Glossary of Basic Immigration Terms

Application refers to a formal request to the BCIS for a Green Card or Nonimmigrant Visa.

Applicant refers to the person who makes a formal request for a Green Card or Nonimmigrant Visa.

Beneficiary refers to the individual who benefits from a petition by becoming qualified to make an application for a Green Card or Visa.

Department of Labor (DOL) is the U.S. government agency involved with many types of Employment-Based Green Cards. The DOL receives applications for Labor Certifications and decides whether or not there is a shortage of qualified American Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents available to fill a particular position in a U.S. company.

Department of State is the U.S. government entity that operates U.S. Embassies and Consulates. It is the DOS that determines who is entitled to a Visa or Green Card when the application is filed outside the U.S. The BCIS under the Department of Justice regulates immigration processing inside the U.S.

Diversity Program refers to the annual lottery program held for nationals of certain countries who want to immigrate to the U.S. It is called the diversity lottery program because this program is available to nationals of countries with low immigration rates to the U.S.

Green Card is a popular term used to describe the Alien Registration Receipt Card, a card that proves the holder is a United States Lawful Permanent Resident. The Green Card ( which is actually pink) allows you to re-enter the U.S. without a visa, work without a work permit, and allows you to permanently reside in the U.S. unless you abandon your U.S. residence or commit certain types of crimes.

I-94 Card is a small green or white card given to all Nonimmigrants when they enter the U.S.. The I-94 card serves as evidence that a Nonimmigrant has entered the country legally and also governs the Non-Immigrant's authorized period of stay in the U.S.

Immediate Relative refers to spouses of U.S. citizens, children under 21 with at least one U.S. parent, or parents of children over 21 who are U.S. citizens. If you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you are eligible to receive a green card immediately.

Inadmissible refers to potential immigrants who are disqualified from obtaining Visas or Green Cards because they are judged by the U.S. government to be in some way undesirable. Inadmissibility is usually based on criminal, financial, or national security grounds. In many cases, inadmissibility can be overcome.

Labor Certification refers to a process that allows you to get a green card through a job offer from a U.S. Employer, if the U.S. Employer proves that there are no qualified U.S. workers available and willing to take the job. People who fall under the employment second and third preferences usually need Labor Certifications in order to get their Green Cards.

National Visa Center (NVC) is a private company under contract with the Department of State for the purpose of processing the final Green Card application process by sending forms and instructions to the applicant and forwarding the file to the appropriate U.S. consulate abroad.

Naturalization refers to foreign individuals who take legal action to become U.S. citizens. A naturalized U.S. citizen has virtually the same rights as a native-born American citizen. Almost everyone who goes through naturalization must first have held a Green Card for several years.

Nonimmigrant an individual who comes to the U.S. temporarily for some particular purpose but does not intend to remain permanently in the U.S.. An Immigrant is a person who comes to the U.S. to take up permanent residency. There are many types of Nonimmigrants . students, temporary workers and visitors for instance. A Nonimmigrant visa is a visa to allow a person to enter the U.S. temporarily for some particular purpose. An Iimmigrant Visa is a visa issued to a person who has been approved for a Green Card.

Parole or Advanced Parole allows a person, under certain circumstances, to enter or re-enter the United States for humanitarian purposes, even when he or she does not meet technical visa requirements.

Permanent Resident is a non-U.S. citizen who has been given permission to live permanently in the U.S. Permanent Resident and Green Card holder refer to exactly the same thing.

Petition refers to a formal request that one be legally recognized as qualified for a Green Card or certain Nonimmigrant Visa.

Petitioner refers to the U.S. person or business who makes the formal request that the applicant be legally recognized as qualified for a Green Card or Nonimmigrant Visa. The petitioner can be a U.S. Citizen, Green Card holder, or U.S. Business.

Political Asylum refers to a humanitarian process whereby those in the United States who seek save haven from being returned to their home country for political, religious or other reasons, are allowed to stay in the United States. A refugee is one who seeks safe haven while outside the United States.

Preference Categories refers to groups of people who fall into certain categories (or preferences) and who are given their chance at Green Cards under the annual quota system according to their respective preference category. Preference categories are broken into two broad groups: family preferences and employment preferences.

Priority Date refers to a Green Card applicant's "ticket in line". Those who are subject to the annual quota under the preference system are given priority dates The date on which one first makes a formal filing for a Green Card is the priority date. Each month the U.S. Department of State publishes a "Visa Bulletin" which tracks the progress of priority dates for each preference category.

Quotarefers to those qualified Green Card applicants who are allowed into the U.S. in limited numbers, while others are allowed to enter the U.S. in unlimited numbers.

Removal (formerly deportation) refers to a legal proceeding in a U.S. Immigration Court to decide whether or not an individual will be allowed to remain in the U.S. If an individual is found removable, he or she can then be forced to leave the U.S. Those who are removed or deported are barred from returning to the U.S. for at least five years unless a special waiver is granted by the INS.

Special Immigrants refers to special groups of people (religious workers, former U.S. government workers, foreign doctors who have been practicing medicine in the U.S. for many years) who qualify for Green Cards under the annual quota.

Sponsor . See Petitioner.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows someone to temporarily stay in the U.S. if they come from certain countries designated by law as experiencing conditions of war or natural disasters. TPS allows someone to live and work in the U.S. temporarily, but does not lead to a Green Card.

U.S. BCIS or U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service refers to the U.S. government agency having responsibility for most immigration matters including border patrol and adjudicating Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas.

Visa Waiver Program allows nationals from certain countries to come to the U.S. without a visa as tourists for 90 days. Persons who enter under the Visa Waiver Program are issued a green-colored I-94 card. Visa Waiver entrants cannot change their status (unless the change is based on an immediate relative spouse petition) or extend their stay.

Info-Tech Immigration Service provides a wide range of immigration services for both corporate and individual clients. We handle U.S. immigration proceedings for our clients anywhere in North America and throughout the world.