Frequently Used Immigration Terms

Adjustment Date

The date on which an individual's status is adjusted from nonimmigrant to immigrant status, typically upon approval of an adjustment of status application.

Adjustment Interview

An interview conducted by USCIS to adjudicate an application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident status.

Adjustment of Status (AOS)

The process by which an eligible nonimmigrant in the United States can apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card) without having to leave the country.

Admission

The lawful entry of an individual into the United States, either as an immigrant or nonimmigrant, after inspection and approval by immigration authorities at a port of entry.

Advance Parole

Permission granted by USCIS to certain individuals who have pending applications for adjustment of status or certain other immigration benefits to travel outside the United States and return without abandoning their applications.

Affidavit of Support

A document submitted by a sponsor to demonstrate financial support for an immigrant intending to immigrate to the United States.

Alien

An individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States.

Arrival/Departure Record (I-94)

A document issued by CBP to foreign nationals upon entry to the United States, which contains information about the individual's immigration status, authorized period of stay, and date of entry.

Asylee

An individual who has been granted asylum in the United States based on a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.

Asylum

Protection granted by a country to individuals who have fled their own country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Biometric Appointment

An appointment scheduled by USCIS for individuals applying for certain immigration benefits, such as adjustment of status or naturalization, to provide biometric information, including fingerprints, photographs, and signatures.

Bona Fide Marriage

A genuine marriage entered into by two individuals in good faith, without the intention of circumventing immigration laws for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits.

Border Patrol

A law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) responsible for securing U.S. borders and preventing illegal immigration.

Chain Migration

Informal term for family-based immigration, in which individuals immigrate to the United States based on family relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Child Status Protection Act (CSPA

A federal law that provides certain protections for children who age out of eligibility for immigration benefits due to delays in processing.

Citizenship Interview

An interview conducted by USCIS as part of the naturalization process to assess an applicant's eligibility for U.S. citizenship and test their knowledge of English and civics.

Conditional Permanent Resident

An individual who is granted lawful permanent resident status on a conditional basis, typically based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Consular Officer

A diplomatic officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate responsible for adjudicating visa applications and providing consular services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

Consular Processing Interview

An interview conducted by a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad as part of the immigrant visa application process.

Consulate

A diplomatic office or embassy of one country located in another country, responsible for issuing visas, providing consular services, and promoting diplomatic relations.

Consular Processing

The process by which individuals outside the United States apply for immigrant visas at a U.S. consulate or embassy in their home country.

Country of Asylum

The country where an individual seeks refuge and protection from persecution in their home country.

Country of Citizenship

The country whose citizenship an individual holds.

Country of Origin

The country where an individual was born or holds citizenship.

Country of Residence

The country where an individual currently resides or has established a permanent residence.

Crime of Moral Turpitude

A criminal offense involving dishonesty, fraud, or morally reprehensible conduct, which can result in inadmissibility or deportation from the United States.

Custody

The legal right and responsibility to care for and make decisions on behalf of a child. In immigration law, custody may be relevant in cases involving minors seeking asylum or other forms of relief.

Deferred Action

A discretionary decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to temporarily defer the deportation of certain individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States and meet specific criteria, such as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients.

Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)

A form of temporary protection from deportation granted by the President to certain individuals from designated countries facing political or humanitarian crises.

Deportation

The formal removal of an individual from the United States due to violations of immigration laws or criminal offenses.

Dependent

An individual who relies on another person for financial support and/or is included on the primary applicant's immigration application, such as a spouse or child.

Dual Citizenship

The status of holding citizenship in more than one country.

Diversity Visa Lottery

A program that annually allocates a limited number of immigrant visas to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

Diversity Visa Program

A program that allocates a limited number of immigrant visas each year through a random lottery for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

Employment-Based Immigration

The process of obtaining immigration benefits, such as green cards, through employment sponsorship by a U.S. employer.

Entry Inspection

The process by which CBP officers inspect individuals seeking entry to the United States at ports of entry, including airports, seaports, and land border crossings.

Entry Visa

A visa issued by a foreign country's embassy or consulate to allow an individual to enter that country for a specific purpose, such as tourism, business, or study.

Executive Order

A presidential directive that has the force of law and is used to implement or modify policies and procedures related to immigration and other areas of governance.

Family-Based Immigration

The process of obtaining immigration benefits, such as green cards, through family relationships with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Family-based immigration categories include immediate relatives (spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens) and preference categories (family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents).

Green Card

Common term for a Permanent Resident Card, which is evidence of an individual's lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

H-1B Visa

A nonimmigrant visa category that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Immigration Court

A specialized court within the EOIR that adjudicates immigration cases, including removal proceedings and applications for relief from deportation.

Immigration Judge

A judicial officer within the EOIR responsible for presiding over immigration proceedings, including removal hearings and applications for relief from deportation.

Immigration Lawyer

An attorney who specializes in immigration law and provides legal advice and representation to individuals, families, and employers on immigration matters.

Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA):

A federal law enacted in 1986 that established penalties for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers and provided a pathway to legalization for certain undocumented immigrants.

Immigrant Visa

A visa issued to individuals who intend to live permanently in the United States. Immigrant visas are issued for various categories, including family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity lottery.

Inadmissible

A legal determination that an individual is ineligible to enter the United States or adjust status based on various grounds, including health-related grounds, criminal history, security concerns, and immigration violations.

Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

An individual who has been granted the right to live permanently in the United States as an immigrant. LPRs are also known as green card holders.

National Visa Center (NVC)

A division of the DOS responsible for processing immigrant visa applications, collecting documentation, and coordinating immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

Naturalization

The process by which a foreign national becomes a citizen of the United States.

Nonimmigrant Visa

A visa issued to individuals who intend to enter the United States temporarily for a specific purpose, such as tourism, work, or study.

Overstay

The act of remaining in the United States beyond the expiration date of a nonimmigrant visa or authorized period of stay, resulting in unlawful presence.

Permanent Resident

An individual who has been granted lawful permanent resident status in the United States, also known as a green card holder.

Petitioner

An individual or entity that submits a petition or application on behalf of another person, such as a family member sponsoring a relative for immigration benefits.

Priority Date

The date on which USCIS receives a petition or application for an immigrant visa or green card. Priority dates are used to determine an individual's place in line for visa processing in preference categories with numerical limits.

Public Charge

A ground of inadmissibility based on the likelihood that an individual will become primarily dependent on government assistance for subsistence, determined by considering various factors, including age, health, income, and assets.

Refugee

An individual who is unable or unwilling to return to their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Removal

The process of deporting an individual from the United States based on violations of immigration laws or other grounds of inadmissibility or deportability.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

A temporary immigration status granted to eligible individuals from certain designated countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

A federal agency responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications, petitions, and benefits within the United States.

U.S. Department of State (DOS)

The federal agency responsible for managing U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations, including the issuance of visas and passports at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

Unlawful Presence

The period of time that an individual remains in the United States after the expiration of their authorized period of stay, which may result in inadmissibility and other immigration consequences.

Visa Bulletin

A monthly publication issued by the U.S. Department of State that provides information on immigrant visa availability and priority dates for various family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

A program that allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without obtaining a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Waiver

A discretionary grant of relief from certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability, allowing an individual to obtain a visa or green card despite previous immigration violations or other barriers.

Work Authorization Document (EAD)

A document issued by USCIS that grants temporary authorization to work legally in the United States to certain categories of nonimmigrants, asylees, refugees, and adjustment of status applicants.