Asylum: in the immigration context, safe haven provided to an individual who has reasonable fear of persecution on account of race, religion, political opinion, national origin, or membership of a particular social group. An individual must normally be present in the United States to apply for asylum there.

B-1 visa: a visitor’s visa for business. These visas are available for up to six months for persons entering the U.S. to conduct business affairs such as: consulting with clients, meeting with business associates or attending professional, scientific or religious conventions. B-1 visitors are allowed to receive money for expenses in the U.S., but they cannot be paid a salary by an employer in this country.

B-2 visa: a visitor’s visa for pleasure. These visas are available for up to six months for persons entering the U.S. for reasons of leisure or pleasure such as: tourism, amusement, visiting friends, rest, medical treatment, or activities of a social or service nature. The B-2 visa can also be used by a non-spousal partner (including a same-sex partner) of the holder of certain other visas to visit them in the U.S.

Diversity Lottery: Each year, the Diversity Lottery (DV) Program makes 55,000 immigrant visas available through a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. If you receive a visa through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program you will be authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. You will also be allowed to bring your spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 to the United States.

Employment-based immigrant visa: a visa allowing indefinite or permanent stay in the U.S. based on employment. The Immigration and Nationality Act provided a yearly minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas.

Family-based visa: a visa allowing for immigration of a foreigner to the U.S. based on relationship to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.

F-1 visa: a visa available to full-time students who are admitted to an academic or language-training program. Applications must provide proof of financial support needed for educational and living expenses, must retain a residence outside the U.S., and cannot work more than 20 hours a week at an on-campus job or spend more than one year of practical training after completion of courses. The U.S. government may issue additional employment authorization to students if severe unforeseen economic hardships arise after coming to the U.S.

Green card: a visa for permanent residence in the U.S. The visa was once issued on green paper.

H-1B visa: a visa available to “specialty occupation workers,” including fashion models, film actors, or professionals who hold a license necessary to practice their profession in the U.S.

Hybrid visa: a non-immigrant visa with a path to permanent residency as part of its terms. Examples include the K visa, or fiancé(e) visa.

Immigrant: an individual who enters the U.S. with authorization from the government to remain on a permanent basis.

Immigrant intent: the motivation of a person who is present in the U.S. on a temporary basis, but intends to remain beyond the legally authorized validity of the visa.

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): also known as the McCarren-Walter Act, the 1952 INA collected and codified many existing provisions and organized the structure of immigration law. Before the INA, a variety of statutes governed immigration but were not organized in one location. Amended many times over the years, the Act remains the basic body of immigration law. It established family reunification as a central goal of U.S. immigration policy.

J-visa: a visa available to trainees, students, professors, research scholars, non-academic specialists, foreign physicians, au pairs, and summer students in travel/work programs. Some visa recipients must return to their country of their last residence for two years after their visa expires before obtaining subsequent visas.

K-1 visa: a visa available to the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen. K-2 visa holders must marry within 90 days after admission to the U.S. K-2 visa holders are available to K-1 visa holders’ minor children.

K-3 visa: a visa available to persons who have a valid marriage to a U.S. citizen and who have filed for, but not yet received, permanent residence in the U.S.

Naturalization: the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred on a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established in the INA. Requirements for administrative naturalization include showing: a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States; an ability to read, write, and speak English; a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government; good moral character; attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; a favorable disposition toward the U.S.

Non-immigrant: a person who is authorized to remain in the U.S. on a temporary basis only.

Removal proceedings: the process by which the government formally ends a person’s access to the U.S. Part of the process includes returning an individual to his or her native country.

Undocumented immigrant: a person who is present in the U.S. without proper authorization.