Adjudication
The term describing the USCIS process of reviewing and processing applications and petitions.

Admission
Admission in immigration terms is related to the lawful entry into the United States after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer. Note that admission does exclude a person who is paroled or permitted to land temporarily.

Adjustment of Immigrant Status
A process that permits a number of foreigners who are already in the United States to apply for immigrant status. Foreigners who enter the United States as nonimmigrants, refugees, or parolees might have their status altered to that of legal permanent resident if they are qualified to obtain an immigrant visa and one is available right away. If the status is changed successfully, the alien is considered an immigrant as of the date of the adjustment regardless if the alien may have been in the United States for a long period of time.

Admission Number
The particular number is found on your I-94 card, which will change every time you enter the United States. Remember to give this card back once your leave the U.S. so there is a record of your U.S. entry and departure.

Alien
Any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States of America; foreigner.

Change of Status
The application process of changing status from one immigration status to another immigration status.

Citizenship
Normally citizenship describes the country that a person is born in. However, a person can change citizenship in a process called naturalization.

Consul
A diplomat appointed by the United States government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country. The consul is also responsible for issuing visas to non-U.S. citizens who wish to travel to the United States.

Country of

• Birth: The country a person is born in.
• Citizenship: It’s either the country where a person is born who has not given up or lost his/her citizenship or the country of a person who is naturalized.
• Former Allegiance: It’s the former country of a person who became a citizen of the United States through naturalization or derivative citizenship.
• (Last) Residence: The last country where a foreigner lived before coming into the United States.
• Nationality: The country of a person’s citizenship.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The U.S. government agency that enforces U.S. immigration laws.

Department of State
The Department of State is an Executive Branch Department with jurisdiction over non-domestic issues. It is the government agency responsible for managing the United States' foreign affairs.

Dependent
An official term used for the spouse and children of the principal applicant.

Deportable Alien
A deportable alien is anyone who entered the United States illegally or legally, but breached the terms of his/her classification or status later on.

Duration of Status (D/S)

"Duration of Status" or "D/S" is the length of time for which individuals in F and J status are admitted to the United States.  D/S allows students to remain in the United States as long as they are pursuing full-time studies and are otherwise complying with all immigration regulations.  D/S is not, however, for an indefinite period of time.  D/S is based on the completion date on your I-20, plus a 60-day grace period for F-1 students.  It is possible to extend D/S by applying for a program extension prior to the expiration of the current I-20.

EAD
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is a work authorization card that is issued by the USCIS. The EAD is the size and shape of driver’s license.

Embassy
Official United States government office located in a foreign country. Embassies are usually located in the capital of the country. Embassies deal with political, economic, and visa issues. The local ambassador is in charge of the Embassy.

Employment Authorization Document
The official name for a work permit and authorization by the USCIS to legally take upon work in the United States.

Entry Visa
The visa that the U.S. State Department adds to a page in an individual’s passport. The granting of an entry visa means that the visa holder is eligible to enter the U.S. for a particular purpose. Note that an expired visa does not affect an individuals legal stay in the U.S. As long as the I-94 card is valid, the visa can be expired. However, if the individual leaves the U.S., a valid visa is necessary to enter again. One cannot enter the U.S. with an expired visa.

F-1 Status
F-1 is the visa type used by international students to enter the United States. The I-94 form in the passport will be marked with the letters “F-1” and “D/S”.  D/S stands for “Duration of Status.”

I-20 Certificate Of Eligibility
This is issued by U.S. schools to international students who have been admitted to their academic program and who have presented evidence to the school of sufficient financial support to study in the U.S. The I-20 is used to obtain the F-1 visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. The completion date noted is an estimate of the average length of time it takes to complete a specific degree. However, regardless of the I-20 completion date, once you have completed your degree, you have 60 days to leave the U.S., apply for another visa (or Optional Practical Training), or gain admission at another school authorized to issue I-20s.

I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
The I-94 is a small white card issued to all nonimmigrants by a U.S. immigration officer at the port of entry. It is evidence of legal entry to the U.S., indicating the date of arrival, the classification (e.g., tourist, diplomat, student) and the amount of time one is permitted to stay in the United States. The I-94s of those in F and J status should be marked with the letters "D/S," for duration of status.

Immigration Status
An individual’s immigration status is noted on the I-94 card by an Immigration Inspector at the U.S. port-of-entry. During the duration of a person’s stay in the U.S., this designation is very important. A visa can, for example, expire if this designation is changed while you are in the United States.

INS
Abbreviation of "Immigration and Naturalization Service".  The INS changed its official name on March 1, 2003 to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). INS was an extension of the U.S. Justice Department with responsibility for the admission and control of aliens.

Nationality
The description used on an individual’s citizenship or country where the person is deemed a national.

Nonimmigrant
A foreigner who enters the United States temporarily for a specific purpose and who must fulfill two requirements: a permanent residence overseas and actual qualification for the nonimmigrant classification. Some of the nonimmigrant classifications are students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, exchange visitors, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, and religious workers, among others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor children.

Nonimmigrant status
The term used to describe an individual’s status for a set period of time. It is a limited status while in the United States. The individual is not a permanent resident of the United States while on a Nonimmigrant Status.

OPT
OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. OPT is an opportunity for foreign students to work one year off-campus.  A new OPT can be received at different study levels.

Passport
A document that is issued by the government of the country of your citizenship. Passports have expiration dates, and while you travel in the U.S. your passport must remain valid throughout the entire duration of your stay.

Permanent Resident
Any person who is not a citizen of the United States and who lives in the U.S. under lawfully recognized and legally recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. It is also called Permanent Resident Alien, Resident Alien Permit Holder, and Green Card Holder.

Port of Entry
Any location in the United States or its territories where foreigners and U.S. citizens alike can enter the United States such as airports and border crossings.

Practical Training (OPT)
A work program designed to let foreign students work in the United States after of during their university degree.

Regulation
A rule which is established under the provisions of INA 104(a). The rule is further duly published in the Federal Register.

Reinstatement
The immigration procedure that an F-1 or J-1 student must complete when he/she fails to remain in lawful status or overstays beyond his/her completion date as noted on his/her I-20 or DS-2019 and fails to complete a program extension.

Service Centers
There are four service offices in the United States that are responsible for filing, data entry, and arbitration of some applications for immigration services and benefits. Service Centers are not staffed to receive walk-in applications or questions, so all applications have to be mailed.

SEVIS
SEVIS stands for “The Student Exchange Visitor Information System”. This particular system is used by the federal government to monitor student visas in the United States.

Sponsor
To sponsor a foreigner means to bring to the United States or petition for that foreigner in the immigration sense. A "sponsor" is also a person who completes Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act.

Student
A nonimmigrant foreigner who comes to the United States temporarily to study in an approved program in either an academic, such as college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, other institution, or language training program; a vocational or other recognized nonacademic organization.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) It is a bureau created under the Department of Homeland Security. The former official name was INS, but INS was replaced by USCIS on March, 1st 2003.

U.S. Department of State (USDOS) -- The U.S. government agency that operates U.S. Consulates and Embassies worldwide for U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents seeking assistance abroad, as well as for non-U.S. citizens seeking visas to enter the United States, if a U.S. visa is required for entry.

Visa
A United States visa grants the holder the right to apply for entry to the United States, but does not grant the visa holder the right to enter the United States. Entry can be refused at the port of entry. The Department of State (DOS) is in charge of visa administration at U.S. Embassies and Consulates outside of the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) immigration inspectors decide admittance, duration of stay and conditions in the U.S. at a port of entry. DHS immigration inspectors will record the terms of your admission on your I-94 or I-94W and in your passport upon approval of entry.

Voluntary Departure
A foreigner departs voluntarily from the United States without an order of removal with or without a preceding hearing before an immigration judge. A foreigner who departs voluntarily admits removability but he/she is not barred from seeking admission at a port-of-entry at any time. However, failure to depart, if removable, can result in a fine and a ten-year ban to several forms of relief from deportation.

Work Permit
A work permit is normally used to describe an Employment Authorization Document.

Adapted from United States Immigration Support - Glossary of Immigration Terms

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