Telephone: (334) 832-9090
E-mail: usvisa@visaus.com
Glossary of
terms used in by the Immigration and
Naturalization
Service and the U.S. Department of State
By BOYD F. CAMPBELL
Attorney at Law and Civil Law Notary
The
following definitions supplement definitions contained in the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA). As used in these regulations, the term:
"Accompanying
or accompanied by" means not only an alien in the physical company of a
principal alien but also an alien who is issued an immigrant visa within
4 months of either the date of issuance of a visa to, or the date of adjustment
of status in the United States of, the principal alien, or the date on
which the principal alien personally appears and registers before a consular
officer abroad to confer alternate foreign state chargeability or immigrant
status upon a spouse or child. An "accompanying" relative may not precede
the principal alien to the United States.
"Act"
means the Immigration and Nationality Act (or INA), as amended.
"Adjacent
islands" means Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda,
Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica,
the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie-Galante,
Martinique, Miquelon, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Christopher,
Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin,
Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks
and Caicos Islands, and other British, French and Netherlands territory
or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.
"Adjustment
of status" is the process of obtaining permanent resident status in the
United States without having to leave the United States. See INA
Section 245, 8 USC Section 1255, with respect to the bases of eligibility
and ineligibility. Legislation that became effective in 1997 renders
this remedy unavailable to many, but not all, persons who entered the United
States without inspection or who violated their status while in the United
States on whose behalf an application for alien labor certification or
preference petition was not filed on or before January 14, 1998.
"Admission"
means a lawful entry into the United States after inspection and authorization
by an immigration officer. It excludes a person who is paroled or
permitted to land temporarily. INSA Section 101(a)(13), 8 USC Section
1101(a). The provision contains significant standards with respect
to the readmission of lawful permanent residents.
"Affidavit
of support" means a sworn document given by one who will provide financial
support to an alien seeking to enter the United States or adjust status.
An affidavit of support is required to be submitted to the INS by petitioners
in the immediate relative and in teh famioly preferences, or in the employment-based
categories if the employer/petitioner is related to the beneficiary.
Congress now requires significant obligations on teh affiant, including
the enforceability as a contract with the federal government until the
visa beneficiary becomes a United States citizen or has 40 quarters of
qualifying employment in the United States. There are two affidavit
of support froms -- INS Form I-864, and INS Form I-134. The law and
regulations must be consulted to learn the appropriate use and requirements
for each.
"Aggravated
felon" means one who has been convicted of any of numerous crimes set forth
in INA Section 101(a)(43), 8 USC Section 1101. Aggravated felon status
creates numerous substantive and procedural disabilities with respect to
asylum, admissibility, removal, judicial review, etc., as set forth in
INA Sections 298, 212, 237 - 242, 8 USC Sections 1158, 1182.
"Alien"
means any person not a citizen or national of the United States.
INA Section 101(a)(3), 8 USC Section 1101(a)(3). This includes temporary
visitors and lawful permanent residents.
"Alien
labor certification" is a process that, when completed, results in certification
by the U.S. Department of Labor that there are not sufficient workers who
are able, willing, qualified, and available at the place of proposed employment
and that such employment will not adversely affect the wages and working
conditions of workers in the United States similarly employed. INA
Section 212(a)(5), 8 USC Section 1182.
"Aliens
previously removed" means the ground of inadmissibility for persons previously
removed from anywhere from five years to 20 years, depending upon the circumstances
of each case. INA Section 212(a)(9)(A), 8 USC Section 1182.
"Aliens
unlawfully present" refers to aliens who were unlawfully present in teh
United Sttates for more than 180 days but less than one year commencing
on April 1, 1997, and are subject to a three-year bar to admissibility,
or a 10-year bar if unlawfully present for one year or more. INA
Section 212(a)(9)(B) contains relevant standards and exceptions.
"Cancellation
of removal" is a discretionary remedy for permanent residents who have
been permanent residents for at least five years and have resided continuously
in the United States for at least seven years after having been admitted
in any status and have not been convicted of an aggravated felony, or anyone
physically present in teh United States for a continuous period of not
fewer than ten years immediately preceding the date of such application,
who has been a person of good moral character during such period, has not
been convicted of certain offenses, and who establishes that removal would
result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a United States
citizen or permanent resident alien spouse, parent, or child. INA
Section 240A, 8 USC Section 1229b.
"Child"
means an unmarried person younger than 21 who is a legitimate child, a
stepchild, a child legitimated under the law of the child's residence or
domicile, or under the law of the father's residence or domicile, an illegitimate
child, a child adopted while younger than 16, and a child who is an orphan.
"Competent
officer," as used in INA 101(a)(26), means a "consular officer" as defined
in INA 101(a)(9).
"Conditional
permanent resident status" is a status conferred upon an alien spouse or
child at the time of obtaining lawful permanent residence, such status
having been obtained on the basis of a marriage to a United States citizen
or lawful permanent resident spouse entered into less than two years prior
to obtaining said status, or as an immigrant investor.
"Consular
officer," as defined in INA 101(a)(9) includes commissioned consular officers
and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, and such other officers
as the Deputy Assistant Secretary may designate for the purpose of issuing
nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, but does not include a consular agent,
an attaché or an assistant attaché. For purposes of
this regulation, the term "other officers" includes civil service visa
examiners employed by the Department of State for duty at visa-issuing
offices abroad, upon certification by the chief of the consular section
under whose direction such examiners are employed that the examiners are
qualified by knowledge and experience to perform the functions of a consular
officer in the issuance or refusal of visas. The designation of visa examiners
shall expire upon termination of the examiners' employment for such duty
and may be terminated at any time for cause by the Deputy Assistant Secretary.
The assignment by the Department of any foreign service officer to a diplomatic
or consular office abroad in a position administratively designated as
requiring, solely, partially, or principally, the performance of consular
functions, and the initiation of a request for a consular commission, constitutes
designation of the officer as a "consular officer" within the meaning of
INA 101(a)(9).
"Consular
processing" is the process of applying for an immigrant visa at a United
States consulate outside the United States for prospective immigrants who
are not in the United States or who are ineligible to adjust their status
in the United States.
"Conviction"
means a formal judgment of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
"Department"
means the Department of State of the United States of America.
"Dependent
area" means a colony or other component or dependent area overseas from
the governing foreign state, natives of which are subject to the limitation
prescribed by INA 202(c).
"Documentarily
qualified" means that the alien has reported that all the documents specified
by the consular officer as sufficient to meet the requirements of INA 222(b)
have been obtained, and that necessary clearance procedures of the consular
office have been completed. This term shall be used only with respect to
the alien's qualification to apply formally for an immigrant visa; it bears
no connotation that the alien is eligible to receive a visa.
"Domestic
violence" means a crime of domestic violence, including stalking, or violation
of a protection order, and crimes against children. Conviction is
grounds for removal of an alien from the United States. INA Section
237(a)(2)(E), 8 USC Section 1227(a)(2)(E).
"Employer
sanctions" means civil and criminal penalties imposed on U.S. employers
and individuals who, subsequent to November 6, 1986, hire or refer for
a fee aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States.
INA Section 274A, 8 USC Section 1324a.
"Employer
verification" means the procedure established by the Immigration Reform
and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) requiring U.S. employers to verify the identity
and eligibility to work on INS Form I-9 of all individuals (U.S. citizens
and aliens) hired or referred for a fee on or after November 7, 1986.
INA Section 274A, 8 USC Section 1324a.
"Employment
Authorization Document" means a work permit -- an authorization by the
INS to be employed in the United States.
"Entitled
to immigrant classification" means that the alien:
(1)
Is the beneficiary of an approved petition granting immediate relative
or preference status;
(2)
Has satisfied the consular officer as to entitlement to special immigrant
status under INA 101(a)(27) (A) or (B);
(3)
Has been selected by the annual selection system to apply under INA 203(c);
or
(4)
Is an alien described in § 40.51(c).
(With
respect to alternate chargeability pursuant to INA 202(b), the term "foreign
state" is not restricted to those areas to which the numerical limitation
prescribed by INA 202(a) applies but includes dependent areas, as defined
above.)
"Extension"
usually refers to an application to extend a nonimmigrant visa for an additional
period of validity to enable a nonimmigrant to remain in the United States
temporarily.
"Immediate
relative" means a husband, wife, father, mother, child, adult son, adult
daughter, brother, or sister.
"Immigrant"
means an alien seeking entry into the United States, except for an alien
who is within one of the 19 basic classes of nonimmigrant aliens.
INA Section 101(a)(15), 8 USC Section 1101(a)(15). The term does
not include nonimmigrants under the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA).
"Immigrant
visa" means a document required by the Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA) and properly issued by a consular officer at his office outside the
United States to an eligible immigrant under the provisions of the INA.
INA Section 1101(a)(16), 8 USC Section 1101(a)(16). An immigrant
visa has six-month validity.
"Immigration
Judge" means an official who presides over removal proceedings. INA
Section 240, 8 USC Section 1229a.
"INA"
means the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.
"INS"
means the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
"Income"
means an individual's gross income, for purposes of the individual's federal
income tax liability, including a joint income tax return.
"Intending
immigrant" means any beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition filed under
INA Section 204, including any alien who will accompany or follow-to-join
the principal beneficiary.
"Intent"
for nonimmigrants, means that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa who
wishes to enter the United States will be presumed to be an immigrant until
he or she establishes to the satisfaction of a consular officer that, at
the time of application, he or she is entitled to a nonimmigrant status
and has a home of residence outside the United States that he or she does
not intend to abandon.
"Means-tested
public benefit" means either a Federal means-tested public benefit, which
is any public benefit funded in whole or in part by funds provided by the
Federal Government that the Federal agency administering the Federal funds
has determined to be a Federal means-tested public benefit under the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public
Law 104-193, or a State means-tested public benefit, which is any public
benefit for which no Federal funds are provided that a State, State agency,
or political subdivision of a State has determined to be a means-tested
public benefit. No benefit shall be considered to be a means-tested public
benefit if it is a benefit described in sections 401(b), 411(b), 422(b)
or 423(d) of Public Law 104-193.
"National
of the United States" means a citizen of the United States, or a person
who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance
to the United States. INA Section 101(a)(22), 8 USC Section 1101(a)(22).
"Native"
shall mean born within the territory of a foreign state, or entitled to
be charged for immigration purposes to that foreign state pursuant to section
202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.
"Naturalization"
means the conferring of nationality of a statu upon a person after birth.
Note taht the citizenship fo a foreign state acquired at birth is not a
naturalization.
"NACARA"
is the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, which provides
for permanent residence for certain Nicaraguans and Cubans and some liberalization
of standards for suspension of deportation and cancellation of removal
for certain nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and certain countries
of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
"Nonimmigrant"
means a person coming to the United States temporarily.
"Nonimmigrant
visa" means a visa properly issued to an alien who is an eligible nonimmigrant
as determined by a competent officer.
"Not
subject to numerical limitation" means that the alien is entitled to immigrant
status as an immediate relative within the meaning of INA 201(b)(2)(i),
or as a special immigrant within the meaning of INA 101(a)(27) (A) and
(B), unless specifically subject to a limitation other than under INA 201(a),
(b), or (c).
"Parent,
father, and mother," as defined in INA 101(b)(2), are terms which are not
changed in meaning if the child becomes 21 years of age or marries.
"Parole"
means authority given to the INS for anyone to come to the United States
without being admitted in any status. INA Section 212(d)(5), 8 USC
Section 1182(d)(5).
"Port
of entry" means a port or place designated by the Commissioner of Immigration
and Naturalization at which an alien may apply to INS for admission into
the United States.
"Principal
alien" means an alien from whom another alien derives a privilege or status
under the law or regulations.
"Re-entry
permit" means a travel document issued to a permanent resident proceeding
abroad temporarily. The alien must be physically present in the United
States to file an application for a re-entry permit. INA Section
223, 8 USC Section 1203.
"Refugee"
means a person unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality
(or, if having no nationality, where he or she last habitually resided)
because of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
"Regulation"
means a rule which is established under the provisions of INA 104(a) and
is duly published in the Federal Register.
"Removal"
is a proceeding to enforce departure from the United States of persons
seeking admission to the United States who are removable, or persons who
have been admitted who are removable. INA Section 240, 8 USC Section
1229a.
"Residence"
means the place of general abode, or the alien's primcipal, actual dwelling
place in fact, without regard to intent.
"Service"
means the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
"Son
or daughter" includes only a person who would have qualified as a "child"
under INA 101(b)(1) if the person were under 21 and unmarried.
"Sponsor"
means a person who either is eligible to execute or has executed an affidavit
of support on behalf of an alien.
"Sponsored
immigrant" means an immigrant on whose behalf a sponsor has executed an
affidavit of support under this part, including any spouse or child who
will accompany or follow-to-join the beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition
filed by a sponsor.
"Suspension
of deportation" is a remedy in deportation proceedings (initiated before
removal proceedings began under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 [IIRAIRA] on April 1, 1997) for certain persons
who have been in the United States for seven years or 10 years and who
met other criteria as set forth in former INA Section 244(a).
"Temporary
protected status" (TPS) is a status allowing residence and employment authorization
to nationals of foreign states for a period of less than six months or
more than 18 months, when such states have been appropriately designated
by the Attorney General because of extraordinary and temporary conditions
in such states. INA Section 244A, 8 USC Section 1254a.
"Treaty
country" means a foreign state with which a qualifying Treaty of Friendship,
Commerce, or Navigation or its equivalent exists with the United States.
A treaty country includes a foreign state that is accorded treaty visa
privileges under INA Section 101(a)(15)(E) by specific legislation.
"Treaty
country nationality" means the nationality of an individual treaty trader
or treaty investor as determined by the authorities of the foreign state
of which the alien is a national. In the case of an enterprise or
organization, ownership must be traced as best as is practicable to the
individuals who are ultimately its owners.
"Visa"
means permission by competent federal authority to enter or remain within
a country not the visaholder's country of nationality or former habitual
residence.
"Visa
Waiver Program" refers to a specific program that authorizes nationals
of a number of countries to come to the United States for up to 90 days
as visitors for business or pleasure without first obtaining a visa.
No extension or change of visa status is permitted. There is an exception,
however, for aliens who marry U.S. citizens while in the United States
on a "visa waiver."
"Voluntary
departure" means permission for removable aliens to leave the United States
voluntarily.
"Waiver"
means the lifting of grounds of inadmissiblity for certain aliens, either
in the United States or outside the United States.
"Work
permit" usually means an Employment Authorization Document. There
are many kinds of "work permits," however.
"Western
Hemisphere" means North America (including Central America), South America
and the islands immediately adjacent thereto including the places named
in INA 101(b)(5).
The Immigration Law Center works with individuals and corporate clients, including multinational corporations and small businesses in the United States and around the world, in making business arrangements, investments, and dealing with foreign labor matters. The Immigration Law Center also represents its clients in contacts with U.S. consulates around the world. If you have questions about this article, please send an e-mail message to Mr. Campbell (see below).
This page is sponored
by:
Immigration
Law Center, L.L.C.
P.O. Box 11032
Montgomery, Alabama
36111-0032 U.S.A.
Telephone: (334)
832-9090
E-mail: usvisa@visaus.com
NAVIGATION: Back to the Immigration Law Center Home Page: CLICK HERE