Newborn Children
According to U.S. immigration law, any child born in the United States is considered a U.S. citizen and holds a U.S. passport, with no restrictions on their time spent outside the United States, allowing them to enter and exit the country freely for life. Upon turning 18 and taking the oath, they legally enjoy all the rights of a U.S. citizen, including the ability to sponsor their spouse, children, and parents for family reunification immigration.
Educational Benefits
Public primary and secondary education in the United States is compulsory, meaning no tuition fees (except for private schools). College (including graduate and doctoral programs) only requires payment of in-state tuition. For example, at a moderately ranked public university in California, international students pay over $12,000 in tuition per year, while "in-state" students at California State University only pay a little over $2,000 per year. If a child completes three years of high school and four years of college in the United States, the tuition savings alone can amount to approximately 500,000 RMB. For ordinary Chinese individuals intending to apply for scholarships at U.S. universities, they can only compete for a very limited number of scholarships available to foreign nationals against outstanding individuals from around the world. However, for those with a green card, the range of scholarships available is far greater than what a foreign national can apply for, as many scholarship-granting organizations in the United States limit scholarships to "Americans" (including those with U.S. permanent residency). Therefore, after immigrating to the United States, a child's chances of applying for scholarships are significantly higher than those of international students.
About Student Loans
Green card holders over the age of 18 can apply for various types of student loans in the year they obtain their green card. For example, attending a prestigious private university in the United States can cost around $30,000 per year, and when a green card holder wishes to pursue a two-year master's degree, they can take out a loan of $60,000 to $70,000. If they graduate and cannot find a job, they do not have to repay the loan; once they find employment, they can repay it over the years, typically paying only five to ten percent of their salary each month. In the United States, no one is unable to attend school due to financial difficulties.
Employment
The U.S. government has dedicated agencies that help citizens find jobs for free. Green card holders can register their skills, specialties, and interests with these agencies, which will assist them in finding employment at no cost. Additionally, these agencies provide free training for job seekers to help them acquire basic skills for employment. Green card holders are not restricted from working in the United States. To protect the interests of its citizens, many jobs in the United States are not open to foreign nationals, even if they possess the necessary knowledge and expertise. This situation places foreign students at a significant disadvantage when competing for jobs with U.S. students after graduation.
Retirement Benefits
After accumulating ten years of tax records (the minimum being approximately $50 per month in actual taxes), individuals can receive a pension from the U.S. federal government for life after retirement (approximately $1,000 to $1,200 per month). For many immigrants, the number of years receiving a pension exceeds the number of years they worked and paid taxes.
Unemployment Benefits
If applicants, their spouses, or even children do not have jobs after obtaining their green cards, the government will help them find work for free. After having six months of tax records, they can report unemployment to the local U.S. authorities and receive government assistance (ranging from $400 to $1,200 per month).
Life Insurance and Funds
Green card holders can enjoy certain life insurance and fund-linked insurance products that are not available in China, allowing them to have a higher income after retirement.
Medicare
Medical expenses in the United States are quite high, but any "low-income" green card holder (without needing tax records) can apply for a "medical card" after retirement, allowing them to receive medical care without incurring costs. This alleviates the concerns of elderly individuals suffering from illnesses. For those who do not fall into the low-income category, as long as they have accumulated ten years of tax records, they can pay a minimal insurance fee after retirement and not bear the medical expenses themselves.
Housing Subsidies
Green card holders can apply to purchase low-income senior citizen apartments after retirement. They can buy their own housing in the United States, built with government subsidies, for approximately 35% of the market price.
Government Subsidies
If green card holders do not have ten years of accumulated tax records before retirement, they can simply become U.S. citizens, and after retirement (at age 65), the government will directly provide living subsidies (over $600 per month). They can receive this money even if they do not live in the United States.
Of course, the above benefits may have different meanings for different applicants, depending entirely on the specific family circumstances of the immigration applicants.