Definitions:

The law regarding U.S. citizenship and nationality is complex; therefore the following are broad definitions for general guidance only. If additional clarifications are necessary, please contact the Bureau of Child Care and Development Program Policy Manager.

United States citizen : (1) A person (other than the child of a foreign diplomat) born in one of the several States or in the district of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands who has not renounced or otherwise lost his or her citizenship; (2) A person born outside of the United States to at least one U.S. citizen parent (sometimes referred to as a "derivative citizen") or (3) a naturalized U.S. citizen.

United States non-citizen national : a person born in an outlying possession of the United States (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 (subject to certain residency requirements).

Qualified Alien : An alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). I ncludes lawful permanent residents, asylees, refugees, parolees, individuals granted withholding of deportation or removal, conditional entrants, Cuban or Haitian entrants, battered aliens, and alien victims of a severe form of trafficking. The term qualified alien is not itself an immigration status, but includes a collection of immigration statuses. It is a term used for Federal public benefits purposes.