Glossary of Immigration Terms
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 Consulates. You will also find these terms in immigration forms and other legal documents, for this reason it is
vital to understand the meaning of these terms.
Our Glossary of Immigration Terms is organized in alphabetical order and divided into sections due to it's extensive size. Use the menu below to locate the term you are looking for.
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Deferred Inspection
See Parolee.
Department of State
The Department of State is an Executive Branch Department with jurisdiction over
non-domestic issues. It is the government agency responsible for managing the
United States foreign affairs.
Departure under Safeguards
The physical observation of an unlawful foreigner departing the United Sates by
a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
Dependent
An official term used on the spouse and children of the principal applicant.
Deportable Alien
A deportable alien is anybody who entered the United States illegally or
legally, but breached the terms of his/ her classification or status later on.
Deportation
Deportation is the legal act of removing an alien from the United States after
he/she has been found removable for infringing the immigration laws. Deportation
is ordered by an immigration judge without any kind of punishment.
Derivative Citizenship
U.S. citizenship passed on to children through the naturalization of parents or
to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents.
DHS
Abbreviation for Department of Homeland Security
District
Geographic regions into which the United States and its territories are divided
for Immigration and Naturalization Services’ purposes.
Diversity
A category of immigrants from underrepresented countries and countries
unfavorably affected by the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965.
The main goal of diversity visas is to increase immigrants from such countries.
Diversity Country
The description of a country that has low rates of immigration to the United
States. The citizens of a diversity country can enter in the diversity visa
program.
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The United States Government issues 50,000 Green Cards every year through the
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery.
Applicants are selected randomly by a computer-generated drawing.
Docket Control
The USCIS means for following the case status of possible removable foreigners.
Documentarily Qualified
The description of an alien that has provided all documents by the consular
officer as sufficient to meet the requirements of INA 222(b), and that necessary
clearance procedures of the consular office have been completed. Note that the
term “Documentarily Qualified” shall only be used to describe an alien's
qualification to formally apply for an immigrant visa – not whether the
applicant receives the visa or not.
DOL
DOL is an acronym for the Department of Labor of the United States.
DOS
Abbreviation for Department of State
Dual Intent
Dual intent is the process of nonimmigrants in E, H, and L status that may
simultaneously have intent to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently.
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