Immigrants - basic information

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Immigrants

Basic Information

Who is a US Citizen?

Anyone born in the US and subject to the jurisdiction of the US is a US citizen (mandated by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution).
- This includes residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Residents of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the unincorporated US Minor Outlying Islands are U.S. Nationals, but not citizens. More information about what programs they are eligible for in the territories.

Note: children born to high-ranking foreign diplomats while in the US are not US citizens

People who are born in another country to parents who are US citizens may become citizens themselves through acquisition of citizenship
Non-citizens may become citizens through a process called "Naturalization"
Lawful permanent residents of the US whose parent or parents naturalize may become citizens themselves through derivation of citizenship

Typical documents showing US citizenship:

US birth certificate
US passport
Certificate of naturalization
Certificate of citizenship
US Citizen Identity Card (form I-197)
Proof of citizenship of parents and other proofs to show acquired/derived citizenship

Key Definitions for Non-citizens:

Immigrant: An individual who intends to stay permanently and ultimately becomes a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or "green card holder"

Non-Immigrant: An individual who intends to stay only temporarily. There are 22 types of non-immigrant visas. Examples include

student
tourist
business visa

Qualified Aliens is a term relative to eligibility for public benefits.

PRUCOL (Permanently Residing under Color of Law) generally NOT qualified for Federal Benefits, but may qualify for EAEDC if otherwise eligible.

Paying Taxes - see under Taxes

Important note: in April 2025 the IRS Agreed to Use Tax Data to Locate Immigrants counter to previous policy. See Taxes for more.

Drivers Licenses

International students or others here legally who have an international drivers’ license can drive legally. Effective July 1, 2023, Massachusetts residents are able to apply for learner’s permits, take road tests, and eventually obtain driver’s licenses without having to provide proof of immigration status.

The Driving Families Forward Coalition has created a document checklist handout, guides and training materials in multiple languages that go through the application process. See https://drivingmaforward.us/materials.

Remember: undocumented residents still CANNOT get REAL IDs, nor can they get commercial driver's licenses. The new law only changes the rules for standard car and motorcycle driver’s licenses.

More information and FAQs: mass.gov/guides/work-and-family-mobility-act-wfma

Car Registration: Under language in the FY 13 state budget (which began 7/1/12) applicants will need to prove US legal residency to register a car or trailer in Massachusetts. See more on the regulations proposed to begin in January 2013.

Other Resources:

Legal: Immigration (link to internal page)

Immigration legal services providers

Applying for Visas