To seek forgiveness or remove an impediment to obtaining a visa or status based on a ground of inadmissibility.

The process that all persons must go through when they arrive at the border.

The process of permitting someone to be physically and legally in the United States. Admission is part of the inspection process.

The process of obtaining lawful permanent resident status in the United States without having to leave the United States to do so.

The process of applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consular post outside the United States for prospective immigrants who are not in the United States or who are ineligible for adjustment of status.

The procedure used to eject persons who are seeking admission as well as those who have been admitted to the United States.

The procedure beyond the initial screening to determine whether a person will be admitted. At “secondary inspection,” applicants for admission are subjected to more questioning.

The generic name given to the immigrant visa lottery program established by the Immigration Act of 1990 that makes available up to 55,000 immigrant visas per federal fiscal year to persons from low-admission states and low-admission regions.

The first or initial examination at a port of entry where a person arriving is subjected to questions to determine whether they may be admitted.

The date on which a person submitted documentation establishing prima facie eligibility for an immigrant visa.

The conferring of citizenship by a state to a person who did not acquire it previously.

The agency into which legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service --INS-- was folded effective March 1, 2003.

The administrative agency which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for overseeing immigration benefits under the INA.

The administrative agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security --DHS-- which has as its primary function, the inspection of persons and things brought into the United States.

The administrative agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security primarily responsible for the enforcement of the immigration laws within the United States.

Relates to an immigration status or benefit which may be acquired through another person, usually referred to as the primary beneficiary. This status or benefit is generally available to the spouse or minor unmarried children of the primary beneficiary.

Presence in the United States after the expiration of the authorized period of stay, or presence in the United States without having been admitted or paroled.

Permission obtained from an overseas U.S. consul to seek admission to the United States on a permanent basis under the INA.

Permission granted by DHS allowing a person to physically enter the United States without being considered to have legally entered the country.

Immigrant visas are allocated on the basis of an annual quota. In order to qualify for admission, the intending immigrant must show that he or she meets on of the family or employment based requirements.

Citizenship conveyed to children through the naturalization of parents or, under certain circumstances, to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents, provided certain conditions are met.

Certification by the U.S. Department of Labor --DOL-- that there exists an insufficient number of U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available at the place of proposed employment, and that employment of the alien for whom certification is sought will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed --the employer must therefore offer the job at the “prevailing wage” in the particular market.

Any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States.

Any one of numerous grounds listed in INA §212a, that make a person ineligible for lawful admission into the United States.

Any one of a number of crimes specifically defined in INA §101 a 43, that may make a person deportable.

Any number of immigration benefits that allow a person otherwise subject to removal to avoid formal removal from the United States.

An official endorsement, obtained from an overseas U.S. consul, certifying that the bearer has been examined and is permitted to seek admission to the United States at a designated port of entry.

An Internet-based software application used to track and monitor nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors and their dependents.

An identity card issued to an alien who is a resident in Mexico or Canada, by a consular officer or an immigration officer for the purpose of crossing the border from Canada or Mexico.

An expression that refers to the document carried by a lawful permanent resident, which provides proof of his or her status. The document is officially referred to as an “I-551” --Alien Registration Receipt Card or Permanent Resident Card.

An attestation by an employer seeking to hire an H1B nonimmigrant to four conditions of employment.

An alternative method of labor certification under the system in place before March 28, 2005.

Acts that when proven by the government, make a person subject to deportation.

A status allowing residence and employment authorization to nationals of foreign states for a period of not less than six months or no more than 18 months, when such states have been appropriately designated by the government because of extraordinary and temporary political or physical conditions in such state(S--.

A special form of deferred action created by the Obama Administration in 2012 to allow certain persons who had come to the United States as children to apply for and receive deferred action consideration.

A remedy available to persons who establish that their lives or freedom would be threatened if deported to their home country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

A program under which nationals of countries with which the United States has an agreement can enter the United States for up to 90 days as visitors for business or pleasure without first obtaining a visa from a U.S. consulate. No extension or change of status is permitted.

A program designed by DHS to collect and share information on foreign nationals traveling to the United States. This system allows the U.S. government to record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens and verify the identity of travelers coming in and out of the United States.

A procedure, established by IIRAIRA, authorizing ICE to quickly remove certain inadmissible aliens from the United States.

A procedure --immigration benefit-- that allows an otherwise removable person to leave the United States of their own accord. The failure to comply with benefit may have severe immigration consequences.

A person who can establish that he or she has a residence abroad that he or she has no intention of abandoning, who is coming to the United States for a temporary period, and who fits into a specifically defined category under INA §101 a 15.

A person outside the United States who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

A person accorded the benefit of being able to reside in the United States on a permanent basis.

A particularly depraved offense that rises to the level of serving as a ground of inadmissibility.

A lawful permanent resident of the United States.

A document signifying that a consular officer believes that the alien to whom the visa was issued is eligible to apply for admission in a particular nonimmigrant category. However, a visa does not guarantee admission.

A document evidencing the right of certain aliens to accept employment while in the United States.

A discretionary remedy for persons who are not permanent residents and who have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of not less than 10 years immediately preceding the date of their application or the date of a notice to appear, if the person has been of good moral character during such period, has not been convicted of certain offenses, and establishes that removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.

A discretionary remedy for a lawful permanent resident who has been a permanent resident for at least five years and has resided continuously in the United States for at least seven years after having been admitted in any status, who has not been convicted of an aggravated felony.

A discretionary benefit accorded to certain persons in the United States who demonstrate that they are unable or unwilling to return to their country on account of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.