It is important to familiarize yourself with the following immigration terms and abbreviations. These are common immigration terms used at USCIS offices, United States Embassies, and United States Consulates. You will also find these terms in immigration forms and other legal documents.

Our Glossary of Immigration Terms is organized in alphabetical order and divided into sections due to its extensive size. Use the menu below to locate the term you are looking for.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

BCIS
BCIS stands for the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, also called USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).

Beneficiaries
Foreigners who obtain lawful immigration statuses as a result of their relationship to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or U.S. employers.

BIA
Abbreviation for Board of Immigrant Appeals.

Bona Fide
Genuine or authentic.

Border Crosser
A border crosser is a foreign resident who reenters the United States after not being present for less than six months in Canada or Mexico. It also refers to a nonresident alien who reenters the United States via the Canadian border for stays that are less than six months or across the Mexican border for stays that are less than 72 hours.

Business Nonimmigrant
A foreigner who enters the United States on a temporary basis to take part in commercial deals that do not involve lucrative work in the United States. For example, a business nonimmigrant can be someone who is involved in international commerce on behalf of a foreign company.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

► Click on the letters above for more U.S. Immigration Terms.