Excerpted from Immigration Made Simple, by Barbara Kimmel, available from U.S. Book Exporters.

Citizens of other countries who come to the United States and individuals who have occasion to work with the United States visa process should become familiar with immigration language. You will encounter the following terms frequently, so it is best to know what they mean. This will avoid confusion and misunderstanding in the future.

Alien:

A person who is not a citizen of a national of the United States. The term refers to all foreign nationals in the United States, whether they are in the U.S. temporarily or with a permanent resident status. Although the term may seem strange to you, it is frequently used in the immigration field.

Beneficiary:

An alien who is the recipient of an application filed on their behalf by another individual or organization.

Optional form i-56 non-immigrant visa application:

The form that must be completed at the American Consulate by each person applying for a temporary visa to come to the United States.

Form i-94 arrival and departure record:

A document that is issued to every alien who enters the United States for a temporary stay and who is officially inspected by a U.S. Immigration Officer. This document is stapled in the passport and indicates the amount of time the individual can initially remain in the United States. Form I-94W will be issued to individuals entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program.

Green card:

A term for the identity document or alien registration receipt card issued to permanent resident (immigrant) aliens. The card includes the alien’s photograph, fingerprint, and signature. At one time the Form I-551 identity card was actually green in color, which is how it derived its name.

Immigrant:

An alien who comes to the United States to live permanently.

Immigration act of 1990 (immact90):

The Act signed into law by President George Bush on November 29, 1990. It represented the most extensive change in all the areas of immigration in over 50 years.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS):

A branch of the Unite States Department of Justice. The INS is responsible for admitting foreign nationals into the U.S. and processing all immigration and naturalization related applications made by or on behalf of, foreign nationals. The INS maintains offices throughout the United States, and in several foreign countries.

NAFTA:

North American Free Trade Agreement approved by Congress in 1993. The Agreement liberalizes trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and contains immigration provisions.

Naturalization:

A process by which permanent resident aliens can convert their status to U.S. citizenship. Naturalization permits the individual to obtain a U.S. passport and to vote in U.S. elections. Permanent residence and U.S. citizenship are not the same.

Non-immigrant:

An alien who comes to the United States for a temporary stay.

Passport:

A document issued by a government that identifies the holder and his citizenship, and permits that individual to travel abroad.

Permanent residence:

The right to live permanently in the United States. Individuals are given alien registration cards upon approval of their application for permanent residence, ad are thereafter called Permanent Resident Aliens. Immigrant is another name for Permanent Resident Alien.

Petitioner:

The employer or individual that is filing an application on behalf of an alien.

Port of entry:

A port or place where an alien may apply for admission into the United States.

United States consulate:

The foreign headquarters of the United States Consul and his or her staff. These offices, which are located in most countries, have many departments, including a visa section that processes temporary and permanent visas for foreigners coming to the United States.

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