Legal Definitions - national of the United States

A national of the United States refers to any person who owes allegiance to the United States and is entitled to its protection. This broad category includes all U.S. citizens, as well as certain individuals who are not citizens but are still considered nationals. The key distinction is that while all U.S. citizens are nationals, not all nationals are U.S. citizens.

Essentially, being a national means you are part of the political community of the United States and are under its legal jurisdiction, even if you do not possess all the rights and privileges typically associated with U.S. citizenship, such as the right to vote in federal elections.

• Example 1: A U.S. Citizen Born in a State

  Maria was born in California to parents who are U.S. citizens. As a result of her birth within U.S. territory, she automatically became a U.S. citizen. Because all U.S. citizens are also nationals, Maria is a national of the United States. She holds a U.S. passport, can vote in federal elections, and is entitled to the full protection of U.S. laws both domestically and abroad.

• Example 2: A Non-Citizen National from American Samoa

  Sione was born in American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Under U.S. law, individuals born in American Samoa are considered non-citizen nationals. Sione owes allegiance to the United States and is entitled to U.S. protection, can carry a U.S. passport, and can live and work anywhere in the U.S. without a visa. However, unlike Maria, Sione is not automatically a U.S. citizen and therefore cannot vote in federal elections unless he goes through the naturalization process to become a citizen. Despite not being a citizen, he is still a national of the United States due to his birth in a U.S. territory and his allegiance to the nation.

• Example 3: A Naturalized U.S. Citizen

  Dr. Lee immigrated to the United States from South Korea, became a lawful permanent resident, and after several years, successfully completed the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen. As a naturalized citizen, Dr. Lee now owes full allegiance to the United States and enjoys all the rights and protections of a native-born citizen, including the right to vote. Therefore, Dr. Lee is also a national of the United States, demonstrating that both native-born and naturalized citizens fall under this definition.