What’s the difference between US National and US citizen?

If you are wondering: What’s the difference between US national and Us citizen? Keep reading and discover more. Wizard Visa is experiencing in immigration solutions and are here to solve your doubts!

In fact, U.S. citizens are also considered to be U.S. nationals. Immigration law defines a national as “a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.” Citizens owe allegiance to the United States, they are both U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals. On the other hand, it’s possible to be a national but not a citizen.

Who Are U.S. National and Who are U.S. Citizen?

People who were born in the United States are U.S. nationals. However, some places must be considered: If an individual was born in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or Swains Island, these places are possessed by the U.S., but they don’t have the same rights as U.S. states but are under the protection of the U.S. government.

Someone also is a U.S. national but not a U.S. citizen if both of their parents were born in Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or Swains Island and they lived in the U.S. before they were born.

That means an individual wouldn’t need to have been born in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or Swains Island to be a U.S. national.

Sometimes an individual might qualify to be considered a U.S. national even if only one of your parents was born in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or Swains Island and lived in the U.S. However, that parent would have to meet specific residency requirements.

To conclude, there may be some elderly individuals who, if born in the Philippines or Guam, may still be considered U.S. Nationals. People born in Guam before 1950 or the Philippines before 1946 will have this status.

What is the difference between citizenship and national?

The main differences between a U.S. citizen and a U.S. national are voting rights and the eligibility to hold public office. U.S. nationals are not allowed to vote in federal elections or serve in a federal office. To do that, they will have to become naturalized citizens.

On the other hand, nationals who aren’t U.S. citizens still have many of the same privileges as citizens, they are also allowed to travel, live, and work in the United States.

Moreover, considering the Green Card privileges, in U.S. citizen cases, the government cannot revoke any right. This means a U.S. national can never lose their status and, if living in the U.S., will never be deported back to their home country under any situation.

N-400, Application for Naturalization – USCIS

When you get status as a U.S. national, it is much easier to become a naturalized citizen, because U.S. nationals meet the residency requirements after only three months. Once you’ve been in the U.S. for at least three months, you will then follow the same steps as other immigrants to get citizenship:

• Complete and submit USCIS Form N-400, Application for naturalization, along with applicable fees;
• Attend your scheduled interview;
• Pass the civics and English tests;
• Take part in a biometrics exam to verify your identity;
• Attend your citizenship ceremony and swear an Oath of Allegiance to the United States;

Even though they are used as synonymous, the terms U.S. national and U.S. citizen mean different things. An individual who is a U.S. citizen will be a U.S. national at the same time, but U.S. nationals are not always U.S. citizens. U.S. nationals also have some restrictions, while U.S. citizens are less restricted and have more benefits. On the other hand, U.S. nationals can apply for citizenship after three months of residency.

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Relate Link: USCIS