If you are not buying real estate or shipping furniture down or in need of a DNI, the case for residency is not really that strong.If you are planning to own real estate, being a resident will apparently make the sale process quicker and easier when and if you sell.If you are shipping furniture, it will eliminate a whopping surcharge or tax or whatever on the value of your shipment.A DNI is handy for a lot of things, but not critical. You cannot get one, though, unless you are on a residency track.If you do have residency, you are theoretically subject to some income taxes, although at this point I don't know exactly how that works. I've heard various stories about it, but nothing definitive yet. I know a lot of people who are living here for the long run without residency. At this point, the only apparent hassle they have is the quarterly visa renewal process. They've all managed to get utilities in their names, bank accounts, medical plans, and other things that living here requires. So if you don't fit into one of those three situations I mentioned, there is no apparent necessity to do it, and a potential downside regarding income taxes.