General 

Below is a list of common terms used among U.S. immigration attorneys and officials.  The following definitions are brief and merely intended to be a guide to help you have a cursory understanding of the language you will come across when reviewing U.S. immigration documents.  The list below is not intended to be a complete explanation of complex immigration concepts or legal principles. 

The terms below have been arranged in two lists: the Ordered List and Alphabetized List. With the Ordered List, the terms are arranged so that each subsequent term builds on the last.  Thus, if you read each phrase in order you will better understand the proceeding definition.  The “Alphabetized List” simply lists the terms in alphabetical order.

Ordered List 

Alien (aka resident alien, aka foreign national): An individual residing in the United States who is not a citizen.  Our offices’ position is that this term has a negative connotation, so we prefer the use of the phrase “foreign national.” 

Non-immigrant: A foreign national who is permitted to stay in the U.S. for a temporary period of time. 

Immigrant (aka legal/lawful permanent resident, aka green card holder):  A foreign national who is authorized to stay in the U.S. permanently.   

Adjustment of Status: The process whereby a foreign national changes his or her status from that of a non-immigrant to an immigrant while physically located in the United States. 

Authorized Stay: The amount of time a U.S. immigration official permits a non-immigrant to stay in the United States. 

I-94 Departure-Arrival Record: A small white card given to a non-immigrant upon entry into the United States and endorsed by a U.S. immigration official.  The I-94 indicates the date in which the non-immigrant was admitted to the U.S. and the date he or she must leave the country. 

Green Card (aka Alien Registration Receipt Card):  A term used for the card that proves a foreign national is admitted to stay in the United States as a permanent resident. 

Status (aka lawful status): Foreign nationals who are legally in the United Status under a certain non-immigrant/immigrant category are in status. 

Out-of-Status:  A Foreign national who has violated the conditions of their non-immigrant/immigrant status.  For example, one would be out of status if they stayed in the U.S. beyond the departure date indicated on their I-94. 

Unlawful Presence: Remaining in the U.S. for longer than authorized.  

Inadmissible: A foreign national who is prohibited from entering the United States because they fall within a certain category of inadmissibility.  For example, individuals with certain health conditions, who have engaged in criminal conduct, or who are unable to support themselves financially may be inadmissible to the United States. 

Waiver of Inadmissibility:  The process of the U.S. federal government excusing a foreign national who is inadmissible to the U.S. and permitting the individual entry. 

Petitioner (aka sponsor): A U.S. citizen or entity that files a petition on behalf of a foreign national so that he or she may reside within the U.S. legally as a non-immigrant or immigrant. 

Beneficiary: A foreign national who is seeking to reside in the U.S. pursuant to a petition that was filed on his or her behalf by a U.S. citizen or company. 

Naturalization: The process by which a permanent resident becomes a citizen of the United States. 

Quota: a numerical limit on the number of visas or green cards available per year to a particular class of non-U.S. citizens and/or within a certain non-immigrant/immigrant category. 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS:  An agency of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for ruling on immigration and naturalization matters and establishing immigration policies and priorities. 

Employment Authorization Document (aka EAD, aka work permit):  A document that authorizes a foreign national to work in the United States.  A foreign national may often be eligible for an EAD upon adjustment of status. 

Port of Entry:  The airport, seaport, or border crossing where U.S. customs officials are stationed to decide whether or not travellers will be permitted to enter the United States. 

Visa: legal authorization for a foreign national to request entry into the U.S. at a port of entry. 

Alphabetized List 

Adjustment of Status: The process whereby a foreign national changes his or her status from that of a non-immigrant to an immigrant while physically located in the United States. 

Alien (aka resident alien, aka foreign national): An individual residing in the United States who is not a citizen.  My position is that this term has a negative connotation, so I prefer the use of the phrase “foreign national.” 

Authorized Stay: The amount of time a U.S. immigration official permits a non-immigrant to stay in the United States. 

Beneficiary: A foreign national who is seeking to reside in the U.S. pursuant to a petition that was filed on his or her behalf by a U.S. citizen or company.

Naturalization: The process by which a permanent resident becomes a citizen of the United States. 

Employment Authorization Document (aka EAD, aka work permit):  A document that authorizes a foreign national to work in the United States.  A foreign national may often be eligible for an EAD upon adjustment of status. 

Green Card (aka Alien Registration Receipt Card):  A term used for the card that proves a foreign national is admitted to stay in the United States as a permanent resident. 

I-94 Departure-Arrival Record: A small white card given to a non-immigrant upon entry into the United States and endorsed by a U.S. immigration official.  The I-94 indicates the date in which the non-immigrant was admitted to the U.S. and the date he or she must leave the country. 

Immigrant (aka permanent resident, aka green card holder):  A foreign national who is permitted to stay in the U.S. permanently.  

Inadmissible: A foreign national who is prohibited from entering the United States because they fall within a certain category of inadmissibility.  For example, individuals with certain health conditions, who have engaged in criminal conduct, or who are unable to support themselves financially may be inadmissible to the United States.

Out-of-Status:  A Foreign national who has violated the conditions of their non-immigrant/immigrant status.  For example, one would be out of status if they stayed in the U.S. beyond the departure date indicated on their I-94. 

Petitioner (aka sponsor): A U.S. citizen or entity that files a petition on behalf of a foreign national so that he or she may reside within the U.S. legally as a non-immigrant or immigrant. 

Port of Entry:  The airport, seaport, or border crossing where U.S. customs officials are stationed to decide whether or not travellers will be permitted to enter the United States. 

Quota: a numerical limit on the number of visas or green cards available per year to a particular class of non-U.S. citizens and/or within a certain non-immigrant/immigrant category. 

Status (aka lawful status): Foreign nationals who are legally in the United Status under a certain non-immigrant/immigrant category are in status. 

Unlawful Presence: Remaining in the U.S. for longer than authorized.  

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS:  An agency of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for ruling on immigration and naturalization matters and establishing immigration policies and priorities.

Visa: legal authorization for a foreign national to request entry into the U.S. at a port of entry. 

Waiver of Inadmissibility:  The process of the U.S. federal government excusing a foreign national who is inadmissible to the U.S. and permitting the individual entry.

Ife Ashabo , B.A., J.D., F.L.C.

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