Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionORR is the Office of Refugee Resettlement, an office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
USCIS is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an office within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Any person outside of their country who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugees are usually given an I-94 Form stamped “Admitted as a Refugee pursuant to section 207 of the Act".
An asylee is a person who applies for and receives a grant of asylum while in the United States or on U.S. territory, based on the same reasons as a refugee.
For their service to the U.S. government in Iraq and Afghanistan, certain Iraqis and Afghans are granted Special Immigrant (SIV) status overseas by the U.S. Department of State and are admitted to the U.S. by the Department of Homeland Security.
A Cuban or Haitian entrant, or an “entrant", is any person granted parole status as a Cuban/Haitian entrant (status pending) or granted any other special status subsequently established under the immigration laws for nationals of Cuba or Haiti, or any other national of Cuba or Haiti who:
- Was paroled into the United States and has not been granted any other status;
- Is facing exclusion or deportation proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Has applied for asylum with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and for whom no final decision has been made.
An immigrant under Public Law 100-202 (Act of 12/22/87), which allows aliens born in Vietnam after January 1, 1962, and before January 1, 1976, to enter the United States, if the alien's father is a U.S. citizen. Spouses, children, and parents or guardians may enter with the alien.
A child under age 18 who is a refugee, asylee, entrant or trafficking victim, who has no parent or guardian, and who has been classified as an unaccompanied refugee minor by the U.S. Department of State.
A foreign-born child under age 21 who is:
- Not married;
- Abused, neglected, or abandoned, as determined by a court;
- Not going to be reunited with his/her birth family as determined by a court; and
- Going to remain in the United States as determined by a court
An immigrant who comes to the United States and is given permission to live and work permanently in the United States. An LPR can travel abroad and return to the United States, as long as he or she has not abandoned their U.S. residence. An LPR can apply to become a U.S. citizen after living in the U.S. for five years (three years if married to a U.S. citizen). The USCIS documents that prove LPR status include a “green card" (form I-151 or I-551), a reentry permit (I-327), or a foreign passport with a stamp showing temporary evidence of LPR status.
A person admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. A lawful permanent resident can legally live permanently in the United States. He or she may be given an immigrant visa by the U.S. Department of State overseas or made a permanent resident by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States.
A person who temporarily enters the United States for a specific purpose. The person must have a permanent residence abroad and qualify as a nonimmigrant. Nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens traveling through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign media, exchange visitors, fiancées of U.S. citizens, NATO officials, religious workers, and others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children.
A person who enters the United States without a valid immigrant or non-immigrant visa, or a person who enters with a valid visa and remains in the United States after the visa expires.