A Acquired Citizenship: Citizenship conferred at birth on children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s).
  Alien: Any person not a citizen or national of the United States.
B Beneficiary: Foreign national for whom company seeks work authorization and on whose behalf company submits a petition to BCIS.
C Certificate of Citizenship: Identity document proving U.S. citizenship. Certificates of citizenship are issued to derivative citizens and to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship (see definitions for Acquired and Derivative Citizenship).
  Consular processing: Application made by an alien to the U.S. Consulate in her/his home country to become a permanent resident. S/he must have an approved I-140 and an immigrant number, based on per country limitations, must be available to her/him.
  Continuity of residence: For naturalization purposes, an absence from the U.S. of less than six months does not break an alien's continuity of residence in the U.S. If the alien is absent more than six months but less than one year, a break in the continuity of the alien's residence will occur unless s/he can give a reasonable explanation for her/his absence. One explanation that BCIS almost uniformly accepts as reasonable is an overseas assignment with a U.S. employer. If the alien is absent for one year or more, it automatically breaks the continuity of the alien's residence, unless the s/he takes steps prior to the expiration of the year abroad to preserve the continuity of her or his residence. The consequence of a break in the continuity of the alien's residence is that s/he must start all over again to accumulate the necessary five (or three) years of continuous residence upon her or his return to the U.S.
D Department of Labor (DOL): Acronym for the Department of Labor of the United States. The DOL is responsible for overseeing and enforcing the labor laws of the U.S.
  Deportation: Now referred to as removal. Process by which the BCIS removes people who have entered the U.S. In contrast to inadmissible aliens, deportable aliens do have a right to due process and a hearing on the merits of their case.
  Derivative Status: Eligibility for status derives from an approved petition for one’s spouse or parent.
  Dual Intent: E, H, and L nonimmigrants may simultaneously have intent to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently.
E Exchange Visitor: An alien coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a program approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, or receiving training.
  Employment Authorization Letter: A letter written by the employer who wishes to sponsor an alien for a nonimmigrant temporary work status or for permanent resident status. In the letter the employer gives the attorney authorization to begin a petition for the alien and gives the attorney the following particulars: job title of position alien will hold, salary, and intended length of employment.
F F-1 Status: Person in the U.S. who is enrolled in full-time university studies.
  Fiance(e)s of U.S. Citizen: A nonimmigrant alien coming to the United States to conclude a valid marriage with a U.S. citizen within ninety days after entry.
Foreign National/Alien: Any person born outside the U.S who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
G Green Card: Laminated card that is given to person when s/he achieves permanent resident status.
H H-1B Worker: Person who qualifies to perform a specialty occupation in the U.S. for an initial period of three years. (Visa is the travel document that allows her to enter U.S.)