“What’s the main benefit or benefits to becoming a citizen rather than just keeping my green card?”
There are many benefits to U.S. citizenship, including a passport that unlocks visa-free travel to many countries, the right to vote in elections, the right to run in elections, and being able to live outside the United States for extended periods of time, to name a very few.
So if you want to go back home because your parents are old or unwell, you can do that and then return to the United States many years later. You could also go to university abroad and stay for an extended period of time. The possibilities are endless and U.S. citizenship brings that flexibility of choice. So, there are several good reasons to do it and very few reasons not to naturalize. By becoming a U.S. citizen, you can also petition for your family members, including family members over age 21, as long as they’re unmarried.
Also, only a U.S. citizen can petition a parent, so if you’re a green card holder, you can never bring your parents to the United States. And only a U.S. citizen can sponsor a K-1 visa. And there are certain federal and state government jobs you can’t apply for unless you’re a U.S. citizen.
