Glossary Optional Practical Training to Specialty Occupation - Immigration Terms

O	Optional Practical Training: Twelve month period following an F-1’s graduation date during which s/he may work for any company in a position which relates to her/his field of study. This twelve-month period may be curtailed depending on whether the student worked during the time s/he was enrolled in studies.
P	Per country limitation: All countries are limited in the number of their nationals that become permanent residents of the U.S. every year. While most countries never reach the maximum amount allowed, a few countries' nationals are applying to become permanent residents of the U.S. in numbers that exceed the number allowed from those countries. Those countries are deemed "oversubscribed". For example, if there are hypothetically 10,000 slots available this year for nationals of India to become permanent residents, but 20,000 Indians apply, a backlog will develop and those applicants that exceeded the maximum numbers will have to wait until numbers are available for them. These backlogs have been accruing for many years with a consequence of waiting periods from one to twenty years in some categories. The only countries that are currently oversubscribed are China, India, Mexico and the Philippines. If an alien is from any other country, there is no backlog in most of the employment categories. However, in the family-based area, there are backlogs in every category, and the backlog from the four countries aforementioned is longer than all other countries.
	Permanent Resident Alien: Person who has obtained the authority to live and work in the United States on a permanet basis. A PR may also travel in and out of the U.S. However, if a PR remains out of the U.S. for more than 12 consecutive months, s/he will be viewed as having abandoned such residency. Once a person has been a PR for five years, s/he may be eligible to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen.
	Petition: Set of documents that attorney prepares on behalf of companies and foreign nationals in order to request work or other authorization from the BCIS or DOL.
	Petitioner: Company sponsoring a foreign national for employment.
	Prevailing Wage: The amount of base salary an employer must pay its foreign workers. Bonuses and commissions cannot be included in this figure.
	Principal Alien: The alien who applies for immigrant status and from whom another alien may derive lawful status under immigration law or regulations (usually spouses and minor unmarried children).
R	Reentry Permit: If a permanent resident travels outside of the U.S. and remains abroad for more than one year, s/he will need a reentry permit to enter the U.S. The reentry permit does not guarantee the alien's readmission to the U.S. The purpose of the permit is to certify the U.S. government knows about the alien's trip abroad and has accepted it as temporary. The U.S. government acknowledges that she or he is maintaining permanent resident status despite the lengthy absence. When the alien applies for readmission to the U.S., she or me must also be admissible. She or he must not be excludable under the grounds for exclusion.
	Refugee: Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
S	Specialty Occupation: An occupation that requires, at a minimum, the completion of a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree in the particular specialty (or its equivalent) for entry into such occupation in the United States.