How to Use This Glossary
Immigration paperwork comes with its own vocabulary, and a lot of it sounds like it was designed to confuse. This glossary translates the terms you’ll run into on government forms, in lawyer conversations, and across this site into plain English. Definitions are short on purpose, two to three sentences at most. If a term needs a deeper explanation, you’ll find a link to the page that covers it.
Terms are listed alphabetically. If you’re looking for a specific word, use your browser’s search function (Ctrl+F on a computer, or the “Find on Page” option in your phone’s browser menu) to jump straight to it.
A–Z Immigration Terms
A
Adjustment of Status. The process of applying for a green card while you’re already inside the United States, rather than going through a U.S. consulate abroad. Filed using Form I-485.
Advance Parole. A travel document that lets you leave the United States and return while certain applications are pending. Traveling without it when it’s required can result in your case being considered abandoned.
Affidavit of Support. A legally binding promise, filed on Form I-864, by a U.S. sponsor that they’ll financially support an immigrant. The sponsor is on the hook until the immigrant becomes a citizen, earns 40 qualifying work quarters, or permanently leaves the country.
Alien. The legal term the federal government uses for any person who isn’t a U.S. citizen or national. It appears throughout immigration law and on official forms, even though most people outside government don’t use it in conversation.
Asylee. A person who has been granted asylum in the United States. This is different from a refugee, a distinction explained in the commonly confused pairs section below.
Asylum. A form of protection available to people who are already in the United States and can demonstrate they face persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
B
Biometrics Appointment. A scheduled visit to a USCIS Application Support Center where your fingerprints, photograph, and signature are collected. USCIS uses this information for background checks as part of most applications.
C
Cancellation of Removal. A form of relief from deportation that a person can request in immigration court. There are two versions: one for lawful permanent residents and one for certain non-permanent residents who’ve been in the U.S. for at least ten years.
Conditional Resident. A person who received a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen when the marriage was less than two years old at the time of approval. The green card is valid for two years, and the person must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions, generally within the 90-day window before it expires (USCIS – Conditional Permanent Residence, as of June 2026).
Consular Processing. The path to getting a green card or immigrant visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, rather than through adjustment of status inside the U.S. This is the route for most people who are outside the country when their case is approved.
Continuous Residence. The period of time a person must live in the United States without significant breaks to qualify for certain immigration benefits, including naturalization. Long trips abroad can interrupt it.
Credible Fear Interview. A screening interview conducted by an asylum officer to determine whether someone who’s been stopped at or near the border has a significant possibility of establishing eligibility for asylum. Passing this interview is the first step toward a full asylum hearing.
CSPA (Child Status Protection Act). A law that can protect certain children from “aging out” of immigration benefits when they turn 21. Without it, a child who turns 21 during a long wait could lose their place in line.
D
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). A federal program that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to certain people who came to the U.S. as children. It must be renewed every two years and doesn’t provide a path to a green card on its own. Because of ongoing litigation over the program, USCIS is accepting but not processing new (initial) DACA requests, and is processing only renewals for people who already have DACA. As of June 2026 that’s still the case, and you can check the current status through the Congressional Research Service litigation tracker.
Deportation. See “Removal.” The terms are used interchangeably in everyday language, though the legal system now uses “removal” as the official term.
Derivative Beneficiary. A family member, typically a spouse or unmarried child under 21, who’s included on someone else’s immigration petition rather than filing their own separate case.
E
EAD (Employment Authorization Document). A work permit issued by USCIS, filed on Form I-765. It allows the holder to work legally in the United States for a specific period. Some immigration statuses come with work authorization automatically, without needing a separate EAD.
E-Verify. A federal system that employers can use to check whether a new hire is authorized to work in the U.S. Some employers are required to use it, others choose to.
F
Family Preference Categories. The system that organizes family-based green card applications by relationship type. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents) have no annual cap, while other family relationships fall into numbered preference categories with annual limits and longer waits.
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Request. A formal request for government records. In immigration, people sometimes file FOIA requests to get copies of their own immigration files from USCIS or other agencies.
G
Green Card. The common name for a Lawful Permanent Resident card. It gives the holder the right to live and work permanently in the United States. Despite the name, the physical card has been various colors over the years.
H
H-1B Visa. A temporary work visa for people in specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree. There’s an annual cap, and demand consistently exceeds supply, so USCIS uses a registration and selection process to choose which petitions can move forward. The specific selection rules can change from year to year.
I
Immediate Relative. In immigration law, this means the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen. Immediate relatives don’t have to wait in a visa line, which makes their path to a green card significantly faster than other family categories.
Immigration Court (EOIR). The court system, run by the Executive Office for Immigration Review under the Department of Justice, where removal (deportation) cases are heard. Immigration judges in these courts are not part of the regular federal court system.
Immigration Hold (Detainer). A request, typically from ICE, asking a local jail to hold someone past their normal release date so ICE can pick them up. In California, SB 54 limits when local law enforcement can honor these requests. More on this at sanctuary policies.
Inadmissibility. Grounds that can prevent someone from entering the U.S. or getting a green card, even if they otherwise qualify. Common grounds include certain criminal convictions, prior immigration violations, health-related issues, and the likelihood of becoming a public charge.
ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). A tax processing number issued by the IRS to people who need to file taxes but aren’t eligible for a Social Security number. Having an ITIN doesn’t change your immigration status or give you work authorization (IRS – Additional ITIN Information, as of June 2026). For current guidance on privacy protections and tax filing, see the taxes page.
J
J-1 Visa. A nonimmigrant visa for exchange visitors, including students, scholars, au pairs, and certain trainees. Some J-1 holders are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement before they can change to certain other statuses.
L
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). A person who holds a green card. LPRs can live and work in the U.S. indefinitely and, after meeting residency and other requirements, can apply for U.S. citizenship.
M
Master Calendar Hearing. The first hearing in immigration court after a Notice to Appear is filed. It’s a short, preliminary appearance where the judge confirms the charges, the person responds to them, and the case gets scheduled for a full hearing. It’s not the hearing where the judge decides the case.
Merits Hearing. The full evidentiary hearing in immigration court where the judge hears testimony, reviews evidence, and decides whether a person will be allowed to stay or ordered removed. This is also called an individual hearing, and it’s where the outcome of the case is actually determined.
Motion to Reopen. A request to an immigration court or USCIS to reopen a case that’s already been decided, usually based on new facts or evidence that weren’t available before.
N
NACARA (Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act). A law providing certain Nicaraguans, Cubans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and nationals of former Soviet bloc countries a path to lawful status. Eligibility depends on when the person arrived and other specific factors.
Naturalization. The legal process by which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen. Filed on Form N-400, it involves a civics and English test, a background check, and an oath ceremony.
Notice to Appear (NTA). The charging document that starts removal proceedings in immigration court. Receiving an NTA means the government is seeking to deport you, and you’ll need to appear before an immigration judge.
O
Optional Practical Training (OPT). A period of temporary work authorization for F-1 students that allows them to work in a field related to their area of study. Standard OPT lasts 12 months, with a possible 24-month extension for certain STEM graduates.
Out of Status. A person is out of status when they’ve stayed beyond the period authorized by their visa or violated the conditions of their stay. Being out of status is different from being unlawfully present, though the two often overlap.
P
Parole. Permission granted by the government for someone to enter or remain in the U.S. temporarily, even though they don’t have a visa or green card. Parole doesn’t constitute formal admission and can be granted for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Petition. A formal application filed with USCIS, usually by a sponsor on behalf of a family member or employee. The petition is typically the first step, the person being sponsored then has to go through their own application process separately.
Port of Entry. A designated place, such as an airport, seaport, or land border crossing, where a person formally requests permission to enter the United States.
Priority Date. The date that establishes a person’s place in the visa waiting line. For family petitions, it’s usually the date USCIS received the petition. When your priority date is “current,” it means a visa number is available and you can move forward with your green card application.
Public Charge. A ground of inadmissibility based on the likelihood that a person will become primarily dependent on the government for income support. The rule considers factors like income, health, education, and family situation. It has changed multiple times and doesn’t apply to all benefits or all immigration categories. More detail is available at public charge.
R
Receipt Number. The 13-character tracking number USCIS assigns when it receives your application. It starts with three letters (like EAC, WAC, or IOE) and is used to check case status online.
Refugee. A person who has been approved for protection while still outside the United States, based on persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Refugees are processed abroad and travel to the U.S. with refugee status already granted, which is the key distinction from asylum seekers.
Removal. The formal legal term for what most people call deportation. It’s the process of making someone leave the United States, either through a court order or through expedited procedures at the border.
Removal Proceedings. The court process in which an immigration judge decides whether a person should be deported. The person in proceedings has the right to present a defense and, in some cases, apply for relief such as asylum or cancellation of removal.
RFE (Request for Evidence). A notice from USCIS asking for additional documentation or information to continue processing your case. An RFE isn’t a denial, it’s a chance to provide what’s missing. Responding completely and on time matters a lot.
S
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). A form of protection for children in the U.S. who’ve been abused, neglected, or abandoned by a parent. It requires a state court order and a separate USCIS petition, and it can lead to a green card.
Sponsor. The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who files an immigration petition on behalf of a family member, or the person who signs the Affidavit of Support promising financial responsibility.
Status. Your legal classification while in the United States, such as F-1 student, H-1B worker, or lawful permanent resident. Maintaining status means following the rules that come with your particular classification.
T
Temporary Protected Status (TPS). A temporary immigration status granted to nationals of designated countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. TPS provides work authorization and protection from deportation but doesn’t lead directly to a green card.
T Visa. A visa for victims of human trafficking who assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of trafficking. It provides temporary legal status and can lead to a green card.
U
U Visa. A visa for victims of certain qualifying crimes who’ve suffered substantial abuse and are helpful to law enforcement. There’s an annual cap of 10,000, which creates significant wait times, but applicants can receive work authorization while waiting.
Unlawful Presence. Time spent in the United States after your authorized stay has expired or without being admitted or paroled. Accumulating enough unlawful presence can trigger the three-year or ten-year bars to reentry, which is why this concept matters so much in immigration planning.
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). The federal agency that handles immigration applications, petitions, and benefits. It’s part of the Department of Homeland Security. More about how the USCIS process works at the USCIS process overview.
V
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Self-Petition. A provision that allows certain abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for immigration benefits on their own, without the abuser’s knowledge or cooperation.
Visa. A document, usually a stamp in your passport, that allows you to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission. A visa isn’t the same thing as status, a distinction covered in the commonly confused pairs section below.
Visa Bulletin. A monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that shows which priority dates are currently eligible to move forward for each visa category and country. It’s the document that tells you whether your place in line has come up and you can proceed with your green card application.
Voluntary Departure. An alternative to a formal removal order in which an immigration judge allows a person to leave the United States on their own, at their own expense, within a set deadline. It avoids having a deportation order on record, which can matter for future immigration options. Missing the deadline carries serious consequences, including fines and a ten-year bar from certain forms of immigration relief.
