Immigration Glossary

Advance Parole (AP)

Form I-131

Travel document allowing I-485 applicants to reenter U.S. without abandoning adjustment application

Adjustment of Status (AOS)

Form I-485

Process to become permanent resident while remaining in United States

Administrative Processing

221(g)

Additional embassy review required after interview. Duration varies from days to months

Affidavit of Support

Form I-864

Legally binding contract where sponsor promises financial support for immigrant

Aging Out

Child turning 21 years old and losing eligibility as derivative beneficiary on parent's case

A-Number

Alien Registration Number

9-digit unique identifier assigned by USCIS or CBP to immigrants and applicants

AR-11

Change of Address Form

Form to report address change to USCIS within 10 days of moving

Beneficiary

Person receiving the immigration benefit in a petition or application

Biometrics

Fingerprints, photograph, and signature collected at USCIS Application Support Center

Birth Certificate

Long form civil document from vital records office showing both parents' names

CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal agency controlling entry into United States at all ports of entry

CEAC

Consular Electronic Application Center

NVC online portal at ceac.state.gov for DS-260, document upload, fee payment

Chart A

Final Action Dates

Visa Bulletin chart showing when visas can be issued at embassy

Chart B

Dates for Filing

Visa Bulletin chart showing when USCIS accepts I-485 applications

Civil Documents

Government-issued certificates: birth, marriage, divorce, death from civil registrar

Conditional Resident

2-year green card holder (CR1 spouses, EB-5). Must file I-751 to remove conditions

Consular Processing

Immigrant visa process through U.S. embassy or consulate in applicant's home country

CR1

Conditional Resident Spouse

Spouse married less than 2 years to USC. Receives conditional 2-year green card

CSPA

Child Status Protection Act

Federal law protecting children from aging out by freezing age calculation

CSPA Age

Biological age minus I-130 processing time. Must be under 21 to remain eligible

Current

Visa Bulletin status meaning all priority dates qualify - no backlog or wait

Derivative Beneficiary

Spouse or child of primary beneficiary who qualifies for visa simultaneously

DOS

U.S. Department of State

Federal department managing foreign affairs, embassies, and immigrant visas

DQ

Documentarily Qualified

NVC status indicating all required documents submitted and approved, ready for embassy

DS-260

Immigrant Visa Electronic Application

Online biographical form completed at NVC stage for consular processing

DS-5540

Questionnaire for Relationships

Supplemental form about spouse/ex-spouses if complicated relationship history

DV

Diversity Visa

Green card lottery for countries with low immigration to U.S. - 50,000 visas annually

EAD

Employment Authorization Document

Work permit card (Form I-765) for I-485 applicants and other eligible categories

EB-1

Employment First Preference: extraordinary ability, professors, multinational executives

EB-2

Employment Second Preference: advanced degree or exceptional ability professionals

EB-3

Employment Third Preference: skilled workers, professionals, other workers

EB-4

Employment Fourth Preference: special immigrants (religious workers, etc)

EB-5

Employment Fifth Preference: immigrant investors ($800K-$1.05M investment)

Embassy

U.S. diplomatic mission in foreign capital conducting immigrant visa interviews

Expedite Request

Request to accelerate USCIS case processing for severe emergency reasons

F-1

Family First Preference

Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens. Wait time: 7-10 years

F-2A

Family Second Preference A

Spouses and children (under 21) of lawful permanent residents. Often current

F-2B

Family Second Preference B

Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of permanent residents. Wait: 6-8 years

F-3

Family Third Preference

Married children (any age) of U.S. citizens. Wait time: 12-15 years

F-4

Family Fourth Preference

Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (21+). Longest wait: 13-16 years

FTJ

Follow to Join

Process to add spouse/child to approved I-130 after marriage or birth

Green Card

Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card

Document proving lawful permanent resident status allowing indefinite U.S. residence

I-94

Arrival/Departure Record

Electronic or paper document showing legal entry date, status, and authorized stay

I-130

Petition for Alien Relative

Form filed by USC or LPR to sponsor family member for immigrant visa

I-131

Application for Travel Document

Form to request Advance Parole or Refugee Travel Document

I-134

Affidavit of Support (nonimmigrant)

Financial support declaration for temporary visa applicants

I-140

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

Employment-based green card petition filed by employer

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence

Form to adjust status to permanent resident while in United States

I-551

Permanent Resident Card

Official designation for green card - valid 10 years (permanent) or 2 years (conditional)

I-601

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

Request to excuse inadmissibility grounds (criminal, fraud, unlawful presence)

I-693

Report of Medical Examination

Sealed medical exam form completed by civil surgeon for I-485 or embassy

I-751

Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

Form filed 90 days before 2-year green card expires to get 10-year card

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Form to request work permit (EAD) for eligible applicants

I-797

Notice of Action

Official USCIS notification document (receipt, approval, RFE, denial)

I-864

Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A

Legally enforceable contract for financial sponsorship in family-based immigration

I-864A

Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member

Form adding household member's income to meet I-864 requirements

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

DHS agency enforcing immigration and customs laws in U.S. interior

Immediate Relative

Spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21 of USC. No quota or priority date wait

Inadmissible

Barred from entering U.S. due to criminal, health, fraud, or other grounds

Interview

In-person appointment at embassy with consular officer for immigrant visa decision

IR-1

Immediate Relative Spouse

Spouse married 2+ years to U.S. citizen. Gets 10-year green card immediately

IR-2

Immediate Relative Child

Unmarried child under 21 of U.S. citizen. No wait or quota

IR-5

Immediate Relative Parent

Parent of U.S. citizen who is 21+. Processing typically 12-18 months

LPR

Lawful Permanent Resident

Green card holder with right to live and work permanently in United States

N-400

Application for Naturalization

Form for LPR to apply for U.S. citizenship after 3 or 5 years

Naturalization

Process of becoming U.S. citizen after being permanent resident

NOA

Notice of Action

Official USCIS letter (Form I-797) about petition/application status

NOA1

Receipt Notice - USCIS acknowledges receiving petition/application

NOA2

Approval Notice - USCIS approved petition/application

NVC

National Visa Center

DOS facility in Portsmouth, NH processing immigrant visas between USCIS and embassy

NVC Case Number

3 letters + 10 digits (e.g. GUZ2007123456) assigned when case reaches NVC

Panel Physician

Embassy-designated doctor authorized to conduct immigrant medical examinations

Petitioner

U.S. citizen or permanent resident filing immigration petition for family member

Police Certificate

Certificate of Good Conduct

Criminal background check from every country lived 12+ months since age 16

Port of Entry

Airport, land border crossing, or seaport where CBP inspects arriving travelers

Preference Category

Family (F1-F4) or employment (EB1-5) categories with annual quota limits

Premium Processing

15-day expedited processing for I-129/I-140. $2,805 fee. NOT available for I-130

Priority Date

Date I-130 petition properly filed with USCIS. Determines queue position for visa

Receipt Number

13-character USCIS tracking code (IOE/WAC/LIN/SRC/EAC + 10 digits)

Reentry Permit

Form I-131

Travel document for LPR planning to stay abroad 1-2 years without abandoning status

Retrogression

When Visa Bulletin cut-off dates move backward due to high demand

RFE

Request for Evidence

USCIS request for additional documents or information to decide case

Seek to Acquire

CSPA requirement: file DS-260 or I-485 within 1 year of visa availability

Service Center

USCIS facility processing petitions: Nebraska, Texas, California, Vermont, Potomac

Sponsor

USC or LPR petitioning for relative and providing affidavit of support

SSN

Social Security Number

9-digit identifier issued by SSA required for working in United States

Tax Transcript

IRS document showing filed tax return information required for I-864

Termination

NVC closes case for inaction (1 year no response) or applicant request

Unavailable (U)

Visa Bulletin status - category reached annual limit, no visas until next fiscal year

Unlawful Presence

Time in U.S. without legal status. 180+ days triggers 3/10-year bars

USC

United States Citizen

Person born in U.S., born abroad to USC parent, or naturalized

USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

DHS agency processing immigration benefits, petitions, and applications in U.S.

Visa

Document in passport allowing foreign national to request entry to United States

Visa Bulletin

Monthly DOS publication showing immigrant visa availability by category and country

Visa Interview

In-person appointment at U.S. embassy/consulate for immigrant visa decision

Waiver

Form I-601/I-601A

Application to excuse specific grounds of inadmissibility (unlawful presence, fraud, criminal)

Writ of Mandamus

Federal lawsuit compelling USCIS to decide unreasonably delayed case