Both writeups above seem to leave aside an important category:
temporary (non-
immigrant)
visitors and
workers from a
foreign country. A non-immigrant worker myself, I noticed this trend among many
Americans; I tell them that I don't have a
green card, and they usually reply "ah, so you are an
illegal alien!"; some
shy away, because they don't want to get
arrested for
aiding and abetting, or for some other equally
stupid reason.
The fact is, (leaving the rudeness of "alien" apart), I am a legal alien. My visa will expire three years from now; if I get a green card by that time, great. If not, I intend to obey the law... When my mother visits me, she has a visitor's visa, which gives her legal permission to stay in the United States for up to six months. An international student has a student's visa, and is legally in the United States for the duration of his studies. (Although his/her employment eligibility is limited)
I just thought I'd try to set the record straight...