My friend calls himself American?

[mike42979 57]

Ok so someone i know calls himself an American even though hes only a green card holder. We had a debate if he can legitimately call himself an American lawfully even if it is only said verbally and not documented. I stated that it was actually illegal for him to claim hes an American even verbally. I know that USCIS said you can not claim to be an American but is there anywhere that states you cant verbally say you are; I mean we do have free speech in this country?

[aaron2020 11,651]

He can say whatever he wants.

He can't claim he's a US citizen to any government official or to gain a benefit.

Claiming to be an American its not the same as claiming he's a US citizen.

He is not committing a crime telling you or anybody else he is an American or US citizen.

It would be a crime if he told a CBP officer that he was a US citizen.

It would be a crime if he claimed US citizenship to register to vote.

It would be a crime if he claimed he was a US citizen to get a job.

People BSing each others is not a crime.

Edited May 2, 2014 by aaron2020

[mike42979 57]

Ok cool thanks.

[GandD 5,966]

Some would say anyone living in the "America's" is an American if they really wanna be a DB about it.

[Novembro 1,763]

Holy trivial topic batman.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Ok so someone i know calls himself an American even though hes only a green card holder. We had a debate if he can legitimately call himself an American lawfully even if it is only said verbally and not documented. I stated that it was actually illegal for him to claim hes an American even verbally. I know that USCIS said you can not claim to be an American but is there anywhere that states you cant verbally say you are; I mean we do have free speech in this country?

There are millions of Americans who don't have greencards nor have ever set foot in the US. The Americas are huge...

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

According to my Spanish book in the culture section:

North Americans should *never* call themselves "American" as it is considered offensive to some of those in the South and central American countries.. They can refer to you as American (and the usually do) but you should not refer to yourself that way. We could have avoided all of this had we given the country a more catchy name that was easier to append an "an" or a "ese." Coulda shoulda

On the actual topic: as others have said, for forms that ask if he is a citizen he should not answer yes... Other than that bully for him for embracing his new home. Lets not make him hate the place by being a bunch of whiners on how he refers to himself.. Unless of course he is talking with those south of the border. .

[Tingbudong 12]

"Murrikan" (phonetic)

Of course we can call ourselves American.. Just be aware that it is referring not to a citizen of the USA but to a large geographic area containing the North, South.. and grudgingly, the tiny isthmus connecting the two continents… but NOT Hawaians.. those dirty glommers on..

And your immigrant friend can call himself a "Murrikan" too… He's a Murrikan resident, legally if not as yet naturalized.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Tingbudong

[eieio 1,594]

Just be aware that it is referring not to a citizen of the USA but to a large geographic area containing the North, South.. and grudgingly, the tiny isthmus connecting the two continents…

Hogwash!

People living is the USA are know as and called Americans worldwide.

Everybody know what country an American is from....whether you like it or not.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hogwash!

People living is the USA are know as and called Americans worldwide.

Everybody know what country an American is from....whether you like it or not.

I live in San Diego.

I know many people who were brought here as children. They identify themselves as Americans because they don't know of any other home. They don't identify themselves as US citizens, but they certainly identify themselves as Americans.

American has no legal meaning and applies to US citizens as well as non citizens.

Ever see any government asking someone to identify themselves as Americans? No? There's a reason for that. That's why government forms ask if a person is a US citizen which does have a legal meaning.

There is a distinction between common usage and legal meaning.

Edited May 4, 2014 by aaron2020

[Tingbudong 12]

Hogwash!

People living is the USA are know as and called Americans worldwide.

Everybody know what country an American is from....whether you like it or not.

Us "Murrikans" have this thing we do sometimes when we talk...

Its called "sarcasm"

I know, I know… You Ukrainians have been living in the long shadow of Russia and they aren't known for their robust sense of humor over there (much like the Germans) so we will forgive you…

ONCE...

Make this mistake again though and we take away your card (the greenish-blue one, says hallmark and $6 on the back) and we send you home.

Don't give me stink eye. I didn't make the rules.

[NikLR 13,232]

I'm Canadian, and quite frankly, even though I live in the USA because the love of my life does, I do not ever want to be referred to as an American until such a time as I may become one, which may likely be never. The term does not come from "North America" or "the Americas" but rather from "United States of America" meaning people who live in the USA, not anyone else living in any other country in either North or South America. Anyone I've met from anywhere else in the world understands the term "American" means someone from the USA and most take it to mean a USC.

However to answer the OP, it doesn't matter as long as he doesn't ever legally define himself as a United States Citizen.

[GandD 5,966]

I'm Canadian, and quite frankly, even though I live in the USA because the love of my life does, I do not ever want to be referred to as an American until such a time as I may become one, which may likely be never. The term does not come from "North America" or "the Americas" but rather from "United States of America" meaning people who live in the USA, not anyone else living in any other country in either North or South America. Anyone I've met from anywhere else in the world understands the term "American" means someone from the USA and most take it to mean a USC.

However to answer the OP, it doesn't matter as long as he doesn't ever legally define himself as a United States Citizen.

My wife says Americans smell and are mean to their wives.

[NikLR 13,232]

My wife says Americans smell and are mean to their wives.

My husband doesn't smell and certainly isn't mean... most of the time. But then, I'm not always nice either.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

My wife says Americans smell and are mean to their wives.

Haaaa!!!! Someones hopped on the wrong assumption train today!