Residency vs. Citizenship?

Question

well, I just found out that if you want to be a citizen of Japan, you have to give up your other citizenship by age 22. My question is, is there a difference between Residency and Citizenship? If so What. Do you have to have a visa to be a legal resident of a country and get a bank card and land (etc.) Or do you have to be a Citizen? Do you need a Green card?

(Please provide serious answers!)

Answer 1

This is a topic that cannot be answered adequately here, but let me attempt to point out just a few things.

Citizenship is a status in society followed by duties and three sets of rights: civil rights, political rights and social rights. The same may not always be true of residency. (While some countries grant/allow non-citizens who have satisfied certain residency requirements to exercise limited civil or political rights “as if” they were their own citizens, that accommodation does not change the fact that the grantee remains a citizen of another country. Thus, non-citizens who have been residents for a certain period have, in certain jurisdictions, been allowed to vote in local elections or, otherwise, to participate in some form of local political exercise.)

Residence means general abode; the principal, actual dwelling-place-in-fact, without regard to intent. It may be permanent, temporary, continuous, etc. This is generally transient in nature and intent. Thus, it is possible for one person to have several places of residence, varying in transience or purpose.

However, all jurisdictions invariably require only one permanent/legal residence (domicile) where one intends to reside permanently (animo manendi) and to where, whenever one is absent, one “intends” to return (animo revertendi). With the exception stated parenthetically in paragraph 1 above, legal residence/domicile is the only form of residence to which attach one’s civil and/or political rights and obligations consequent to one’s citizenship. Think one’s right to vote or to participate in referenda, plebiscites, initiatives, recalls, etc.

Thus, while an American citizen may have his permanent legal residence / domicile in New York, entitling him to all civil and political rights as an American, he may have various residences in his various places of business, either elsewhere in the US or even abroad. Limited only in where and how he may vote in any place other than at his place of legal residence, his American citizenship gives him the right to vote in relevant US elections. The permanent residence status granted him by any other government in whose country he may have other residences does not diminish his rights as an American citizen, although there may be instances when the nature or length of his residency abroad may affect his eligibility or qualification to vote in US elections. On the other hand, the same residency status granted by the foreign government may allow him to exercise certain rights otherwise enjoyed solely by locals.

Different countries have different visa and residency requirements. An entry visa proves, among other things, that the visa holder is in fact a citizen of another country allowed to enter and stay in the host country for a certain period. With the possible exception of stateless persons, everyone is presupposed to possess citizenship. Even refugees and asylum seekers have one. Even so, an entry visa is a requirement, granted either at source or upon arrival at country of destination.

Bank deposit, credit card, financial or real estate or other form of investment may or may not be residency requirements, depending on the host country's immigration laws.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

in the united states the difference between a resident and a citizen is the right to vote. You would receive a green card if you are a resident and that just states that you are a permanent resident. Other than that, everything else is the same. just the voting thing.

Answer 3

No! You can get a bank card,credit card,home loan,in The U.S. without even having a social security number,it's true there are company's out there that would have giving Saddam Hussein and his sons all this and more,it's just like all these companies hiring Illegals to work for them because there cheap labor,they back these people for that reason and this will be the end to this once great country.There was this great Indian chief who celebrated his 100th birthday at the White House and he was being congratulated by President Roosevelt's when the wise Chief whispered in FDR ear "Make sure you take great interest in immigration problems,we didn't".

Answer 4

In my opinion, a resident is someone who only resides here in order to get what they want, when they want it and how they want it - they're only here to "take" and not give back.

A citizen, is someone who supports America, someone who loves this country, respects its laws and traditions.

Answer 5

Seriously, every country is different.