Resident Alien

What Is a Resident Alien?

A resident alien is a foreign-born United States resident who is not a U.S. citizen. A resident alien is also known as a permanent resident or a lawful permanent resident, which means they are considered an immigrant who has been legally and lawfully recorded as a resident of the country. A resident alien must have a green card or pass a substantial presence test. 

Understanding Resident Alien

A resident alien is a foreign person who is a permanent resident of the country in which they reside but does not have citizenship. To fall under this classification in the United States, a person needs to either have a current green card or have had one in the previous calendar year.

People can also fall under the U.S. classification of resident aliens if they pass the substantial presence test. In order to do so, they must have been in the United States for more than 31 days during the current year, along with having been in the United States for at least 183 days over a three-year period, including the current year.

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are three types of resident alien:

There are differences between the three types. For example, a resident alien can use foreign tax credits, whereas a non-resident cannot. A resident alien is subject to the same taxes as a U.S. citizen, while a non-resident alien only pays tax on domestic income that is generated within the United States, not including capital gains.

Resident aliens are required to report worldwide income from sources both within and outside the United States. Income is reported using Form 1040. Non-resident aliens, on the other hand, report domestic income using Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ.

Fast Fact

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recorded admitting 1,031,765 million new permanent residents in 2019, the most recent figure available as of Feb. 1, 2021.

Example of a Resident Alien

Cristela Alonzo, an actress, comedian, and contributor to Time magazine penned a beautiful essay in tribute to her late mother's immigration journey from Mexico to the U.S., to getting resident alien status for both her and Alonzo's oldest brother. She wrote of her mother's perseverance to get this status for herself and her son. Both were granted resident alien citizenship, and her mother, who died when was Alonzo was 22 years old, had three natural-born citizens (one of them being Cristela), bringing the total number of her children to four.

Alonzo's brothers became teachers, and her sister works in communications in the U.S. Alonzo is not only active in the entertainment industry but also in her advocacy work (donating time and money) for many causes, including advocating for the end of detention centers where immigrants seeking asylum are being held. And she serves on the advisory board of Define American, a nonprofit media and culture organization that "uses the power of story to transcend politics and shift the conversation about immigrants, identity, and citizenship in a changing America."

Her work is informed and inspired by her experiences in her youth and her mother's journey to gain resident alien citizenship.

Resident and non-resident aliens have different tax filing advantages and disadvantages.

Special Considerations

It is possible to be considered exempt from resident alien status, in which case a person does not need to prove compliance with the green card test or the substantial presence test. Situations in which a person is present in the United States on government-related issues or when a student or teacher is temporarily present in the United States are both examples of exemptions.

These exempt aliens can, depending on the situation, file for an adjustment of status, a process that allows them to remain in the country and to apply to become a permanent resident with resident alien status. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is a Resident Alien Defined in the United States?

An individual is classified as a resident alien of the U.S. for tax purposes if they meet either the green card test or the substantial presence test for the calendar year (January 1-December 31). The green card test states that a person needs to either have a current green card or have had one in the previous calendar year. The substantial presence test requires that a person has been in the U.S. for more than 31 days during the current year and 183 days during a three-year period that includes the current year and the two years prior.

What Are the Three Types of U.S. Resident Aliens?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are three categories of resident alien. A permanent resident, also known as a green card holder, is someone who has been given the lawful and legal right by the government to live in the United States. A conditional resident is a person who receives a two-year green card, which is usually given to people who have applied for residency based on marriage. Returning resident is any lawful permanent resident who has been outside the U.S. and is returning to the country. A subset of this is a "special immigrant" who must apply for readmission if they have been outside the U.S. for more than 180 days. 

How Does Taxation Differ for Non-Resident and Resident Aliens?

The main difference lies in how non-resident and resident aliens are taxed. For example, a resident alien can use foreign tax credits, whereas a non-resident cannot. However, in general, a resident alien is subject to the same taxes as a U.S. citizen, while a non-resident alien only pays tax on domestic income that is generated within the U.S., not including capital gains. Resident aliens are required to report worldwide income from sources both within and outside the United States. Income is reported using Form 1040. Non-resident aliens, on the other hand, report domestic income using Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ.