Terms for People- Middle School

These terms define a person's legal identity and relationship to the U.S.

• US Citizen: A person who owes complete allegiance to the United States and is entitled to all its constitutional rights and protections. Citizens are either born in the U.S. (or to U.S. citizen parents while abroad) or go through the legal process of naturalization.

• Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR): An immigrant who has been officially authorized by the government to live and work in the United States permanently. They are given a photo ID called a Green Card to prove this status.

• Nonimmigrant / Alien: "Alien" is the formal legal term used in U.S. law for any person who is not a U.S. citizen or national. A "Nonimmigrant" is a specific type of alien who enters the country temporarily for a certain purpose (like tourism, business, or school) and intends to return home.

• Undocumented: A term for individuals living in the U.S. who do not currently possess valid, government-issued visas or a legal immigration status.

• Beneficiaries: People who receive an immigration benefit (like a visa or green card) because a sponsor (such as a family member or a U.S. employer) filed a petition on their behalf.

• Child: In the U.S. immigration system, a "child" is specifically defined as an unmarried person who is under the age of 21.

• Dual nationality: The status of a person who is simultaneously a legal citizen of two different countries, holding rights and passports for both.