I’m not a citizen; can I be a national?

How can someone become a state national if not born in the United States? I’m married to a U.S. citizen, and I don’t want to apply for a green card and put myself into their jurisdiction. What would be the steps if there is an option?

Answer:

To declare your political status as a national, you must first be a U.S. citizen. So, if you’re not a U.S. citizen, you would need to complete the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen, and then you would be able to declare your national status by submitting an Affidavit of Citizenship Evidence to the U.S. Secretary of State.

PLEASE NOTE: The term “State National” is not a statutory term. You should use the term “national,” as this is a statutory term found in U.S. code.