AccompanyingA type of visa in which family members travel with the principal applicant, (in immigrant visa cases, within six months of issuance of an immigrant visa…
AccreditationIf a Marketplace health plan is approved, this is the “seal of approval” given to the plan by an independent organization to show that the plan meets…
Adjust Status1) to change from a nonimmigrant visa status or other status; or, 2) to adjust the status of a permanent resident (green card holder).
Adjustment of StatusAn alien in the United States with a non-immigrant visa may adjust status to become a Legal Permanent Resident by filing a Form I-864.
Administrative processingSome visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer.
AdmissionEntry into the United States is authorized by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.
Adopted ChildAn unmarried child under age 21, who was adopted while under the age of sixteen, and who has been in legal custody and lived with the adopting parent(s)…
Advance ParolePermission to return to the United States after travel abroad. Advance parole must be granted by DHS prior to leaving the United States.
Advisory OpinionAn opinion regarding a point of law from the Office of Visa Services in the Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Affidavit of Support (AOS)A document promising that the person who completes it will support an applicant financially in the United States.
Affidavit of Support (AoS; I-864)This form is absolutely essential to a complete application, and is filled out by the petitioner and, in some cases, joint sponsors.
AffiliatedAssociated or controlled by the same owner or authority.
Age OutA child must be unmarried and under the age of 21, as defined in U.S. immigration law.
AgentAgent means any individual, other than a broker-dealer, who represents a broker-dealer or issuer in effecting or attempting to effect purchases or sales…
AlienA foreign-born person who has not qualified as a citizen of the country.
AllotmentAn area of land where one or more livestock operators graze their livestock. Allotments generally consist of BLM lands but may also include other…
Applicant (Visa)A foreign citizen who is applying for a nonimmigrant or immigrant U.S. visa. The visa applicant may also be referred as a beneficiary for petition based…
Applying for a Visafor CSPA purposes, applying for a visa generally means that the applicant submitted the completed DS-230 (Part I).
Appointment PackageThe letter and documents that tell an applicant of the date of the immigrant visa interview.
Approval DateThe date when the petition was approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS, BCIS).
Approval NoticeNotice of Action, Form I-797, issued by DHS, USCIS that says that USCIS has approved a petition, or request for extension of stay or change of status.
Arrival/Departure CardAlso known as Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. Effective May 25, 2013, a new electronic I-94 process was fully implemented at air and sea…
AsyleeA person who cannot return to his home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution.
Attorney of RecordThe principal attorney in a lawsuit who signs all formal documents relating to the suit. In pro se cases, the party signs such documents.
AttractionAny visitor service or product which tourists would enjoy visiting or using. An attraction may not be an “attractor” but can still be an attraction.
AttractorA significant tourist attraction, which compels visitation. The primary “must sees” in an area.