This really differs from organization to organization, depending on their bylaws.
In Alpha, our honorary members had to have the same basic requirements of regular members (like being a man, having a degree, etc) and could be chosen as national honoraries (rare) or chapter honoraries (more common, but still not prevalent).
I think Hubert Humphrey might have been the last honorary member of Alpha. After that, we adopted "special intake." The same rules apply (must be a college graduate), but I think the difference is that they aren't subject to a chapter vote? I can't recall, but here is a press release on the last special intake that I can remember:
http://progressivegreek.com/news_eve...tion-ceremony/
Because those Brothers have a chapter, they have all the rights and privileges of any other brother, including the freedom to be active and transfer chapters.
Other NPHC organizations have different rules. I am told by some friends in sororities that their honoraries don't have the same rights or privileges.
Here is an account of how an honorary member of one BGLO had her membership rescinded:
https://youtu.be/Lw51ooqM33A
***
In Gamma Xi Phi, our honorary members are placed in Eta Chapter. They are entitled to a voice, but no vote. If they want additional privileges, they are welcome to transfer to a traditional chapter.
