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A citizen is a participatory member of a political community. Citizenship is gained by meeting the legal requirements of a national, state, or local government. A nation grants certain rights and privileges to its citizens.

Non-Citizen National: A person born in an outlying possession of the U.S. (e.g., American Samoa or Swain's Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession, or a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals. All U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals; however, not every U.S. national is a U.S. citizen.

The word nationality refers to where you are born. A country's government grants citizenship when specific legal requirements are met. Citizenship can be seen as a political status because it indicates which country recognizes you as a citizen.

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.”

The significant 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.

ing to Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, “a citizen is a member of a state to whom he or she owes allegiance and is entitled to its protection.” Hence, from this definition, it is implicit that a non-citizen is someone who is not a member of a state nor owes allegiance to the state he or she currently ...

(ˈnæʃənəl ˈsteɪtəs ) law. the status of someone as regarding their citizenship of a country. Collins English Dictionary.

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.