We have included some of the basic terms that may come up in discussions with your department or FSVS.
Approval Notice – Notice from the CIS that a nonimmigrant or immigrant benefit has been approved. Document is on 8 ½ x 11” paper, with wavy lines and a hand in the middle with a torch. Also known as I-797 Notice of Action.
CBP (see U.S. Customs and Border Patrol)
CIS (see U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Country of Chargeability – The country where a person was born, and to which a person will be returned in case of cataclysmic disaster. This fixed concept from international law is used to determine immigrant visa availability.
DHS (see U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
DOL (see U.S. Department of Labor)
DOS (see U.S. Department of State)
Green Card – slang term for Legal Permanent Residence
I-94 Entry Card – Small white card stapled into a person’s passport when she/he is inspected by CBP on entering the U.S.. Shows date and place of entry, status at entry, and duration of stay.
ICE (see U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Immigrant – someone who lives in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time. Could be either a legal Permanent Resident or a Naturalized Citizen.
Immigrant Visa Bulletin – Issued mid-month by the U.S. Department of State showing what countries and immigrant preference categories are available for immigrants to process “green cards”.
Immigrant Visa Petition – A processing step in Permanent Residence cases, essentially asking the CIS to give the person a place in line to process a “green card”.
INS (see U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service)
Labor Certification (see PERM)
Labor Condition Application (LCA) – Required in H-1B cases. Attestation by the H-1B Employer to the DOL of compliance in regard to wages and conditions of employment.
LCA (see Labor Condition Application)
Nonimmigrant – a temporary visitor to the United States; usually intends to leave the U.S. at end of stay
Overstay – When someone originally entered the U.S. on a visa, but decided to remain past the time allowed for their stay in the U.S. without making arrangements for an extension. The person is then said to be “in overstay”. Once the person is “in overstay” for a significant period, he/she becomes “illegal”.
Passport – Document issued by country of citizenship allowing the individual to travel internationally.
PERM – Labor certification process whereby a U.S. Employer requests that the DOL certify a position as one for which the Employer may hire a foreign national without displacing U.S. workers or adversely affecting their employment. The new PERM labor certification application system was introduced in spring 2005. In a PERM case, the employer submits electronically after completing pre-filing steps per the DOL’s new regulations.
Prevailing wage – Amount determined by the DOL to be the wage rate an employer must pay for a specific occupation in a specific geographic area. Used in preparing H-1Bs, LCAs and PERM Labor Certification.
Status – A person’s immigration standing with the U.S. Government. When a person enters the U.S. in a particular visa type for a particular purpose, the “status” is usually linked to the purpose. Status may, or may not, end with the visa stamp validity. Status can be extended in most circumstances, but only if the request is made prior to current status expiration. An extension request submitted after expiration will not be successful.
Special Handling – A category of PERM labor certification created by the DOL for postsecondary teachers who are specifically involved in classroom teaching. These positions can be processed using slightly different labor market test standards and criteria.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) – U.S. Government agency charged with processing applications for nonimmigrant and immigrant benefits within the U.S. Since 2002, they are a division of DHS.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) - U.S. Government agency charged with overseeing people and things crossing national borders. These officers conduct inspection operations at airports, seaports and land crossings. Since 2002, they are a division of DHS.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – U.S. Government agency charged with overseeing security within the U.S. Parent agency of CIS, CBP and ICE.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – U.S. Government agency that oversees compliance with Federal labor regulations, and gathers data in regard to the U.S. Workforce.
U.S. Department of State (DOS) – U.S. Government agency that oversees foreign relations and diplomatic functions, including U.S. Consulates abroad.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - U.S. Government agency charged with enforcing immigration regulations within the U.S. Since 2002, they are a division of DHS.
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) – Before 2002, this agency performed the functions of the CIS. No longer exists.
Visa Stamp – Colorful stamp laminated into a Passport by a U.S. Consulate abroad showing the person’s picture, type of visa status, date and place of issue, etc.