For couples ready to make it official
Bring your partner home, step by step
Your path to becoming a U.S. citizen
Securing your child's future in the U.S.
Keep your family together permanently
Lift the 2-year restriction on your green card
Protection for victims of abuse
Overcome inadmissibility with the right strategy
Immigration services for military families
know the language.
Plain-language definitions of the terms that matter for your immigration case.
105 terms
Someone applying for a green card from inside the U.S. — switching from a temporary visa to permanent resident without leaving the country.
The process of getting your green card while you're already in the U.S. — no need to leave and interview at a consulate abroad.
Also: AOS
When an immigration judge hits 'pause' on your case — it's taken off the active schedule without a final ruling, usually while something else gets sorted out.
A travel permit that lets you leave the U.S. and come back without abandoning your pending green card application.
Also: AP
A legally binding promise from a sponsor saying they'll financially support the immigrant — proving they won't need government benefits.
Your unique ID number in the immigration system — an 8- or 9-digit number USCIS uses to track your entire immigration history.
Also: A-Number
Knowingly helping someone enter the U.S. illegally. It's a serious criminal offense that can permanently bar you from immigration benefits.
Someone who's been granted asylum in the U.S. because they proved they'd face persecution back home — based on race, religion, nationality, or similar grounds.
Protection for people already in the U.S. who can prove they'd face persecution back home based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.
Fingerprints, photos, and signatures collected at a USCIS appointment to verify your identity and run background checks. Most applicants need one.
A certified English translation of a foreign birth certificate — required for most immigration applications. Must include a translator's certification.
The federal agency that guards U.S. borders — responsible for preventing illegal crossings, smuggling, and human trafficking between ports of entry.
Also: CBP, USBP
A way to fight deportation — if you've lived in the U.S. long enough and can prove removal would cause extreme hardship, a judge may let you stay.
A green card holder with a two-year card based on a recent marriage. You must file to remove conditions within 90 days before it expires or risk losing status.
Getting your green card through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad — the alternative to adjusting status when you're outside the U.S. or can't file from inside.
A U.S. government office in a foreign country that handles visa applications and immigration interviews — not the same as an embassy (which is in the capital).
Being physically in the U.S. without long gaps. Required for things like cancellation of removal — leave for too long and the clock resets.
Maintaining your home in the U.S. without breaks long enough to count as abandoning residence. Key requirement for naturalization and other benefits.
The country where you were born or lived before coming to the U.S. Shows up on almost every immigration form you'll ever fill out.
A program for people brought to the U.S. as kids without documentation — gives temporary protection from deportation and a work permit, but not a green card.
Also: DACA
When the government decides not to deport you right now — a temporary reprieve, not a path to a green card. DACA is the best-known example.
The formal process of removing someone from the U.S. for violating immigration or criminal laws. Now officially called 'removal' in legal terms.
Also: Removal
A family member (usually spouse or child) who gets immigration benefits because someone else filed the main petition — they 'derive' status from the principal applicant.
A facility where immigrants are held while waiting for court hearings or deportation decisions. Managed by ICE, not the criminal justice system.
Also: ICE Detention
A lottery that gives 55,000 green cards per year to people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates. Free to enter, but odds are slim.
Also: DV Lottery, Green Card Lottery
Being a citizen of two countries at once. The U.S. allows it, though it doesn't formally encourage it — you'll have rights and obligations in both countries.
Official permission from USCIS that lets you legally work in the U.S. while your immigration case is pending.
Also: Work Permit
The card USCIS gives you that proves you can legally work in the U.S. — most people call it a work permit.
Also: EAD, Work Permit Card
A path to a green card through your job, employer sponsorship, or investment — organized into preference categories (EB-1 through EB-5).
Also: EB Immigration
The ranking system (EB-1 through EB-5) that decides your priority for an employment-based green card based on skills and qualifications.
Also: EB Category, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5
Crossing into the U.S. without going through an official checkpoint — this can seriously limit your future immigration options.
Also: EWI
A fast-track deportation process at or near the border — no court hearing, no judge. Usually triggered by missing or fraudulent documents.
A legal standard requiring evidence that a qualifying relative would suffer hardship beyond normal difficulties if the applicant is denied an immigration benefit.
Also: exceptional hardship
The process of getting a green card through a family member who's a U.S. citizen or permanent resident — the most common path to immigration.
A visa that lets the foreign fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen enter the country — you have 90 days to get married after arrival.
Also: K-1 Visa, K1 Visa, Fiance Visa
The form a U.S. citizen files to bring their foreign fiance(e) to the U.S. for marriage — it's the first step in the K-1 visa process.
Also: I-129F, K-1 Petition
The person (usually your petitioner) who signs the Affidavit of Support promising the government they'll financially support you.
The online visa application you fill out if you're applying for your green card through a U.S. consulate abroad (consular processing).
The form you file to get a travel document (like Advance Parole) so you can leave and re-enter the U.S. while your case is pending.
Also: Advance Parole, Travel Document
The application to get your green card without leaving the U.S. — called "adjustment of status." One of the most important immigration forms.
Also: Adjustment of Status, AOS
The Affidavit of Support — a legally binding promise from your sponsor that they'll financially support you so you won't need government benefits.
Also: Affidavit of Support
Your arrival/departure record — it tracks when you entered the U.S. and how long you're allowed to stay. Now mostly electronic.
Also: Arrival/Departure Record
The application form to become a U.S. citizen. You file this after holding your green card for the required number of years.
Also: Citizenship Application
The card that proves you can live and work in the U.S. permanently. Officially called a Permanent Resident Card.
Also: Permanent Resident Card, LPR Card
Someone who has lawful permanent resident status — they can live and work in the U.S. indefinitely and eventually apply for citizenship.
Also: Permanent Resident, LPR
A request from ICE asking local law enforcement to keep holding someone after they'd normally be released, so ICE can pick them up.
Also: Immigration Detainer, ICE Detainer
Spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens — they skip the visa waiting line and can immigrate right away.
Also: IR
Someone who moves to the U.S. intending to live here permanently — as opposed to a visitor or temporary worker.
The form someone files with USCIS to officially start the green card process for a family member or employee.
Also: I-130, Visa Petition
A visa for people who plan to live in the U.S. permanently — it's your ticket to a green card, issued at a consulate abroad.
A Department of Justice judge who decides immigration cases — including deportation, asylum, and waiver hearings.
Also: IJ
The federal agency that enforces immigration laws inside the U.S. — handles investigations, arrests, detention, and deportation.
Also: ICE
When the government says you can't enter or stay in the U.S. — common triggers include criminal history, fraud, or unlawful presence.
A nonimmigrant visa for exchange visitors participating in approved programs including research, teaching, medical training, au pair, and cultural exchange.
Also: J-1 exchange visitor visa, exchange visitor visa
A process where your employer proves to the DOL that no qualified U.S. worker is available for your job — required for most EB-2 and EB-3 green cards.
Also: PERM, ETA-9089
Someone with a green card — they can live, work, and travel freely in the U.S. and are on the path to citizenship.
Also: LPR, Permanent Resident, Green Card Holder
Being in the U.S. with valid authorization — whether on a visa, green card, or other approved status. The opposite of being "out of status."
Entering the U.S. through an official port of entry after being inspected by an immigration officer — critical for many green card paths.
Also: Lawful Admission, Inspection and Admission
Your first appearance in immigration court — a short hearing where the judge explains the charges and schedules your case for a full hearing.
The middleman between USCIS and the consulate — after your petition is approved, NVC collects your documents before scheduling your visa interview.
Also: NVC, National Visa Center
The process of becoming a U.S. citizen after holding your green card — involves an application, interview, civics test, and oath ceremony.
Also: Citizenship Process, N-400 Process
A temporary visa for visiting, working, or studying in the U.S. — you're expected to leave when it expires, unlike an immigrant visa.
Also: NIV, Temporary Visa
The letter USCIS sends to update you on your case — it might be a receipt notice, approval, transfer, or request for more evidence.
Also: I-797, Receipt Notice
A warning from USCIS that they plan to deny your application — but you get a chance to submit more evidence before they make it final.
Also: NOID
The document that officially starts deportation proceedings — it tells you why the government wants to remove you and when to appear in court.
Also: NTA
Staying in the U.S. past your authorized time — even by one day — which can trigger serious penalties like bars on coming back.
Permission to enter the U.S. temporarily without a visa — usually granted for urgent humanitarian or medical reasons.
How long you're allowed to stay in the U.S. under your visa or status — check your I-94 to see your specific date.
Also: I-94
A formal request filed with USCIS to start the immigration process — usually submitted by a U.S. citizen, resident, or employer on someone's behalf.
The form a U.S. citizen or green card holder files to sponsor a family member for a green card — it's the first step in family-based immigration.
Also: I-130, Form I-130
The airport, border crossing, or seaport where you're inspected and officially admitted into the U.S. by a CBP officer.
Also: POE
A first look that shows you meet the basic requirements — enough to move forward, even if USCIS hasn't made a final decision yet.
Your place in line for a green card — it's the date your petition was filed, and it determines when you can move forward.
Paying an extra fee to get your USCIS application processed faster — not available for every form, but a real time-saver when it is.
Also: Premium Processing
A test USCIS uses to decide if you're likely to depend on government benefits — it can affect whether you're approved for a green card.
The specific regulation USCIS follows when deciding if someone is likely to rely on public benefits — and whether that makes them inadmissible.
A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member whose hardship is considered in a waiver application — typically a spouse or parent.
A travel document that lets green card holders leave the U.S. for up to two years without losing their permanent resident status.
Someone outside their home country who can't go back because of a real fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.
The legal strategies an attorney uses to fight deportation in immigration court — the goal is to keep you in the U.S. or secure lawful status.
The formal court process where an immigration judge decides whether someone will be deported from the United States.
The process of converting a 2-year conditional green card into a permanent one — required for people who got their green card through marriage.
A letter from USCIS saying they need more documents or info before they can decide your case — not a denial, just a request to fill in the gaps.
Also: RFE
The minimum time you need to live in the U.S. before you can apply for benefits like citizenship — usually 3 or 5 years depending on your situation.
The government database that tracks international students and exchange visitors in the U.S. — your school updates it, and it affects your visa status.
Also: SEVIS
An extra 24 months of work authorization for F-1 graduates with STEM degrees — on top of the standard 12-month OPT period.
A green card path for children who've been abused, neglected, or abandoned — it provides protection and a way to stay in the U.S. legally.
Also: SIJS
A visa for people in specific categories — like religious workers, certain juveniles, or Iraqis and Afghans who helped the U.S. government.
Also: SIV
Temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. for people from countries hit by war, natural disasters, or other crises.
Also: TPS
A visa that lets you stay in the U.S. for a limited time for a specific reason — like tourism, work, or school. It doesn't lead to a green card on its own.
Also: Non-Immigrant Visa
An official document — like Advance Parole or a Refugee Travel Document — that lets certain non-citizens leave and re-enter the U.S. without losing status.
The federal agency that handles green cards, citizenship, work permits, and most other immigration applications — they're who you're filing with.
Also: USCIS
The main U.S. diplomatic office in a foreign country — where visa interviews happen if you're applying from abroad.
Also: U.S. Consulate
Someone living in the U.S. without legal immigration status — either because they entered without inspection or stayed past their visa.
Also: Undocumented Immigrant
Working in the U.S. without proper authorization from USCIS — it can seriously hurt your chances of getting a green card or visa later.
Time spent in the U.S. without legal status — rack up 180+ days and you could face a 3-year bar; over a year triggers a 10-year bar on coming back.
A law that lets immigrants who've been abused by a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse apply for legal status on their own — no abuser involvement needed.
Also: VAWA
A monthly report from the State Department that tells you whether your priority date is current — meaning you can finally move forward with your green card.
Your spot in line for a green card under the annual caps — when a visa number becomes available, you can finally file for permanent residence.
A program that lets citizens of 40+ countries visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa — just fill out an ESTA online before you travel.
Also: VWP, ESTA
Choosing to leave the U.S. on your own terms instead of being formally deported — it's a better option because it avoids the harsh penalties that come with a removal order.
A formal request asking USCIS to forgive something that would normally make you ineligible — like unlawful presence, fraud, or a criminal record.
Asking USCIS to overlook a specific reason you'd normally be barred from entering or staying in the U.S. — usually requires showing extreme hardship to a qualifying relative.
Voluntarily pulling your immigration application before USCIS decides it — sometimes a strategic move to avoid a formal denial on your record.
A temporary visa that lets you work in the U.S. based on a job offer or employer sponsorship — common types include H-1B, L-1, and O-1.
Also: Employment Visa