The terms “U.S. citizen” and “U.S. national” are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different legal statuses. While both statuses involve a connection to the United States, the rights and responsibilities that come with each status are not exactly the same.
A U.S. citizen is someone who has been granted citizenship by birth or naturalization. There are two ways to acquire U.S. citizenship: through birth in the United States or through naturalization. Anyone born on U.S. soil, including territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam, is automatically a U.S. citizen. In addition, anyone born to at least one U.S. citizen parent, regardless of where they were born, is also a U.S. citizen.
Naturalization is the process by which someone who is not a U.S. citizen can become one. To be eligible for naturalization, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as being a lawful permanent resident (i.e., a green card holder) for a certain period of time, passing a civics and English language test, and demonstrating good moral character.
Once someone becomes a U.S. citizen, they are entitled to all the rights and benefits afforded by the U.S. Constitution and laws. This includes the right to vote, the right to work and live in the United States, and the right to travel on a U.S. passport.
A U.S. national, on the other hand, is a person who owes allegiance to the United States but may not necessarily be a U.S. citizen. The concept of U.S. nationality is more complex than citizenship and encompasses a variety of legal statuses.
One way to acquire U.S. nationality is by being born in an unincorporated U.S. territory or possession. People born in places like American Samoa or Swains Island are considered U.S. nationals, but not U.S. citizens. They can travel freely to and from the United States, but they are not eligible to vote in federal elections and may face restrictions on certain types of employment.
Another way to acquire U.S. nationality is through a parent who is a U.S. national. For example, a child born to a U.S. national parent in a foreign country may be eligible for U.S. nationality even if they do not meet the criteria for U.S. citizenship.
It is worth noting that some people may have both U.S. citizenship and U.S. nationality, such as individuals born in a U.S. territory to U.S. citizen parents. However, the two statuses are not interchangeable, and there are differences in the rights and privileges associated with each.
In summary, a U.S. citizen is someone who has been granted citizenship by birth or naturalization and is entitled to all the rights and benefits afforded by the U.S. Constitution and laws. A U.S. national, on the other hand, is a person who owes allegiance to the United States but may not necessarily be a U.S. citizen. The concept of U.S. nationality is more complex than citizenship and encompasses a variety of legal statuses. While there may be some overlap between the two, they are not interchangeable and carry different rights and responsibilities.