Important: the following information is only meant to provide an overview of immigration procedures and should not be construed as legal advice. Date of last modification: 09/07.

 

Immigration Glossary

Trying to understand the diverse immigration terms can be as daunting as learning a whole new language. In an effort to alleviate some of the confusion that often surrounds immigration procedures, Steffas & Associates, P.C. tries its best to explain the different aspects of a clients case. Below is a glossary of the main recurring terms that you may come across.

A #: Alien Registration Number. An Alien Registration Number is attributed to all foreign nationals applying for a green card or who are in removal proceedings.

Adjustment of status: If you are in the United States and are eligible for legal permanent resident status, you may, under certain circumstances, get your green card without leaving the United States. If available, this procedure is often preferred to Consular Processing, where you must leave the United States before you can obtain your green card.

Advance parole: Permission for certain aliens to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad. Advance parole must be obtained before leaving the United States.

 

Affidavit of support: Promise to USCIS to financially support an alien so that the alien does not become a public charge to the United States.

Alien: Any person not a citizen of the United States.

Beneficiary: Person who receives the immigration benefits/status. The term 'Beneficiary” is usually used in contrast to the term “Petitioner”, person who makes the request to USCIS. E.g. in a family petition, the Petitioner is the U.S. citizen or the legal permanent resident and the Beneficiary is the relative of foreign nationality.

Certificate of Citizenship: Identity document proving U.S. citizenship.

CIS/USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Replaces the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Consular Processing: If you do not live in the United States at the time of filing your petition or you are not eligible for adjustment of status, your petition may be sent to a U.S. consulate abroad.

EAD/Employment Authorization Document: This document is given as an authorization to work in the United States.

Fiancé(e): Person who is engaged to marry another identified person. The fiancé(e) may act as the petitioner in a fiancé(e) visa.

G-28/Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative: Document authorizing a designated person (generally an attorney) to act on your behalf.

Green Card: A Green Card is given to legal permanent residents of the United States as proof of their status in the United States.

LPR/Legal Permanent Resident (a/k/a green card holder): Person who has been approved by USCIS to reside in the United States for an indefinite period of time.

Labor Certification: Process through which it is determined that no qualified US Worker can be found for the job category for which the alien is applying. The Labor Department issues a Labor Certificate which shows that giving the job to a non-US worker will not harm the labor market.

Naturalization: The act of making a person a citizen who was not born with that status. An application for citizenship is an application for Naturalization.

NOID/Notice of Intent to Deny: Document issued by USCIS to the petitioner to inform him/her of the likelihood that USCIS will deny the petition.

Non-immigrant: A person seeking to stay in the United States for a temporary period only, and for a specific purpose.

Motion to reopen or Motion to reconsider: Procedure through which an alien whose petition has been denied may ask the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Judge or the adjudicating USCIS officer to re-examine its decision, because new facts have been discovered that could not have been discovered earlier or new legal arguments may be raised.

PERM: Some employment-based applications require applicants to go through the Program Review Electronic Management (PERM process). This labor certification procedure is used to get certification by the U.S. Department of Labor that the job category that affects you is lacking qualified U.S. Workers.

Petitioner: Person or business making the request that another person be given legal status in the United States. The term “Petitioner” is usually used in contrast with the reference to the “Beneficiary”, who received the immigration benefits. E.g.. in a family petition, the Petitioner is the U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and the Beneficiary is the relative.

Premium processing: Premium processing is an elective process and allows certain petitions to be decided faster. Premium processing is not available with every immigration petition. The premium processing fee generally amounts to $1,000.00.

 

Quota: A numerical limitation on the number of applicants, or the number of visas available to be issued to a class or group. When the immigrant visa quota is reached, USCIS experiences a backlog and sets off a cut-off dates as a result, to limit the number of applicants. Hence, only applicants with a priority date earlier than the cut-off date can apply for adjustment of status. The cut-off dates are shown in the Visa Bulletin.

 

Removal Proceedings: Procedure through which a person may be rejected from the United States.

RFE/Request For Evidence: Once a petition has been filed, USCIS may ask for additional evidence to be submitted in order for the petition to be approved.

Service Center: Office processing immigration applications. There are five service centers across the United States: Texas, California, Vermont, Nebraska and the National Benefits Center.

Visa: Permit which allows one to enter the United States to apply to be admitted to the United States for the purpose of the particular visa. A visa also refers to the stamp or seal placed in a passport indicating the issuance of a visa.

Visa Bulletin: The United States Department of State issues a monthly publication which lists the various quotas and the priority date that its is currently processing.