Immigration News
Print this Page
Glossary of Immigration Terms & Legal Terms
This is a glossary of legal & immigration related terms provided by Crossings Immigration Lawyers for convenience purposes only. Nothing in this glossary or on this site should be taken as legal advice. You should contact us directly for a free consultation with an immigration lawyer.
- 341 Meeting
- In a bankruptcy proceeding, a meeting of creditors at which the debtor is questioned
[ read more on 341 Meeting ] - 9 FAM
- The Foreign Affairs Manual
- Accompanying
- From travel.state.gov A type of visa in which family members travel with the principa
[ read more on Accompanying ] - Acquired Citizenship
- Citizenship conferred at birth on children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s).
- Acquittal
- A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge tha
[ read more on Acquittal ] - Active Judge
- A judge in the full-time service of the court. Compare to senior judge.
- Adjust Status
- From travel.state.gov 1) To change from a nonimmigrant visa status or other status 2)
[ read more on Adjust Status ] - Adjustment of Status
- Procedure allowing certain aliens already in the United States to apply for immigrant
[ read more on Adjustment of Status ] - Adjustment to Immigrant Status
- Procedure allowing certain aliens already in the United States to apply for immigrant
[ read more on Adjustment to Immigrant Status ] - Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO)
- The federal agency responsible for collecting court statistics, administering the fed
[ read more on Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) ] - Admissible
- A term used to describe evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil a
[ read more on Admissible ] - Admission
- From travel.state.gov Entry into the United States is authorized by a Department of H
[ read more on Admission ] - Adopted Child
- From travel.state.gov An unmarried child under age 21, who was adopted while under th
[ read more on Adopted Child ] - Advance Parole
- From travel.state.gov Permission to return to the United States after travel abroad g
[ read more on Advance Parole ] - Adversary Proceeding
- A lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case that begins by filing a complain
[ read more on Adversary Proceeding ] - Advisory Opinion
- From travel.state.gov An opinion regarding a point of law from the Office of Visa Ser
[ read more on Advisory Opinion ] - Affidavit
- A written or printed statement made under oath.
- Affidavit of Support
- From travel.state.gov A document promising that the person who completes it will supp
[ read more on Affidavit of Support ] - Affiliated
- d or controlled by the same owner or authority.
- Affirmed
- In the practice of the court of appeals, it means that the court of appeals has concl
[ read more on Affirmed ] - Agent
- From travel.state.gov In immigrant visa processing the applicant selects a person who
[ read more on Agent ] - Agricultural Worker
- As a nonimmigrant class of admission, an alien coming temporarily to the United State
[ read more on Agricultural Worker ] - AILA
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)is a voluntary membership associat
[ read more on AILA ] - Alien
- From travel.state.gov A foreign national who is not a United States citizen. Any pers
[ read more on Alien ] - Alternate Juror
- A juror selected in the same manner as a regular juror who hears all the evidence but
[ read more on Alternate Juror ] - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- A procedure for settling a dispute outside the courtroom. Most forms of ADR are not b
[ read more on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ] - Amerasian (Vietnam)
- Immigrant visas are issued to Amerasians under Public Law 100-202 (Act of 12/22/87),
[ read more on Amerasian (Vietnam) ] - Amerasian Act
- Public Law 97-359 (Act of 10/22/82) provides for the immigration to the United States
[ read more on Amerasian Act ] - American Immigration Lawyers Association
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)is a voluntary membership associat
[ read more on American Immigration Lawyers Association ] - Amicus Curiae
- Latin for "friend of the court." It is advice formally offered to the court
[ read more on Amicus Curiae ] - AOS
- From travel.state.gov Affidavit of Support, Form I-864. A document promising that the
[ read more on AOS ] - Appeal
- A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a hi
[ read more on Appeal ] - Appellant
- The party who appeals a district court's decision, usually seeking reversal of t
[ read more on Appellant ] - Appellate
- About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgment of a lower cou
[ read more on Appellate ] - Appellee
- The party who opposes an appellant's appeal, and who seeks to persuade the appea
[ read more on Appellee ] - Applicant (Visa)
- From travel.state.gov A foreign citizen who is applying for a nonimmigrant or immigra
[ read more on Applicant (Visa) ] - Application Support Center
- USCIS Offices fingerprint applicants for immigration benefits. Some USCIS application
[ read more on Application Support Center ] - Appointment Package
- From travel.state.gov The letter and documents that tell an applicant of the date of
[ read more on Appointment Package ] - Apprehension
- The arrest of a removable alien by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ea
[ read more on Apprehension ] - Approval Notice
- From travel.state.gov A Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship an
[ read more on Approval Notice ] - Arraignment
- A proceeding in which a criminal defendant is brought into court, told of the charges
[ read more on Arraignment ] - Arrival-Departure Card
- From travel.state.gov Also known as Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. The Departme
[ read more on Arrival-Departure Card ] - Article III Judge
- A federal judge who is appointed for life, during "good behavior," under Ar
[ read more on Article III Judge ] - Asset
- Property of all kinds, including real and personal, tangible and intangible.
- Asylee
- An alien in the United States or at a port of entry who is found to be unable or unwi
[ read more on Asylee ] - Asylum-Only Hearing
- An asylum-only hearing applies to an individual who is denied a removal hearing under
[ read more on Asylum-Only Hearing ] - Attorney
- A attorney in the United States is an individual licensed or otherwise authorized by
[ read more on Attorney ] - Attorney General
- The official of the executive branch appointed by the President to head the Justice D
[ read more on Attorney General ] - Automatic Stay
- An injunction that automatically stops lawsuits, foreclosure, garnishments, and most
[ read more on Automatic Stay ] - Bail
- The release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under specified conditio
[ read more on Bail ] - Bankruptcy
- A legal procedure for dealing with debt problems of individuals and businesses; speci
[ read more on Bankruptcy ] - Bankruptcy Administrator
- An officer of the Judiciary serving in the judicial districts of Alabama and North Ca
[ read more on Bankruptcy Administrator ] - Bankruptcy Code
- The informal name for title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101-
[ read more on Bankruptcy Code ] - Bankruptcy Court
- The bankruptcy judges in regular active service in each district; a unit of the distr
[ read more on Bankruptcy Court ] - Bankruptcy Estate
- All interests of the debtor in property at the time of the bankruptcy filing. The est
[ read more on Bankruptcy Estate ] - Bankruptcy Judge
- A judicial officer of the United States district court who is the court official with
[ read more on Bankruptcy Judge ] - Bankruptcy Petition
- A formal request for the protection of the federal bankruptcy laws. (There is an offi
[ read more on Bankruptcy Petition ] - Bankruptcy Trustee
- A private individual or corporation appointed in all Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases t
[ read more on Bankruptcy Trustee ] - Bar Association
- A Bar Association is a professional body or group of lawyers. Some bar associations a
[ read more on Bar Association ] - Bench Trial
- A trial without a jury, in which the judge serves as the fact-finder.
- Beneficiaries
- Aliens on whose behalf a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or employer have fil
[ read more on Beneficiaries ] - Beneficiary
- From travel.state.gov An applicant for a visa as named in a petition from the Departm
[ read more on Beneficiary ] - BIA
- The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is the highest administrative body for interpr
[ read more on BIA ] - Biometrics
- From travel.state.gov Biologically unique information used to identify individuals. T
[ read more on Biometrics ] - Board of Immigration Appeals
- The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is the highest administrative body for interpr
[ read more on Board of Immigration Appeals ] - Bond Redetermination Hearing
- An Immigration Judge conducts a recission hearing to determine whether a lawful perma
[ read more on Bond Redetermination Hearing ] - Border Crosser
- An alien resident of the United States reentering the country after an absence of les
[ read more on Border Crosser ] - Brief
- A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate proceeding that explains one si
[ read more on Brief ] - Burden of Proof
- The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burde
[ read more on Burden of Proof ] - Business Bankruptcy
- A bankruptcy case in which the debtor is a business or an individual involved in busi
[ read more on Business Bankruptcy ] - Business Nonimmigrant
- An alien coming temporarily to the United States to engage in commercial transactions
[ read more on Business Nonimmigrant ] - Cancellation of Removal
- A discretionary benefit adjusting an alien's status from that of deportable alie
[ read more on Cancellation of Removal ] - Cancelled Without Prejudice
- From travel.state.gov A stamp an embassy or consulate puts on a visa when there is a
[ read more on Cancelled Without Prejudice ] - Capital Offense
- A crime punishable by death.
- Case File
- A complete collection of every document filed in court in a case.
- Case Law
- The United States is a "Common Law" country, which means that prior rulings by the co
[ read more on Case Law ] - Case Number
- From travel.state.gov The National Visa Center (NVC) gives each immigrant petition a
[ read more on Case Number ] - Caseload
- The number of cases handled by a judge or a court.
- Cause of Action
- A legal claim.
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Identity document proving U.S. citizenship. Certificates of citizenship are issued to
[ read more on Certificate of Citizenship ] - Certificate of Naturalization
- From travel.state.gov A document issued by the Department of Homeland Security as pro
[ read more on Certificate of Naturalization ] - Chambers
- The offices of a judge and his or her staff.
- Change Status
- From travel.state.gov Changing from one nonimmigrant visa status to another nonimmigr
[ read more on Change Status ] - Charge/Chargeable
- From travel.state.gov There are numerical limits on the number of immigrant visas tha
[ read more on Charge/Chargeable ] - Chief Judge
- The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court; chief jud
[ read more on Chief Judge ] - Child
- Generally, an unmarried person under 21 years of age who is: a child born in wedlock;
[ read more on Child ] - Civil Surgeon
- A medically trained, licensed and experienced doctor practicing in the U.S. who is ce
[ read more on Civil Surgeon ] - Claim
- A creditor's assertion of a right to payment from a debtor or the debtor's
[ read more on Claim ] - Claimed Status Review
- If an alien in expedited removal claims under oath to be a U.S. citizen, to have been
[ read more on Claimed Status Review ] - Class Action
- A lawsuit in which one or more members of a large group, or class, of individuals or
[ read more on Class Action ] - Clerk of Court
- The court officer who oversees administrative functions, especially managing the flow
[ read more on Clerk of Court ] - Cohabit
- From travel.state.gov To live together without a legal marriage ceremony.
- Collateral
- Property that is promised as security for the satisfaction of a debt.
- Common Law
- The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States th
[ read more on Common Law ] - Common-Law Marriage
- From travel.state.gov An agreement between a man and woman to enter into marriage wit
[ read more on Common-Law Marriage ] - Community Service
- special condition the court imposes that requires an individual to work–without
[ read more on Community Service ] - Complaint
- A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the c
[ read more on Complaint ] - Concurrent Sentence
- Prison terms for two or more offenses to be served at the same time, rather than one
[ read more on Concurrent Sentence ] - Conditional Residence Visa
- From travel.state.gov If you have been married for less than two years when your husb
[ read more on Conditional Residence Visa ] - Conditional Resident
- Any alien granted permanent resident status on a conditional basis (e.g., a spouse of
[ read more on Conditional Resident ] - Confirmation
- Approval of a plan of reorganization by a bankruptcy judge.
- Consecutive Sentence
- Prison terms for two or more offenses to be served one after the other. Example: Two
[ read more on Consecutive Sentence ] - Consumer Bankruptcy
- A bankruptcy case filed to reduce or eliminate debts that are primarily consumer debts.
- Consumer Debt
- Debts incurred for personal, as opposed to business, needs.
- Contingent Claim
- A claim that may be owed by the debtor under certain circumstances, e.g., where the d
[ read more on Contingent Claim ] - Contract
- An agreement between two or more persons that creates an obligation to do or not to d
[ read more on Contract ] - Conviction
- A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Counsel
- As a verb, it is any legal advice; as a noun it refers to the lawyers in a case.
- Count
- An allegation in an indictment or information, charging a defendant with a crime. An
[ read more on Count ] - Country of Birth
- The country in which a person is born.
- Country of Chargeability
- The independent country to which an immigrant entering under the preference system is
[ read more on Country of Chargeability ] - Country of Citizenship
- The country in which a person is born (and has not renounced or lost citizenship) or
[ read more on Country of Citizenship ] - Country of Former Allegiance
- The previous country of citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen or of a person who
[ read more on Country of Former Allegiance ] - Country of Nationality
- The country of a person's citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a
[ read more on Country of Nationality ] - Country of Residence
- The country in which a person habitually resides.
- Court
- Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. Judges sometimes use "court"
[ read more on Court ] - Court Reporter
- A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court, generally by usin
[ read more on Court Reporter ] - Credible Fear Review
- If an alien seeks to enter the United States without documents, or with fraudulent do
[ read more on Credible Fear Review ] - Creditor
- A person to whom or business to which the debtor owes money or that claims to be owed
[ read more on Creditor ] - Crewman
- A foreign national serving in a capacity required for normal operations and service o
[ read more on Crewman ] - Cuban or Haitian Entrant
- Status accorded 1) Cubans who entered illegally or were paroled into the United State
[ read more on Cuban or Haitian Entrant ] - Current/non-current
- There are numerical limits on the number of immigrant visas that can be granted to al
[ read more on Current/non-current ] - Cut-off Date
- From travel.state.gov The date that determines whether a preference immigrant visa ap
[ read more on Cut-off Date ] - Damages
- Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won. Dam
[ read more on Damages ] - De Facto
- Latin, meaning "in fact" or "actually." Something that exists in
[ read more on De Facto ] - De Jure
- Latin, meaning "in law." Something that exists by operation of law.
- De Novo
- Latin, meaning "anew." A trial de novo is a completely new trial. Appellate
[ read more on De Novo ] - Debtor
- A person who has filed a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. defendant An
[ read more on Debtor ] - Debtor's Plan
- A debtor's detailed description of how the debtor proposes to pay creditors'
[ read more on Debtor's Plan ] - Declaratory Judgment
- A judge's statement about someone's rights. For example, a plaintiff may se
[ read more on Declaratory Judgment ] - Default Judgment
- A judgment awarding a plaintiff the relief sought in the complaint because the defend
[ read more on Default Judgment ] - Defendant
- In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; i
[ read more on Defendant ] - Deferred Inspection
- A parolee is an alien, appearing to be inadmissible to the inspecting officer, allowe
[ read more on Deferred Inspection ] - Denomination/Sect
- From travel.state.gov A religious group or community.
- Department of Homeland Security
- The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). From travel.state.gov DHS is
[ read more on Department of Homeland Security ] - Department of Labor
- From travel.state.gov A cabinet level unit/ministry of United States Government that
[ read more on Department of Labor ] - Department of State
- The United States Department of State (DOS)
- Deportable Alien
- An alien in and admitted to the United States subject to any grounds of removal speci
[ read more on Deportable Alien ] - Deportation
- The formal removal of an alien from the United States when the alien has been found r
[ read more on Deportation ] - Deposition
- An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such
[ read more on Deposition ] - Derivative Citizenship
- Citizenship conveyed to children through the naturalization of parents or, under cert
[ read more on Derivative Citizenship ] - Derivative Status
- From travel.state.gov Getting a status (visa) through another applicant, as provided
[ read more on Derivative Status ] - DHS
- The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Discharge
- A release of a debtor from personal liability for certain dischargeable debts. Notabl
[ read more on Discharge ] - Dischargeable Debt
- A debt for which the Bankruptcy Code allows the debtor's personal liability to b
[ read more on Dischargeable Debt ] - Disclosure Statement
- A written document prepared by the chapter 11 debtor or other plan proponent that is
[ read more on Disclosure Statement ] - Discovery
- Procedures used to obtain disclosure of evidence before trial.
- Dismissal with Prejudice
- Court action that prevents an identical lawsuit from being filed later.
- Dismissal without Prejudice
- Court action that allows the later filing.
- Disposable Income
- Income not reasonably necessary for the maintenance or support of the debtor or depen
[ read more on Disposable Income ] - District
- Geographic areas into which the United States and its territories are divided for the
[ read more on District ] - Diversity
- A category of immigrants replacing the earlier categories for nationals of underrepre
[ read more on Diversity ] - Diversity Visa Program
- The Department of State has an annual lottery for immigration to the United States. U
[ read more on Diversity Visa Program ] - Docket
- A log containing the complete history of each case in the form of brief chronological
[ read more on Docket ] - Docket Control
- The DHS mechanism for tracking the case status of potentially removable aliens.
- Documentarily Qualified
- From travel.state.gov Refers to an immigrant visa applicant who has: 1) returned Form
[ read more on Documentarily Qualified ] - DOL
- From travel.state.gov Department of Labor. Hiring foreign workers for employment in t
[ read more on DOL ] - Domicile
- From travel.state.gov Place where a person has his or her principal residence. The pe
[ read more on Domicile ] - DOS
- The United States Department of State (DOS)
- Due Process
- In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair an
[ read more on Due Process ] - Duration of Status
- From travel.state.gov In certain visa categories such as diplomats, students and exch
[ read more on Duration of Status ] - DV
- From travel.state.gov See Diversity Visa.
- Employer Sanction
- The employer sanctions provision of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 pr
[ read more on Employer Sanction ] - En Banc
- French, meaning "on the bench." All judges of an appellate court sitting to
[ read more on En Banc ] - Equitable
- Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history,
[ read more on Equitable ] - Equity
- The value of a debtor's interest in property that remains after liens and other
[ read more on Equity ] - Evidence
- Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact
[ read more on Evidence ] - Ex Parte
- A proceeding brought before a court by one party only, without notice to or challenge
[ read more on Ex Parte ] - Exchange Visitor
- An alien coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a program approv
[ read more on Exchange Visitor ] - Exclusion
- Prior to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, exc
[ read more on Exclusion ] - Exclusionary Rule
- Doctrine that says evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant's cons
[ read more on Exclusionary Rule ] - Exculpatory Evidence
- Evidence indicating that a defendant did not commit the crime.
- Executive Order
- An mandate or decree by the President of the United States or a Governor or a State o
[ read more on Executive Order ] - Executory Contract
- Contracts or leases under which both parties to the agreement have duties remaining t
[ read more on Executory Contract ] - Exempt Asset
- Property that a debtor is allowed to retain, free from the claims of creditors who do
[ read more on Exempt Asset ] - Exempt from Numerical Limit
- Those aliens accorded lawful permanent residence who are exempt from the provisions o
[ read more on Exempt from Numerical Limit ] - Exempt Property
- Certain property owned by an individual debtor that the Bankruptcy Code or applicable
[ read more on Exempt Property ] - Face Sheet Filing
- A bankruptcy case filed either without schedules or with incomplete schedules listing
[ read more on Face Sheet Filing ] - Family Farmer
- An individual, individual and spouse, corporation, or partnership engaged in a farmin
[ read more on Family Farmer ] - Family First Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F1) for unmarried sons and da
[ read more on Family First Preference ] - Family Fourth Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F4) for brothers and sisters
[ read more on Family Fourth Preference ] - Family Second Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F2) for spouses, children and
[ read more on Family Second Preference ] - Family Third Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F3) for married sons and daug
[ read more on Family Third Preference ] - Federal Dublic Defender
- An attorney employed by the federal courts on a full-time basis to provide legal defe
[ read more on Federal Dublic Defender ] - Federal Law
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- From travel.state.gov See Poverty Guidelines. The Department of Health and Human Serv
[ read more on Federal Poverty Guidelines ] - Federal Public Defender Organization
- As provided for in the Criminal Justice Act, an organization established within a fed
[ read more on Federal Public Defender Organization ] - Federal Question Jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction given to federal courts in cases involving the interpretation and applic
[ read more on Federal Question Jurisdiction ] - Felony
- A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison.
- Fiance(e)s of U.S. Citizen
- A nonimmigrant alien coming to the United States to conclude a valid marriage with a
[ read more on Fiance(e)s of U.S. Citizen ] - Field Office
- Offices found in some Districts that serve a portion of the District's jurisdict
[ read more on Field Office ] - Files Control Office
- An USCIS field office--either a district (including USCIS overseas offices) or a subo
[ read more on Files Control Office ] - First Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F1) for unmarried sons and da
[ read more on First Preference ] - Fiscal Year
- Currently, the twelve-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30. Histo
[ read more on Fiscal Year ] - Following to Join
- From travel.state.gov A type of derivative visa status when the family member gets a
[ read more on Following to Join ] - Foreign Affairs Manual
- From travel.state.gov Foreign Affairs Manual Chapter 41 relates to nonimmigrant visas
[ read more on Foreign Affairs Manual ] - Foreign Government Official
- As a nonimmigrant class of admission, an alien coming temporarily to the United State
[ read more on Foreign Government Official ] - Foreign Information Media Representative
- As a nonimmigrant class of admission, an alien coming temporarily to the United State
[ read more on Foreign Information Media Representative ] - Foreign State of Chargeability
- The independent country to which an immigrant entering under the preference system is
[ read more on Foreign State of Chargeability ] - Fourth Preference
- From travel.state.gov A category of family immigration (F4) for brothers and sisters
[ read more on Fourth Preference ] - Fraudulent Transfer
- A transfer of a debtor's property made with intent to defraud or for which the d
[ read more on Fraudulent Transfer ] - Fresh Start
- The characterization of a debtor's status after bankruptcy, i.e., free of most d
[ read more on Fresh Start ] - Full and Final Adoption
- From travel.state.gov A legal adoption in which the child receives all the rights of
[ read more on Full and Final Adoption ] - General Naturalization Provision
- The basic requirements for naturalization that every applicant must meet, unless a me
[ read more on General Naturalization Provision ] - Geographic Area of Chargeability
- Any one of five regions--Africa, East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near Eas
[ read more on Geographic Area of Chargeability ] - Good Standing
- The term "in good standing", when referring to legal professionally means that the pe
[ read more on Good Standing ] - Grand Jury
- A body of 16-23 citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which is pre
[ read more on Grand Jury ] - Green card
- From travel.state.gov A wallet-sized card showing that the person is a lawful permane
[ read more on Green card ] - Green Card Holder
- A Lawful Permanent Resident.
- Habeas Corpus
- Latin, meaning "you have the body." A writ of habeas corpus generally is a
[ read more on Habeas Corpus ] - Hearsay
- Evidence presented by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but
[ read more on Hearsay ] - Hemispheric Ceiling
- Statutory limits on immigration to the United States in effect from 1968 to October 1
[ read more on Hemispheric Ceiling ] - Home Confinement
- A special condition the court imposes that require