Differences btw citizenship, permanent resident alien, green card holder etc etc

[HardcoreRobot]

Is anyone familiar with this topic? What qualifies a person as a "Foreign National". Ive googled most of this and im getting a better idea, but Im hoping someone here can give me a good cliffs notes.

What type of classification would a foreign person need to have to: go to college here, own property, and have a job for a long period of time (~10yrs).

I GREATLY appreciate any info.

 

[GasX]

Here are your potential status'

U.S. Citizen
U.S National (i.e you are from American Samoa)
Resident Alien
Temporary Visa (vacation, student, etc...)
Political Refugee
Diplomat
Irish construction worker
Mexican landscaper
Cuban Dishwasher

A Resident Alien is a foreigner who has a permanent visa and has (almost) all the rights and obligations as a citizen. The most obvious exceptions are the vote and jury duty. After 5 years, a resident alien can apply for citizenship.

 

[welst10]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Here are your potential status'

U.S. Citizen
U.S National (i.e you are from American Samoa)
Resident Alien
Temporary Visa (vacation, student, etc...)
Political Refugee
Diplomat
Irish construction worker
Mexican landscaper
Cuban Dishwasher

A Resident Alien is a foreigner who has a permanent visa and has (almost) all the rights and obligations as a citizen. The most obvious exceptions are the vote and jury duty. After 5 years, a resident alien can apply for citizenship.

wrong. resident alien =/= permanent resident (green card holder)

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Here are your potential status'

U.S. Citizen
U.S National (i.e you are from American Samoa)
Resident Alien
Temporary Visa (vacation, student, etc...)
Political Refugee
Diplomat
Irish construction worker
Mexican landscaper
Cuban Dishwasher

A Resident Alien is a foreigner who has a permanent visa and has (almost) all the rights and obligations as a citizen. The most obvious exceptions are the vote and jury duty. After 5 years, a resident alien can apply for citizenship.

That is pretty much it. My wife is a Canadian and has been a Resident Alien for 19 years now and the only thing she can't do is vote.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: welst10

wrong. resident alien =/= permanent resident (green card holder)

nvm - there is such a thing as a non-permanent resident alien

 

[welst10]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: welst10

wrong. resident alien =/= permanent resident (green card holder)

prove it

dont have that much time. go to uscis.gov and find out for yourself.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

How long can temporary visas last for?

Can someone explain the differences btw resident alien and permanent resident.

Which of these labels fall under the "Foreign National" category?

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
How long can temporary visas last for?

Can someone explain the differences btw resident alien and permanent resident.

Which of these labels fall under the "Foreign National" category?

permanent resident is a sub-set of resident alien status (that never has to leave...)

A foreign national is any non-citizen who is from another country.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Mwilding thanks for the info.
Referring to my original post, what category do you think someone with that history would fall into? Are they likely to have become a citizen?

 

[Passions]

What is a green card exactly? cuz from what I hear, the Asian babes drool over it.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
Is anyone familiar with this topic? What qualifies a person as a "Foreign National". Ive googled most of this and im getting a better idea, but Im hoping someone here can give me a good cliffs notes.

What type of classification would a foreign person need to have to: go to college here, own property, and have a job for a long period of time (~10yrs).

you want to move here?

to go to college here: student visa
own property: heck you can own property and live overseas. pay for it, set up a domestic corp, etc.
have a job: your company needs to sponsor your work visa, or you need some sort of work visa. eventually they could also sponsor you for your green card.

my exact info is hazy though, since i've never had to go through this.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: freesia39

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
Is anyone familiar with this topic? What qualifies a person as a "Foreign National". Ive googled most of this and im getting a better idea, but Im hoping someone here can give me a good cliffs notes.

What type of classification would a foreign person need to have to: go to college here, own property, and have a job for a long period of time (~10yrs).

you want to move here?

to go to college here: student visa
own property: heck you can own property and live overseas. pay for it, set up a domestic corp, etc.
have a job: your company needs to sponsor your work visa, or you need some sort of work visa. eventually they could also sponsor you for your green card.

my exact info is hazy though, since i've never had to go through this.

Check teh profile, I dont think he wants to move here.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: freesia39

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
Is anyone familiar with this topic? What qualifies a person as a "Foreign National". Ive googled most of this and im getting a better idea, but Im hoping someone here can give me a good cliffs notes.

What type of classification would a foreign person need to have to: go to college here, own property, and have a job for a long period of time (~10yrs).

you want to move here?

to go to college here: student visa
own property: heck you can own property and live overseas. pay for it, set up a domestic corp, etc.
have a job: your company needs to sponsor your work visa, or you need some sort of work visa. eventually they could also sponsor you for your green card.

my exact info is hazy though, since i've never had to go through this.

As crusty said, its not for me. Im just trying to figure out about a person I know.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
Mwilding thanks for the info.
Referring to my original post, what category do you think someone with that history would fall into? Are they likely to have become a citizen?

Basically, you have three options

1. come over on a student visa and upon graduation get a job with a company that will sponsor you for a work visa
2. get a job there with a company that will send you here
3. Get a job here with a company that needs you so badly they will sponsor you

My father took option 3 and the entire family came over with immediate permanent resident alien visa status (good immigration lawyer...) when I was 8

 

[SuperTool]

resident-alien is also a permanent resident and green card holder.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Almost little to no difference except you are able to vote as a citizen.

 

[kyparrish]

as a full fledged citizen of the USA, I have the distinct privilege of paying taxes, social security, medicaid, etc.

I LOVE MY LIFE !!!1111ONE!!!

 

[thirdlegstump]

If you're a green card holder, you have to pay taxes, social n all that too. At least I did when I was a permanent resident.

 

[SuperTool]

Not much advantage to having citizenship over greencard aside from symbolism. You can vote, but then you have jury duty, so it balances out. Also, greencard is much easier to carry than naturalization certificate or passport I guess if you commit a crime and you aren't a citizen you could be deported, so that's a disadvantage.