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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NACARA
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.
National
An individual who has pledged allegiance to a certain country.
National Interest Waiver (NIW)
An immigrant visa that applies to aliens who deemed to be "exceptional"
in their field.
National of the United States
A national of the United States is a citizen of the United States, or a person
who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the
United States. For more information, see INA Section 101(a)(22), 8 USC Section
1101(a)(22).
Nationality
The description used on an individual’s citizenship or country where the person
is deemed a national.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Official
A nonimmigrant foreigner who enters the United States temporarily as a member of
the armed forces or as a civilian employed by the armed forces on assignment
with a foreign government signatory to NATO
Naturalization
The bestowment of citizenship upon a person when he/she is born.
Naturalization Application
The form used by legal permanent residents to submit an application for
U.S.
citizenship.
NBC
National Benefits Center, formerly the "Missouri Service Center"
Nonimmigrant
A foreigner who enters the United States temporarily for a specific purpose and
who must fulfill two requirements: a permanent resident overseas and has actual
qualification for the nonimmigrant classification. Some of the nonimmigrant
classifications are students, international representatives, temporary workers
and trainees, exchange visitors, intracompany transferees, NATO officials,
religious workers among others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined
by spouses and unmarried minor children.
Nondiversity Country
A country that has high rates of immigration to the United States. Note that passport
holders of non-diversity countries cannot participate in the Diversity Visa
Program. Another word for non-diversity countries are occasionally called
non-qualifying or excluded countries.
Nonimmigrant Status
The term used to describe an individual’s status for a set period of time. It is
a limited status while in the United States. The individual is not a permanent
resident of the United States while on a Nonimmigrant Status.
Nonpreference Category
This category was removed by the Immigration Act of 1990 and used to grant
Nonpreference visas to qualified applicants who were not entitled to a visa
under the preferences categories.
North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
The agreement that governs the mutual trading relationship between the United
States and Canada and establishes a similar relationship with Mexico.
Not Subject to Numerical Limitation
This means that an alien is entitled to immigrant status as an immediate
relative within the meaning of INA 201(b)(2)(i), or as a special immigrant
within the meaning of INA 101(a)(27) (A) and (B), unless specifically subject to
a limitation other than under INA 201(a), (b), or (c).
Notice of Action
A form issued by the USCIS as proof that a petition or application is received
and in process. The Notice of Action is also issued by the USCIS as a receipt
for paid fees. The Notice of Action number is I-797. This is not a downloadable
form, it is sent to the applicant by the USCIS.
NPRM
Abbreviation for Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NSC
Nebraska Service Center
Numerical Limit, Exempt from
Those foreigners granted lawful permanent resident statuses and that are usually
exempt from numerical limits set by the Immigration Act of 1990. Exempt
categories consist of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, refugees, asylees,
Amerasians, aliens adjusted under the legalization provisions of the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986, and certain parolees from the former Soviet
Union and Indochina.
Nursing Relief Act of 1989
The act allows H-1 nonimmigrant registered nurses to become legal permanent
residents if they had been employed as nurses for at least 3 years and who meet
certain labor certification requirements.
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