I have a Green Card. Do I have to become an American citizen?

No, you don’t have to. Green Card allows you to stay and work in the U.S. forever. However, getting American citizenship gives you the following privileges: to vote during general and local elections, work at public office (federal, state, and municipal), stay in your or any foreign country as long as you wish,  and get U.S. passport to visit many countries without visa.

Requirements for citizenship: You become eligible to be an American citizen after being permanent resident (Green Card holder) for five years. You need to stay in the United States more than six months a year with certain exceptions, have good moral character, and pass citizenship test of U.S. history and government. Make sure that you have the most recent book or test material as changes were made in 2008.

Are you eligible to be dual citizen? Before becoming an American citizen check if you lose citizenship of your country of origin. Many countries allow their citizens to have dual citizenship. In some other countries (Belgium, Bolivia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Venezuela, among others), you have to relinquish citizenship of your native country to become U.S. citizen.