Which term best describes a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States?

Which term best describes a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States?

• A. Permanent Resident
• B. Non-Resident Alien
• C. U.S. National
• D. Naturalized Alien

Answer: (C)

In U.S. nationality law, a person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States but is not a citizen is described as a U.S. national. This status covers individuals who aren’t citizens yet still owe ongoing allegiance to the U.S., such as those born in American Samoa or Swains Island. It’s a distinct category from being a permanent resident, which is a residency status allowing long-term stay but not tied to permanent allegiance, and from non-resident alien, which refers to someone not residing in the U.S. at all. A naturalized person becomes a citizen, not a non-citizen, so “naturalized” terms don’t apply to someone who remains a non-citizen. Hence, the term that best fits a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States is U.S. national.

In U.S. nationality law, a person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States but is not a citizen is described as a U.S. national. This status covers individuals who aren’t citizens yet still owe ongoing allegiance to the U.S., such as those born in American Samoa or Swains Island. It’s a distinct category from being a permanent resident, which is a residency status allowing long-term stay but not tied to permanent allegiance, and from non-resident alien, which refers to someone not residing in the U.S. at all. A naturalized person becomes a citizen, not a non-citizen, so “naturalized” terms don’t apply to someone who remains a non-citizen. Hence, the term that best fits a non-citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States is U.S. national.