Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

A person admitted to the United States for a limited duration for a specific purpose is known as a:

1. Refugee

2. Legal immigrant

3. Non-immigrant

4. Lawful permanent resident

The correct answer is: Non-immigrant

In the context of immigration terminology, a non-immigrant refers to an individual who is allowed to enter a country for a temporary period and for a specific purpose. This classification includes various visa categories such as tourists, business travelers, students, and temporary workers, all of whom are permitted to stay in the country for a limited time. Each non-immigrant status has defined conditions and expiration dates that dictate the individual's lawful stay. In contrast, a refugee is someone who has fled their home country due to fear of persecution and is granted asylum in another country. A legal immigrant typically denotes a person who has received permission to live in a new country on a more permanent basis but does not imply a temporary stay. A lawful permanent resident has been granted permission to reside indefinitely in the country, which fundamentally differs from the temporary nature of non-immigrant status. Thus, the designation of a non-immigrant precisely captures the essence of someone in the U.S. for a limited duration with a specific purpose.