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Glossary
The terms as well as the list of acronyms in this glossary are highly
selective and include only some of the more commonly used terms and
acronyms found in the report.
ACQUIRED CITIZENSHIP - Citizenship conferred at birth for children born
abroad to a citizen parents.
ADJUSTMENT TO IMMIGRANT STATUS - Procedure allowing certain aliens
already in the United States to apply for immigrant status. Aliens
admitted to the United States in a nonimmigrant or other category may
have their status changed to that of lawful permanent resident if they
are eligible to receive an immigrant visa as a permanent resident and an
immigrant visa is immediately available. In such cases, the alien is
counted as an immigrant as of the date of adjustment, even though the
alien may have been in the United States for an extended n~riod of
ALIEN - Any person not a citizen or a national of the United States.
ALIEN ADDRESS REPORT PROGRAM - A now-defunct annual registration program
for aliens. Until P.L. 97-116 (Act of 12/29/81) eliminated the
stipulation, all aliens in the United States were required to register
with the Immigration and Naturalization Service each January.
Nationality and state of residence data were compiled annually on the
alien population reporting under the program. The last year for which
data are available is 1980.
APPREHENSION - The arrest of a Reportable alien by the Immigration and
Naturalization Service. Each apprehension of the same alien in a fiscal
year is counted separately.
ASYLEE - An alien in the United States or at a port of entry 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 may be based on the
alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social
group, or political opinion. For persons with no nationality, the
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country of nationality is considered to be the one in which the alien
last habitually resided.
BENEFICIARIES - Those aliens who receive immigration benefits from
petitions filed with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Beneficiaries generally derive privilege or status as a result of their
relationship (including that of employer-employee) to a U.S. citizen or
lawful permanent resident.
BORDER CROSSER - An alien or citizen resident of the United States
reentering the country across land borders after an absence of less than
six months in Canada or Mexico, or a nonresident alien entering the
United States across the Canadian border for stays of no more than six
months or across the Mexican border for stays of no more than 72 hours,
or a U.S. citizen residing in Canada or Mexico who enters the United
States frequently for business or pleasure.
BORDER PATROL SECTOR - Any one of 21 geographic areas into which the
United States is divided for the Immigration and Naturalization Service's
Border Patrol activities. Of the 21 sectors, all but one are located
along the northern and southern borders of the United States.
CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP - Identity document proving U.S. citizenship.
Certificates of citizenship are issued to derivative citizens and to
persons who acquired U.S. citizenship (see definitions for acquired and
derivative citizenship).
COUNTRY OF FORMER ALLEGIANCE - The previous country of citizenship of a
naturalized U.S. citizen or of a person who derived U.S. citizenship.
COUNTRY OF LAST RESIDENCE - The country in which an alien habitually
resided prior to entering the United States.
CREWMAN - A foreign national serving in any capacity on board a vessel or
aircraft. Crewmen are admitted for 29 days, with no extensions. Crewmen
required to depart on the same vessel on which they arrived are
classified as D-ls. Crewmen who depart on a vessel different than the
one on which they arrived are classified D-2s.
CUBAN/HAITIAN ENTRANT - Status accorded: (1) Cubans who entered the
United States illegally prior to June 19, 1980, and (2) Haitians who
entered the country illegally before January 1, 1981.
DECLARATION OF INTENTION - Form once filed by a lawful permanent resident
as the first step toward naturalization. After two years' residence as
an immigrant, the alien could file an application for naturalization. A
declaration of intention has not been required of all applicants for
naturalization since 1952. However, an immigrant may need to file the
form for employment purposes.
DE PORTABLE ALIEN - An alien in the United States subject to any of the 19
grounds of deportation specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This includes any alien illegally in the United States, regardless of
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whether the alien entered the country illegally or entered legally but
subsequently violated the terms of his or her visa.
DEPORTATION - The formal removal of an alien from the United States when
the presence of that alien is deemed inconsistent with the public
welfare. Deportation is ordered by an immigration judge without any
punishment being imposed or contemplated.
DERIVATIVE CITIZENSHIP - Citizenship conveyed to children through the
naturalization of parents or, under certain circumstances, to spouses of
citizens at marriage.
nISTRICT - Any one of 35 geographic areas into which the United States
and its territories are divided for INS field operations or one of three
overseas offices located in Rome, Hong Kong, or Mexico City. Operations
are supervised by a district director located at a district office within
the district's geographic boundaries.
EMIGRANT - A person who leaves one country to live in another country.
EXCLUSION - The formal denial of an alien's entry into the United
States. The exclusion of the alien is made by an immigration judge after
an exclusion hearing.
EXEMPT FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS - Those aliens accorded lawful
permanent residence who are exempt from the provisions of the preference
system set forth in immigration law. Exempt categories include immediate
relatives of U.S. citizens, refugees, special immigrants, and certain
other immigrants.
EXPATRIATION - The loss of citizenship as a result of a formal
transference of loyalties to another country.
FILES CONTROL OFFICE - An INS field office--either a district office
(including INS overseas offices) or a suboffice of that district--in
which alien case files are maintained and controlled.
FISCAL YEAR - The 12-month period beginning October 1 and running through
September 30. Prior to fiscal 1977, the fiscal year ran from July 1
through June 30.
FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY - The independent country to which an
immigrant entering under the preference system is accredited.
Independent countries cannot exceed 20,000 immigrants in a fiscal year.
Dependencies of independent countries cannot exceed 600 of the-20,000
limit. Chargeability is usually determined by country of birth.
Exceptions are made to prevent the separation of family members when the
limitation for the country of birth has been met.
GENERAL NATURALIZATION PROVISIONS - The basic requirements for
naturalization that every applicant must meet, unless a member of a
special class. General provisions require an applicant to be at least 18
years of age, a lawful permanent resident with 5 years of continuous
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residence in the United States, and to have been physically present in
the country for half that period.
GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF CHARGEABILITY - Any one of f ive regions--Africa, East
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Near Eas t, and South As ia, and
the USSR and Eastern Europe--into which the world is divided for the
initial admission of refugees to the United States. Annual consultations
between the executive branch and the Congress determine the number of
refugees that can be admitted to the United States from each area.
HEMISPHERIC CEILINGS - Statutory limits on immigration to the United
States in effect from 1968 to October 1978. Mandated by the Immigration
and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965, the ceiling on immigration from
the Eastern Hemisphere was set at 170,000, with a per-c~untry limit of
2O,000. Immigration from the Western Hemisphere was held to 120,000,
without a per-country limit until January 1, 1977. The Western
Hemisphere was then subject to a 20,000 per-country limit.
ILLEGAL ALIEN - A person entering the United States without inspection by
the INS, or with fraudulent documentation, or entering legally but
subsequently violating the visa teems.
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES - Certain immigrants who because of their close
relationship to U. S. citizens are exempt from the numerical limitations
imposed on immigration to the United States. Immediate relatives are:
spouses of citizens, children (under 21 years of age) of citizens,
parents of citizens 21 years of age or older, and orphans adopted by U.S.
citizens who are at least 21 years of age.
IMMIGRANT - An alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent
resident. Immigrants are those persons lawfully 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 INS in the United States.
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION - A change of residence across national
boundaries.
LABOR CERTIFICATION - Requirement falling on (1) those persons whose
immigration to the United States is based on job skills (third, sixth,
and nonpreference immigrant categories) and (2) nonimmigrant temporary
workers (H-2s) coming to perform` services unavailable in the United
States. Labor certification is awarded by the secretary of labor when
there are insufficient numbers of U.S. workers available to undertake the
employment sought by an applicant and when the alients employment will
not have an adverse effect on the wages and working conditions of U.S.
workers similarly employed. Determination of U.S. labor availability is
made at the time of a visa application and at the location in which the
appl icant wishes to work.
NATIONALITY - The country of a person's citizenship.
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NATURALIZATION - The conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a
person al ter birth.
NATURALIZATION COURT - Any court authorized to award U.S. c it izenship.
Jurisdiction for naturalization has been conferred upon the following
courts: U.S. District Courts in all states, the District of Columbia,
and Puerto Rico; the District Courts of Guam and the Virgin Islands; and
state courts. Generally, naturalization courts are authorized to award
citizenship only to those persons who reside within their territorial
· · . @
Jurisdiction.
NATURALIZATION PETITION - The form used by a lawful permanent resident to
apply for U.S. citizenship. The petition is filed with a naturalization
court through the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
NEW ARRIVAL - A lawful permanent resident alien who enters the United
States at a port of entry. The alien is generally required to present an
immigrant visa, issued outside the United States by a consular officer of
the Department of State. Three classes of immigrants, however, need not
have an immigrant visa to enter the United States--children born abroad
to lawful permanent resident aliens, children born subsequent to the
issuance of an immigrant visa to accompanying parents, and American
Indians born in Canada.
NONIMMIGRANT - An alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States
for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad
and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. Nonimmigrants
include: foreign government officials, officials and employees of
international organizations, visitors for business and pleasure, crewmen,
students, trainees, and temporary workers of distinguished merit and
ability or who perform services unavailable in the United States.
Refugees are also considered nonimmigrants when initially admitted.
NONPREFERENCE CATEGORY - Visa numbers not used in any of the first six
categories of the preference system (see Figure 2-2~. Nonpreference
visas are available to any applicant not entitled to one under the other
preferences. Nonpreference numbers have been unavailable since September
1978 because of high demand in the preference categories.
OCCUPATION - For an alien entering the United States or adjusting without
a labor certification, occupation refers to the employment held in the
country of last or legal residence or the United States. For an alien
with a labor certification, occupation is the employment for which
certification has been issued. Labor certification would be issued to
immigrants in the third, sixth, and nonpreference categories or to
nonimmigrant temporary workers (H-2) performing services unavailable in
United States.
OCCUPATIONAL PREFERENCES - The third and sixth categories of the
preference system. Third preference allows for the admission of members
of the professions and scientists or artists of exceptional ability.
Sixth preference covers skilled or unskilled occupations for which labor
is in short supply in the United States.
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PAROLEE - An alien allowed to enter the United States under emergency
conditions or when that alien's entry is determined to be in the public
interest. Parole is temporary and does not constitute a formal admission
to the United States. Persons paroled into the United States are
required to leave when the conditions supporting their parole cease to
exist.
PER-COUNTRY LIMIT - The maximum number of immigrant visas that can be
issued to any one country in a fiscal year. Independent countries can
current ly use no more than 20, 000 visa numbers; the ir dependent ies no
more than 600 of that total. The per-country limit does not mean,
however, that a country will be given 20, 000 visa numbers each year, just
that it cannot receive more than that number. Because of the combined
workings of the preference system and per-country limits, most countries
do not reach this level of visa issuance.
PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIEN - A person entering the country with an
immigrant visa, or adjusting to this status after having entered on a
nonimmigrant visa or as a refugee or asylee, and thus entitled to live
and work in the United States.
PORT OF ENTRY - Any location in the United States or its territories
which is designated as a point of entry for aliens and U.S. citizens.
All district and files control offices are also considered ports since
they become locations of entry for aliens adjusting to immigrant status.
PREFERENCE SYSTEM - The six categories among which 270,000 immigrant visa
numbers are distributed each year: (1) unmarried sons and daughters
(over 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens (20 percent); (2) spouses and
unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents (26 percent);
(3) members of the professions or persons of exceptional ability in the
sciences and arts (10 percent); (4) married sons and daughters of U.S.
citizens (10 percent); (5) brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens over 21
years of age (24 percent); and (6) needed skilled or unskilled workers
(10 percent). A seventh nonpreference category, historically open to
immigrants not entitled to a visa number under one of the six preferences
just listed, has had no numbers available since September 1978.
PRINCIPAL ALIEN - The alien from whom another alien derives a privilege
or status under immigration law or regulation.
REFUGEE - Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality and
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 may be based on the alien's race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. People
with no nationality must be outside their country of last habitual
residence to qualify as a refugee.
REFUGEE APPROVALS - The number of refugees approved for admission to the
United States during a fiscal year. Refugee approvals are made by INS
officers in overseas offices.
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REFUGEE AUTHORIZED ADMISSIONS - The maximum number of refugees allowed to
enter the United States in a given fiscal year. As set forth in the
Refugee Act of 1980, P.L. 96-212, the annual figure is determined by the
President after consultations with Congress.
REFUGEE-CONDITIONAL ENTRANT - An alien who entered the United States or
who adjusted to lawful permanent resident status under the seventh
preference category of P.L. 89-236, the Act of October 3, 1965. Visa
numbers for conditional entrants were limited to 6 percent of the total
numerical limitation. The seventh preference was abolished by the
Refugee Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-212) and the 6 percent limitation assigned
to second preference. At the same time, the worldwide numerical limit
was reduced from 290,000 to 270,000.
REFUGEE-PAROLEE - A qualified applicant for conditional entry, between
February 1970 and April 1980, whose application for admission to the
United States could not be approved because of inadequate numbers of
seventh preference visas. As a result, the applicant was paroled into
the United States.
REGION - Any one of four areas of the United States among which the
Immigration and Naturalization Service's district offices are divided for
administrative purposes--Eastern Region, Southern Region, Northern
Region, and Western Region.
RELATIVE PREFERENCES - The first, second, fourth, and fifth categories of
the preference system. The first preference allows the entry of
unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens.
Second preference covers spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of
aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Fourth preference
allows for the entry of married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
Fifth preference deals with the brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens,
provided such citizens are at least 21 years of age.
REQUIRED DEPARTURE - The directed departure of an alien from the United
States without an order of deportation. The departure may be voluntary
or involuntary on the part of the alien and may or may not have been
preceded by a hearing before an immigration judge.
SILVA IMMIGRANTS - Immigrants from independent Western Hemisphere
countries and their spouses and children who were issued preference
numbers under the Silva Program (1977-1981~. The Silva Program was
instituted by court order to provide for the recapture of 144,946
preference visa numbers originally used for Cuban refugee adjustments.
Silva numbers, although subject to an overall numerical limitation, were
assigned in addition to the annual worldwide ceiling.
SIMPSON-MAZZOLI - Shorthand reference to legislation sponsored by Senator
Simpson (Wyoming) and Representative Mazzoli (Kentucky) to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act. Somewhat different versions of the
legislation were approved by each House; passage of a reconciled version
of the legislation was not accomplished before final adjournment of the
98th Congress.
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SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS - Certain categories of immigrants exempt from
numerical limitations on visa issuance--persons who lost citizenship by
marriage; persons who lost citizenship by serving in foreign armed
forces; ministers of religion, their spouses and children; certain
employees or former employees of the U.S. government abroad, their
spouses and children; and Panama Canal Act immigrants.
SPECIAL NATURALIZATION PROVISIONS - Provisions covering special classes
of persons who may be naturalized even though they do not meet all the
general requirements for naturalization. Such special provisions allow:
(1) wives or husbands of U.S. citizens to be naturalized in 3 years
instead of the prescribed 5 years; (2) a surviving spouse of a U.S.
citizen who served in the argued forces to file in any naturalization
court instead of where he or she resides; (3) children of U.S. citizen
parents to be naturalized without meeting the literacy or
government-knowledge requirements or taking the oath, if too young to
understand its meaning. Other classes of persons who may qualify for
special consideration are former U.S. citizens, servicemen, seamen, and
employees of organizations promoting U.S. interests abroad.
STATELESS - Having no nationality.
SUBJECT TO NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS - Condition imposed on all immigration
to the United States, except for the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens
and certain special immigrants. The number of aliens accorded lawful
permanent residence under the provisions of the preference system must
not exceed 270,000 in any fiscal year. The preference system provides
for the admission of relatives of citizens (other than immediate
relatives), immediate relatives of lawful permanent resident aliens,
aliens in specified occupations, as well as other immigrants.
SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION - A discretionary benefit adjusting an alien's
status from that of deportable alien to one lawfully admitted for
permanent residence. Application for suspension of deportation is made
during the course of a deportation hearing before an immigration judge.
TRANSITION QUARTER - The three-month period (July 1 through September 30,
1976) between fiscal 1976 and fiscal 1977. At that time, the fiscal year
calendar shifted from July 1 - June 30 to October 1 - September 30.
WORLDWIDE CEILING - The numerical limit imposed on immigrant visa
issuance worldwide beginning in fiscal 1979. The current ceiling totals
270,000 visa numbers. Prior to enactment of P.L. 96-212 on March 17,
1980, the worldwide ceiling was 290,000. The ceiling in fiscal 1980 was
280, 000.
Selected Acronyms
ADP - Automated data processing
CPS - Current Populat ion Survey
ICM - Intergovernmental Committee on Migration
IMDAC - Immigrant Data Capture System
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INA
INS
MIRAC
NCHS
NIDC
NITS
OMB
ORR
RPG
SRS
SSA
TSC
Immigration and Nationality Act
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Master Index Remote Access Capability System
National Center for Health Statistics
Nonimmigrant Document Control System
Nonimmigrant Information System
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Refugee Policy Group
Statistical Reporting System
Social Security Administration
Transportation Systems Center
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
lawful permanent
