Immigration and Health Care

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Glossary of Immigration Terms

Alien: A person who is not a U.S. citizen.
Asylee: An alien in the United States or at a port of entry who is found to be unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality, or to seek the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Asylees are eligible to adjust to lawful permanent resident status after one year of continuous presence in the United States.

Citizen: Citizens may be born in the U.S. or in a U.S. territory, born to parents who are U.S. citizens, or become citizens through naturalization.

Deportation: The formal removal of an alien from the United States when the alien has been found removable for violating the immigration laws. Deportation is ordered by an immigration judge without any punishment being imposed or contemplated. Now called Removal, this function is managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Green Card: Popular name for card given to indivuals who become Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S.

Illegal Alien: Individuals who enter the U.S. illegally, without a visa or proper authorization and documents, are considered Undocumented. They may sometimes be referred to as "illegal" or "illegal aliens." These individuals may be able to obtain immigration status, but only in very rare cases.
Immigrant: Any person not a citizen of the United States who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. Also known as "Permanent Resident Alien", "Lawful Permanent Resident," "Resident Alien Permit Holder," and "Green Card Holder."
Immigration and Nationality Act: The Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalization, and removal of aliens.

Lawful Permanent Resident: Any person not a citizen of the U.S. who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. Also known as "Permanent Resident Alien," "Resident Alien Permit Holder," and "Green Card Holder."

Naturalization: Process by which a Permanent Resident becomes a U.S. citizen.
Non-Immigrant: An alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children.

Out of Status: To fall "out of status" means that you have broken an immigration regulation pertaining to your particular immigration status for work, education, etc. You may lose the benefits of your status in the U.S. if length of stay, activities or lack of adequate documentation no longer meet the guidelines of the type of visa.

Permanent Resident: Any person not a citizen of the United States who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. Also known as "Permanent Resident Alien", "Lawful Permanent Resident," "Resident Alien Permit Holder," and "Green Card Holder."
Permanent Resident Alien: An alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrant categories (INA section 101(a)(15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INA but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States.
Public Charge: Public charge is a term used in immigration law to describe individuals who cannot support themselves and who depend on the government for economic support. Lawful Permanent Resident status can be denied if the government thinks individuals will not be able to support themselves without these cash benefits in the future.

Refugee: Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugees are subject to ceilings by geographic area set annually by the President in consultation with Congress and may be eligible to adjust to lawful permanent resident status after one year of continuous presence in the United States.
Removal: The expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability.
Resident Alien Permit Holder: Applies to non-U.S. citizens currently residing in the United States. The term is applied in three different manners; please see Permanent Resident, Conditional Resident, and Returning Resident.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS): Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) may be available for an undocumented child who is eligible for long-term foster care. This can enable the child to remain in the U.S. and eventually become a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Status: Name given for the group of privileges given individuals when they receive immigration benefits.

Undocumented: Individuals who enter the U.S. illegally, without a visa or proper authorization and documents, are considered Undocumented. They may sometimes be referred to as "illegal" or "illegal aliens." These individuals may be able to obtain immigration status, but only in very rare cases.

Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA): Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA) created visas to allow undocumented children who have been victims of serious crimes or trafficking to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident status. The child's parents and siblings may also be eligible.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) permits an abused and undocumented child to petition for Lawful Permanent Resident status without the cooperation of the abuser. A child can also receive VAWA benefits if the child's parent qualifies for VAWA due to abuse.
Visa: A U.S. visa allows the bearer to apply for entry to the U.S. in a certain classification, such as a student (F), visitor (B) or temporary worker (H)).