According to 8 U.S.C. §1408 it is possible to be a U.S. national without being a U.S. citizen. A person whose only connection to the U.S. is through birth in an outlying possession (which as of 2005 is limited to American Samoa and Swains Island), or through descent from a person so born acquires U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship. This was formerly the case in only four other current or former U.S. overseas possessions1:
* Guam (1898 - 1950) (Citizenship granted by an Act of Congress)
* the Philippines (1898 - 1946) (Independence in 1946; Citizenship never accorded)
* Puerto Rico (1898 - 1917) (Citizenship granted by an Act of Congress; Puerto Rican citizenship exists)
* the U.S. Virgin Islands (1917 - 1927) (Citizenship granted by an Act of Congress)
Nationals who are not citizens cannot vote or hold elected office. However, they may reside and work in the United States without restrictions and apply for citizenship under the same rules as other resident aliens.
Not all U.S. nationals are U.S. citizens; however, all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals. Indeed, U.S. passports normally make no distinction between the two, mentioning only the bearer's nationality, not his/her citizenship."