You can qualify as a US citizen if you meet all the eligibility requirements. Some basic requirements include the age of at least 18 years and being a permanent resident for at least 5 years - the duration is at least 3 years if you are the spouse of a US national. If you want to know what to do after getting U.S. citizenship, you must initially undertake four necessary steps after obtaining a Certificate of Naturalization.

These steps include; updating your social security record, registering to vote, applying for a United States passport & getting a certificate of citizenship for a child. If you get to have some immigration information about the USA, you will get to know that these steps are crucial that you have to consider just after becoming a US citizen.

Update Social Security Status

One of the things you are required to do after getting a certificate of US naturalization is to update your Social Security status. Updating the security status is necessary to verify that you are eligible for work in the United States. You need a Social Security Number (SSN) for employment in the country. Government has to track the records of your earnings to determine the eligibility of getting the social security benefits citizen. Otherwise, it will be like you are working illegally on this land. 

​​How Do I Update My Social Security Record After I Become A Citizen?

After getting US citizenship with the Social Security Administration (SSA), you can update your social security record. To get the social security card, you have to fill out and submit a social security application (SS-5). Just mail or submit physically the social security application and required documents to the Local Social Security Office.

All the documents should be recent.

• US citizenship or US immigration status including permission to work in the US
• Age
• Identity

Update citizenship status Social Security online

You can update your US citizenship status on Social Security Online by filling out an application Form SS-5. It can be found on their website. Usually, it takes ten days to update a Social Security Record after the naturalization ceremony.

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Registration to Vote In U.S.

You may be able to register in person or by mail. America has a democratic style of government and it's the reason for the nation's success. As a US immigrant, you should also play your part and you can do this just after having the right to vote. After taking the Oath of Allegiance in your US naturalization ceremony, you will receive a voter registration application.

It is for applying to get registered to vote in the U.S. after getting US citizenship. If you are not provided with this, you can register at county boards of election or the offices of the Secretary of State, motor vehicle office and post office. Registration can be done in person or by email.

How soon can you register to vote after naturalization?

You can soon register to vote after receiving a naturalization certificate. Be careful not to vote or get registered for voting (some exemptions apply) before officially becoming a citizen. Otherwise, your citizenship application will be denied.

Apply for U.S. Passport

After becoming a U.S. citizen in an oath-taking ceremony at the event of naturalization, USCIS officials give you a Certificate of Naturalization. But this certificate will not allow you to travel and you have to get a US passport. You will receive an application for a passport in U.S. Citizenship Welcome Packet.

One of the things you should do is apply for a passport because you might need to leave the United States in an emergency. Therefore, soon having it on hand is a good idea. As a first-time applicant, you must have to apply by hand and the personnel at the US passport office can help you with this.

While applying for a passport, you have to submit the original certificate of naturalization and a photocopy of it. The state department will return your original certificate.

Certificate of citizenship for a child

When you naturalize, your children also gain citizenship automatically. Your children must be under 18 and permanent residents to qualify for this. If the child is meeting these criteria, he/she is automatically naturalised but even after becoming a national of the United States, they still require a citizenship certificate. Documents to prove when and how a child got citizenship are needed to get certain benefits, for example, replacing a passport if gets missing later in life.

How do I get my child a Certificate of citizenship?

Get a certificate of citizenship for your child from USCIS by taking the Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600). Note that you should also make a U.S. passport for your children, which will also prove their nationality. 

Once you submit the application, USCIS (the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) issues the certificate of citizenship. It never expires and can be used to enjoy the benefits of medicare.

FAQs

Can I travel right after becoming a US citizen?

Yes, you can travel abroad after applying for citizenship but you can only travel as a permanent resident by using a Green Card.

What are the benefits you will get after becoming a US citizen?

There are several benefits that you can enjoy by getting citizenship for the USA and they include;

• No chances of deportation
• Citizenship for your children
• Eligibility to get a government job
• Freedom to vote and travel and many more

What are the disadvantages of US citizenship?

The major disadvantage of being an immigrant is that you have to pay taxes for your worldwide income regardless of where you are living.