Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73
§1436 Nationals but not citizens; residence within outlying possessions
Title 8 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION › Part Part II— - Nationality Through Naturalization › § 1436
Summary
If someone is a U.S. national but not a citizen and otherwise qualifies, they can become a U.S. citizen if they move to and live in any State and meet the usual naturalization rules. For these applications, living in or being physically present in a U.S. outlying possession counts as living in the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 8, §1436
Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A person not a citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, and who is otherwise qualified, may, if he becomes a resident of any State, be naturalized upon compliance with the applicable requirements of this subchapter, except that in applications for naturalization filed under the provisions of this section residence and physical presence within the United States within the meaning of this subchapter shall include residence and physical presence within any of the outlying possessions of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1990—Pub. L. 101–649 substituted “applications” for “petitions”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
8 U.S.C. § 1436
Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73