There are many benefits to U.S. citizenship, whether it is achieved through birth or through the legal process known as naturalization. If you become a U.S. citizen, you enjoy a number of rights that are not available to non-citizens, such as the right to vote in public elections, the right to hold public office, and the right to travel with a U.S. passport. U.S. citizenship brings about benefits for your family, as well. If you are a U.S. citizen, your permanent resident children under the age of 18 automatically become U.S. citizens as well, and you are able to get priority in the visa process for bringing immediate relatives to join you in the U.S.