{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/qualified-alien","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A Qualified Alien is a non-U.S. citizen who holds specific immigration statuses, making them eligible for certain federal benefits, including SBA loans. If you're not a U.S. citizen, your immigration status must meet this definition to qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan.","what_it_means":"For an SBA 7(a) loan, you must be either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (holding a Form I-551), or a Qualified Alien with a valid status. Lenders will verify your immigration documents to confirm eligibility. Ensure your status is current and documented before applying.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"form-i-551","term":"Form I-551","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-i-551"},{"slug":"uscis","term":"USCIS","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/uscis"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What documentation proves U.S. citizenship or Qualified Alien status for owners?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-documentation-proves-u-s-citizenship-or-qualified-alien-status-for-owners"},{"question":"Can a Qualified Alien without permanent residency obtain an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-qualified-alien-without-permanent-residency-obtain-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can I get pre-qualified for an SBA 7(a) loan before identifying a specific business to acquire?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-get-pre-qualified-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-before-identifying-a-specific-business-to-acqu"},{"question":"What specific documentation is required to verify citizenship or qualified non-citizen status for 7(a) loan applicants?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-to-verify-citizenship-or-qualified-non-citizen-sta"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}