What does "non-immigrant alien" mean?

Question

I'm filling out a college application and it asks me if I am a non-immigrant alien but I don't know what that term means.

Does anybody know?

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

it is someone who doesn't intent staying in the USA to live but only plans to go to school or intents to stay only while he is a tourist .

there is two kind of immigrants this question i copied explains well the difference :

Q: What is a nonimmigrant visa? How is it different from an immigrant visa?

A: Nonimmigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals who wish to travel to the US for a temporary purpose, such as to visit friends and family, sight-see, attend an American university or participate in a temporary work program, among others. Immigrant visas allow foreign nationals to move permanently to the US and receive lawful permanent resident status. Those visiting the US on nonimmigrant visas are required to return to their home country once their allotted time has expired.

.... what they are asking is if u are in a student visa or if u are a citizen , resident or what ....

Answer 2

A foreign national that is not immigrating to the US

Answer 3

You are not a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident but you have one of the followings

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/...