AC21

American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act of 2000. Allows H-1B extensions beyond 6 years for green card applicants and job portability after I-485 has been pending 180+ days.

Adjustment of Status (AOS)

Process of becoming a permanent resident while inside the United States, via Form I-485. Alternative to consular processing.

Advance Parole (AP)

Travel authorization document allowing applicants with pending I-485 to leave and re-enter the U.S. without abandoning their application. Form I-131.

Affidavit of Support

Form I-864 — legally binding contract from a financial sponsor, demonstrating ability to support the immigrant at 125% of poverty guidelines.

Asylum

Protection granted to people in the U.S. with well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.

Bona Fide Marriage

A marriage entered into in good faith, not for immigration purposes. The legal standard for marriage-based green cards and removal of conditions.

CSPA

Child Status Protection Act — preserves LPR eligibility for derivative children whose chronological age would otherwise pass 21 during long backlogs.

Conditional Permanent Resident

LPR status granted for 2 years to spouses married less than 2 years at approval, and to EB-5 investors. Conditions removed via I-751 or I-829.

Consular Processing (CP)

Process of obtaining an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, then entering the U.S. as an LPR.

Cross-Chargeability

Charging your case to a country of birth other than your own — typically your spouse's country if it has better visa availability.

DOL

U.S. Department of Labor. Handles PERM labor certification for employment-based green cards.

DS-260

Online Immigrant Visa Application, used in consular processing.

DV Lottery

Diversity Visa Program — annual random selection of 55,000 immigrants from countries with low U.S. immigration rates.

EAD

Employment Authorization Document — work permit. Form I-765.

EB-1

First preference employment-based: persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers/professors, multinational executives/managers.

EB-2

Second preference employment-based: advanced degree professionals or those with exceptional ability. Includes National Interest Waiver (NIW).

EB-3

Third preference employment-based: skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.

EB-4

Fourth preference employment-based: special immigrants (religious workers, certain juveniles, broadcasters, etc.).

EB-5

Fifth preference employment-based: immigrant investors. $800K (rural/HUA TEA) or $1.05M (standard) investment creating 10 jobs.

Final Action Date

The Visa Bulletin date governing when an immigrant visa can actually be issued. Compare to Dates for Filing.

Green Card

Common name for the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), evidence of LPR status.

H-1B

Specialty occupation work visa for professionals with bachelor's-level credentials. Lottery-selected; capped annually.

I-130

Petition for Alien Relative — used by USCs and LPRs to sponsor family members.

I-140

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker — establishes employment-based eligibility.

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status — the green card application itself.

I-526E

Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor or Regional Center Investor — EB-5 petition.

I-693

Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record — required for AOS applicants.

I-751

Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence — for marriage-based conditional residents.

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization.

I-829

Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status — for EB-5 conditional residents.

I-864

Affidavit of Support.

I-94

Arrival/Departure Record. Online at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.

Immediate Relative

Spouse, parent (of adult USC), or unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen. Not subject to numerical limits.

LPR

Lawful Permanent Resident — status granted by green card.

Mandamus

Federal court action compelling government agency to act on unreasonably delayed cases.

N-400

Application for Naturalization.

NVC

National Visa Center. Processes consular cases between USCIS approval and embassy interview.

National Interest Waiver (NIW)

EB-2 self-petition basis. Demonstrates the applicant's work serves U.S. national interest, waiving the labor certification requirement.

PERM

Program Electronic Review Management — DOL labor certification process for most EB-2 and EB-3 cases.

Premium Processing

Expedited USCIS processing for fee. 15-business-day decision on I-140 ($2,805).

Priority Date

The date that establishes your place in the immigrant visa queue.

RFE

Request for Evidence — USCIS request for additional documentation. Not a denial.

Stokes Interview

Marriage-based green card interview where spouses are interviewed separately to detect fraud.

TEA

Targeted Employment Area — high unemployment area or rural area. Qualifies $800K EB-5 investment.

USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Adjudicates most immigration applications.

Unlawful Presence

Time in the U.S. without lawful status. Triggers 3-year bar (180+ days) or 10-year bar (1+ year) on reentry.

Visa Bulletin

Monthly State Department publication showing priority date cutoffs.