BECOMING A NON-"U.S. CITIZEN."

A non-citizen national is a person who has U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship, either by birth or by law or treaty .This includes natives of American Samoa and Swains Island, or their descendants who meet certain residency requirements . Non-citizen nationals have the right to live and work in the U.S. without limitations, and they receive U.S. passports with a special endorsement . However, they do not have the complete political rights of a U.S. citizen. CERTIFICATE OF NON--CITIZEN NATIONAL The Department of State occasionally receives requests for certificates of non-citizen national status pursuant to Section 341(b)of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 USC 1452(b). As defined by the INA, all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals but only a relatively small number of persons acquire U.S. nationality without becoming U.S. citizens. Section 101(a)(21) of the INA defines the term “national” as “a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.” Section 101(a)(22) of the INA provides that the term “national of the United States” includes all U.S. citizens as well as persons who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States (non-citizen nationals). Section 308 of the INA confers U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship, on persons born in "an outlying possession of the United States" or born of a parent or parents who are non-citizen nationals who meet certain physical presence or residence requirements.