Contributing writer: Andrea Lizcano Summers

Recently I had lunch with a client. She chose me to represent her and her family as their Realtor. She invited me for lunch to thank me for my services. It is always nice when someone says thank you for your services by inviting you to a nice restaurant. Of course she chose a Mexican restaurant, she thought it would help me feel comfortable and at home. (I am not from Mexico, I am from Colombia, but it is very common for people to think that if you speak Spanish you have to be from Mexico). I accepted enthusiastically, I love to eat great food.

In the middle of lunch, right before dessert, I started noticing she was trying to ask me something, but she could just not get it out. I started wondering about her true intentions with this particular lunch.

Finally, she asked the million dollar question. “Andrea how are you able to work in this country, it is my understanding that people that cross the border illegally between Mexico and the US have no permission to work in the US? You seem such a nice person, I just feel like I am breaking the law by working with you.”

I was in shock for a bit I have to admit, I mean what was she talking about, the border, you mean if I flew over the border on an airplane?? I just did not get it at first. It truly took me by surprise.

After a few seconds of reflection I realized my answer had to be directly related to the person I was talking to. First of all, I was talking to a wonderful lady who had never met a “foreigner” in her life. The first time she met anyone originally from another country was me, and she was basing her question on what she was hearing on the news.

For this reason, my answer was more informative than anything! I wanted to make her understand the difference between an Immigrant and a Non-Immigrant, and how millions of people come to this country either to visit, study, business, or to stay with the proper paperwork authorizing them to do so.

What is an Immigrant?

An Immigrant is a person who lives permanently in the US. He or she has Immigrated to the US from his or her country of origin. There are many ways of becoming a US Immigrant, but the most common ways are through family and work.

In addition, once you have become an immigrant the US Immigration services issues to the Immigrant a “Permanent Residency Card” called the “Green Card.” That particular card allows the immigrant to work and travel outside the country freely (not more than six months at a time).

As an Immigrant you have the right and the duty to follow US laws. Including, respecting the leaders of this country, paying taxes, and obeying in general what a US citizen obeys.

The main difference is that as an Immigrant holding a green card you can not vote until you become a US Citizen.

What is a Non Immigrant

A non-Immigrant is a person whose intentions are to just visit or stay temporarily in the US. Most non-immigrants come to visit the US, or visit friends and family. Also, some come to study their four year degree and go back to their country of origin. In addition, thousand come to the US for medical treatment or for Business purposes.

After my brief but complete explanation to my client she became the one surprised. She felt a little embarrassed and followed with a long apologetic speech.

The positive of all this is that my client felt so bad for “disrespecting me,” as she called it, that she keeps sending me her friends and family to represent them with their Real Estate transactions!!

After all, there is nothing like a nice educated conversation.

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