Abandonment (of Residence) is a determination by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) that a permanent resident has surrendered their status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR). According to the USCIS, applicants are not...
immigration law
accompanying relative
An accompanying relative, or immediate relative, is a family member of a person who has immigrated to the United States. An example of an accompanying relative could be the children of an immigrant who have not reached the age of majority, as...
acquisition of citizenship
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...
adjustment of status
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. Adjustment of status is processed by the United...
advance parole
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-...
alien
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 Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are different categories of aliens: resident and nonresident, immigrant and...
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
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. Other names for the alien registration card include green card, permanent resident card,...
Alien Tort Statute
The Alien Tort Statute ("ATS"; also known as the Alien Tort Claims Act) is a common name for 28 U.S.C. § 1350. The ATS grants federal district courts original jurisdiction over any civil action where an alien sues for a tort “committed in...
amnesty
Amnesty is to grant a pardon to those who have committed an offense. Under immigration law, is a governmental pardon for a person or group of persons who violated policies related to immigration. Immigration amnesty would include the...
Arizona v. United States (2012)
The Supreme Court case which held sections 3, 5(C), and 6 of Arizona’s Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (S.B. 1070) were preempted by federal law, but that section 2(B) must be allowed to be construed in practice before...