referred to as green card holders.

As a general rule, LPRs should carry their green cards with them at all times. 

Though LPR status is permanent, green cards can still be revoked if the recipient fails to meet all requirements (as we will discuss in a later section). Therefore, though the word “permanent” is in the acronym, LPR status is more aptly considered “indefinite.” 

Becoming a lawful permanent resident does not confer the full rights and privileges of U.S. citizens. However, most LPRs will be eligible to apply for naturalization after living in America for five consecutive years. 

How to Obtain LPR Status

There are many paths to residency. 

Though each route requires great perseverance, the following options are tried and tested avenues for becoming an LPR:

• Family sponsorship, the most prominent (and fastest) path to obtaining a green card. 
• Marriage, as long as the relationship is authentic and not for immigration purposes.
• Investing, where immigrants obtain green cards by funding their domestic businesses. 
• Employment, where U.S. employers can sponsor foreign nationals through job offers.  
• Diversity visa lottery, which makes 55,000 visas available to immigrants each year. 
• Achievement, which awards green cards to professionals of “extraordinary ability.”
• Victims of crime, which grants residency to individuals who suffered significant abuse.
• Refugees and individuals granted asylum may also qualify for LPR status.  

Green card processing times vary from case to case. 

To receive an estimate for your specific circumstances, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website and input your form category and field office.

The Rights of Lawful Permanent Residents

There are many reasons why permanent residency in the U.S. is so desirable.

After all, LPRs enjoy a spectrum of meaningful rights, including:

• The right to live and work in the United States. 
• The right to own property in the United States.
• The right to be protected by all laws of the United States.
• The right to attend public schools, colleges, and universities.
• The right to join certain branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• The right to travel within the United States and abroad. 
• The right to apply for a driver’s license in your local state. 
• The right to access a variety of social services, including healthcare, education, and welfare programs.
• The right to apply for citizenship after fulfilling certain residency requirements (such as living in the U.S. for at least five consecutive years). 
• The ability to sponsor immediate family members. 

The moment you become an LPR, these rights are immediately conferred upon you. 

However, in order to protect these rights, lawful permanent residents must uphold a small but essential range of responsibilities. 

Responsibilities of Lawful Permanent Residents

After becoming a lawful permanent resident, you’re expected to routinely observe the following ordinances:

• You must obey all local, state, and federal laws.
• You must carry proof of your LPR status at all times.
• You must make the United States your permanent residence.
• You must pay local, state, and federal income taxes. 
• You must provide the USCIS with your new address within ten days of moving, every time you move.
• You must maintain your immigration status (until you become a citizen or choose to relinquish your LPR status).

Other stipulations may apply. 

For example, if you are a male between the stages of 18 and 25, you must register with the Selective Service System (i.e. the U.S. Armed Forces). Females are not compelled to register. 

LPR status is permanent only for those who fulfill their civic responsibilities. As mentioned above, LPR status can be revoked if charged with criminal behavior, tax evasion, making false claims to U.S. citizenship, assisting other people to illegally enter the country, or leaving for the country for extended absences (over 6 months at a time).

What Is U.S. Citizenship?

Citizenship confers the highest legal status in the United States.

As a U.S. citizen, you instantly receive the full range of rights, responsibilities, and privileges of “natural-born” Americans. More broadly, you will be granted the ability to participate in the civic and political structures of the country. 

The only question is: how do you become a U.S. citizen? 

In the next section, we will address the primary paths to citizenship. 

How to Obtain U.S. Citizenship

In the United States, citizenship is conferred in the following four situations:

• If you are born in the United States.
• If you are born overseas to parents who are U.S. citizens.
• If you live in the U.S. as a child when your parent(s) gains citizenship.
• If you “naturalize” after becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR).

Naturalization refers to the process of voluntarily becoming a U.S. citizen (as opposed to being natural-born). 

As mentioned above, lawful permanent residents (LPRs) can apply for naturalization after living in the U.S. for five years. 

Such candidates must also be at least 18 years old, demonstrate good behavior while living as a resident, prove a continuity of presence in the U.S., take the Oath of Allegiance, and possess the ability to read, write, and speak English.

Rights of U.S. Citizenship

The rights of citizenship bind all Americans. 

In addition to the contents of the Bill of Rights, the liberties of U.S. citizenship include:

• The right to vote in local, state, and federal elections.
• The right to run for elected office and hold positions in government.
• The right to obtain a U.S. passport.
• The right to serve on a federal jury. 
• Eligibility for federal grants and scholarships.
• Priority when petitioning to bring your family members into the United States. Such sponsorship facilitates reunification and remains one of the hallmarks of citizenship. 

U.S. citizens are also immune to threats of deportation (with one exception). 

While a natural-born person cannot lose their citizenship, a naturalized citizen can be stripped of their rights if it is discovered that they committed fraud in their original application for naturalization. 

Responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship

Citizenship does not come without a cost. 

Indeed, all U.S. citizens are expected to uphold the following responsibilities:

• Respect local, state, and federal laws.
• Pay taxes on time to local, state, and federal authorities.
• Serve on a jury when called upon.
• Vote and participate in the democratic process.
• Defend the country in times of war.
• Register for Selective Service (for males aged 18 to 25).

Together, these responsibilities contribute to the tapestry of what it means to be an American.

Under the banner of the Bill of Rights, these edicts bind diverse citizens to a common cause: to nurture and protect the United States in all seasons of life. 

Key Differences Between LPR Status and U.S. Citizenship

In the sections above, we detailed the rights and responsibilities for LPRs and U.S. citizens. 

As we have seen, the differences are pronounced. 

To better visualize the differences between being a U.S. citizen vs permanent resident, we have provided a side-by-side comparison of the two legal statuses below: 

	U.S. Citizens	Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)
Can they vote in local, state, and federal elections?	Yes.	No.
Can they be deported?	No.  A naturalized person can only lose citizenship if convicted of forging their original application.	Yes.  Though considered “indefinite,” permanent residency can be revoked at any time if the individual is convicted of a crime.
Can they run for political office?	Yes. All U.S. citizens can hold positions in state, local, and federal government. However, only natural-born citizens can run for the Office of President.	No.  Green card holders are ineligible for political office. Attempts at campaigning to become an elected official are grounds for deportation.
Do they receive a U.S. passport?	Yes.	No. LPRs receive a green card (i.e. Form I-551).
Can they sponsor family members?	Yes.  Citizens can freely sponsor their spouses, parents, siblings, and their children (whether married or unmarried). Citizens typically enjoy faster processing times than LPRs.	Yes. LPRs can sponsor their spouses and unmarried children. Unlike U.S. citizens, LPRs do not receive priority for sponsorship and often face longer processing times.
Do they qualify for federal government benefits?	Yes.	Yes, but with greater limitations than U.S. citizens.
Are there travel restrictions involved?	No.  U.S. citizens can freely travel without any risk of jeopardizing their citizenship status.	Yes.  Traveling outside of the U.S. for over six consecutive months could be considered “abandonment of residency.”

In comparing the statuses of U.S. citizen vs permanent resident, the superior option is clear. 

However, while citizenship confers the greatest spectrum of rights and privileges, lawful permanent residence provides a launchpad for recent immigrants.  

Over time, your LPR status will forge a pathway to becoming a U.S. citizen and enjoy the maximum freedoms of living in America.

uLink: Your Global Payment Passport

It takes time to become a lawful permanent resident—and even longer to become a U.S. citizen.

Fortunately, some things can happen far faster. 

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