What rights do you gain?
Answer
Voting, access to certain jobs, U.S. passport
Explanation
Naturalization conveys the full rights of U. S. citizenship, which include several rights not available to lawful permanent residents.
The most prominent are: the right to vote in federal, state, and most local elections (the Constitution and federal laws restrict voting in federal and state elections to U. S. citizens, and most municipal elections also require citizenship, although a small number of cities and towns permit non-citizen voting in local elections); eligibility for federal employment that requires U.
S. citizenship, including most positions in the FBI, CIA, State Department, certain Department of Defense roles, and many other federal agencies handling classified information or national security functions; eligibility for U. S.
passport issuance under 22 U. S. C.
section 211a, which provides citizens with a widely accepted travel document, U. S. consular protection abroad, and visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries; the right to petition for the immigration of additional family members under sections 201 and 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (citizens can petition for parents, married adult children, and brothers and sisters; permanent residents cannot petition for these family members at all and must wait longer for spouses and unmarried children); eligibility to run for and hold federal elected office (the Constitution requires that a Representative be at least 25 years old and a U.
S. citizen for at least 7 years, that a Senator be at least 30 years old and a U. S.
citizen for at least 9 years, and that the President be a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old; naturalized citizens cannot serve as President but can serve in any other federal office); eligibility for security clearances at higher levels (Top Secret and above generally require U. S. citizenship); the ability to transmit U.
S. citizenship to children born abroad under section 322 of the Act; protection against deportation (citizens cannot be deported, while permanent residents can be removed for certain criminal offenses or immigration violations); jury service eligibility (and the corresponding obligation when called); eligibility for federal grants, scholarships, and certain benefits restricted to citizens; and the symbolic and civic significance of full membership in the political community.
Why this matters for your test
Understanding the rights gained at naturalization makes the value of citizenship concrete: voting, federal employment, the U. S. passport, broader family petitions, protection against deportation, and access to federal elected office (except the presidency).
These rights together explain why naturalization is the central goal of most permanent residents.
Source: USCIS Application Guide (2025)
