Which term describes someone who is legally and permanently living in the United States, but is not a citizen?

• A. immigrant
• B. resident
• C. legal permanent resident
• D. citizen

Answer: (C)

Legal permanent resident describes someone who is legally allowed to live and work in the United States for the rest of their life, but who is not yet a citizen. This status is usually shown by a green card and signifies permanent, lawful residence, with the possibility of applying for citizenship later if eligible. It’s more precise than the broader term immigrant, which can refer to someone who moves to a country to settle but doesn’t specify permanent, lawful status. A resident can be temporary or informal in different contexts, and a citizen has full membership and rights, including voting. So the best term for someone who is legally and permanently living in the U.S. but isn’t a citizen is legal permanent resident.