Glossary of terms

See the USCIS website and our policy updates page for more definitions and information.

Legal status & protections

• applicant: a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who has submitted the N-400 form to USCIS, which is the application for naturalization
• asylee: person granted asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• asylum: a form of protection available to individuals physically present in the U.S. or at a port of entry who fear persecution in their home country due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
• asylum-seeker: person requesting asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• birthright citizenship: the automatic acquisition of citizenship at birth, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment for those born within U.S. territory and subject to its jurisdiction, or through parents
• citizenship: a legal status and relation between an individual and a nation that entails specific legal rights and duties
• green card: document also known as a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, and issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as evidence of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States
• green card holder: a person who receives a permanent resident card (Form I-551), can apply for citizenship, and hold rights such as legal employment, traveling abroad, and protection under U.S. laws—though they cannot vote; this term can be used interchangeably with lawful permanent resident (LPR)
• humanitarian parole: a temporary authorization for individuals outside of the U.S. facing urgent crises to enter the United States legally
• lawful permanent resident (LPR): a non-citizen legally authorized to live and work permanently in the United States
• newcomer: a foreign-born individual who has recently arrived in the United States, often within the last 1.5 to 5 years
• refugee: status granted to an individual outside of the United States who has been forced to flee their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; if they cannot return home or locally integrate within the country to which they fled, some refugees may be permanently resettled to another country like the United States
• special immigrant visa (SIV): visas that are available to persons who worked with the U.S. Armed Forces or under Chief of Mission authority as a translator, interpreter, or in some other professional roles in Iraq or Afghanistan. Applicants undergo a thorough vetting process and often wait years to be granted approval to enter the United States. SIV holders have permanent residence in the United States.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS): a status that is granted to individuals from countries facing crises like war or natural disasters, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. temporarily; it does not provide permanent status and must be renewed; TPS applies to those already in the U.S. when their country is designated unsafe, and recipients must seek another legal pathway for long-term stay

The path to naturalization

• adjustment of status: the process of how a foreign national already present in the United States becomes a lawful permanent resident (LPR) by filing an application for admission to LPR status and receiving application approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• biometrics: the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioral characteristics (such as fingerprint or voice patterns) used by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to verify personal identity
• certificate of citizenship: identity document proving U.S. citizenship that is issued to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship
• civic duty: obligations for citizens to support the government and maintain social order, such as paying taxes, obeying laws, and serving on juries
• civic responsibility: voluntary actions and moral duties for citizens to contribute to the common good, strengthen democracy, and support their community
• continuous residence: The length of time a person has maintained a permanent home in the United States after being admitted as a lawful permanent resident.
• employment authorization document (EAD): often called a "work permit," this document allows individuals (like asylum-seekers or TPS holders) to work legally while their long-term cases are pending
• Form N-400: The official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document used by lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to apply for U.S. citizenship
• good moral character (GMC): character that shows an applicant is a law-abiding, responsible person of good standing for the five years (three if married to a U.S. citizen) preceding their N-400 application; a 2025 policy update shifted from a simple checklist to a holistic review that evaluates tax compliance, community involvement, family responsibilities, and honesty
• naturalization: the legal process for foreign born individuals attain citizenship in the United States
• naturalization interview: part of the naturalization process where a USCIS officer will ask questions about the individual’s N-400 application and background as well as administer the naturalization test
• naturalization test: as part of the naturalization interview, it has two components: an English proficiency test (reading, writing, and speaking) and a civics test covering U.S. history and government
• Oath of Allegiance: a formal promise made by an immigrant to the United States to remain loyal to our government
• physical presence: a requirement for naturalization applicants to be physically present in the U.S. for a specified period before applying.

Government agencies & laws

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP): a component within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is responsible for border security and ports of entry
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): a component within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the U.S. interior
• Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): the primary federal law governing immigration in the U.S., enacted in 1952 and amended many times; it serves as the foundation for the U.S. immigration system
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): the UN agency mandated to protect and support refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and others forcibly displaced people around the world
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it is responsible for overseeing the country’s lawful immigration system including citizenship and naturalization; USCIS is one of the federal entities that helps implement U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and manages many other aspects of the U.S. immigration system
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): a federal department responsible for national security, including but not limited to border security and immigration control, among other responsibilities; DHS also oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Resettlement & sponsorship programs

• private sponsorship: a model of refugee and humanitarian parole resettlement in which individuals, groups, or organizations take direct responsibility for supporting a newcomer during their initial period in the United States; private sponsorship provides legal pathways for U.S.-based individuals to sponsor people in need, ensuring a safe and orderly process to arrive in the U.S.; both sponsors and the newcomers undergo security, background, and financial checks by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other national security agencies
• Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV): a previously authorized private sponsorship program that allowed Americans to privately sponsor Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans in need of safety through humanitarian parole; as of Jan. 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended the CHNV program
• The Welcome Corps: a program launched in 2023 by the U.S. State Department that allowed Americans and permanent residents to directly sponsor refugees for resettlement; individuals and communities played an active role in welcoming and supporting refugees rebuilding their lives in the United States; on Feb. 26, 2025, the Welcome Corps program was terminated
• Uniting for Ukraine (U4U): a previously authorized private sponsorship program launched in April 2023 to allow Americans to privately sponsor Ukrainians in need of safety through humanitarian parole; as of Jan. 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paused the U4U program
• U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP): a federal program that identifies, screens, and resettles refugees from around the world to the United States