immigration law

Abandonment (of Residence) is a determination by the U.S.

An accompanying relative, or immediate relative, is a family member of a person who has immigrated to the United States.

Acquisition of citizenship refers to the ability of individuals born abroad to achieve U.S. citizenship because at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. If the child meets the complex requirements, the child “acquires” citizenship through a parent even if the child was born abroad. The laws governing acquisition of citizenship have been changed significantly, and in order to determine a child’s eligibility for acquisition, they must look to the laws applicable for their birth year.

• foreign-born children
• Child Citizenship Act
• automatic citizenship

Adjustment of status (AOS) is the process that one can use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when one is present in the United States.

• lawful permanent resident

Advance parole is a travel document granting permission to certain foreign nationals to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad. These foreign nationals typically have applications pending for immigration benefits or for changes in non-citizen status. Advance parole must be obtained prior to leaving the U.S. Failure to do so may result in the foreign national being denied entry to the US and forfeiture of any pending application.

• travel document

Alien is a legal term that refers to any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States, as listed in the 

An Alien Registration Card is the official name for the identification card given to lawful permanent residents by the USCIS to identify them as such.

• green card
• idenfication card
• permanent resident card
• permanent visa

The Alien Tort Statute ("ATS"), also known as the Alien Tort Claims Act, is a common name for 28 U.S.C. § 1350.

To grant amnesty is to grant a pardon to those who have committed an offense. Under immigration law, amnesty is a governmental pardon for a person or group of persons who violated policies related to immigration.

• pardon
• undocumented alien

Asylum is a kind of protection granted by a foreign country to an alien or individual who qualifies as a refugee. Asylum seekers whose applications are approved are called asylees.