Words used in the visa process are specialized. They may not have the same meanings as they do in everyday language. Think you know all the definitions? You can test yourself on the vocabulary list below!
The list contains a few selected terms and their definitions, from A to Z, that explain how they are used in our visa processing world. For a complete glossary of term and definitions, visit the State Department website.
Administrative processing: Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. To learn more, review our Administrative Processing webpage.
Biometrics: Biologically unique information used to identify individuals. This information can be used to verify identity or check against other entries in the database. The best known biometric is the fingerprint, but others include facial recognition and iris scans. Visit our biometrics page to learn more.
Cancelled Without Prejudice: A stamp an Embassy/Consulate (or Customs and Border Protection, CBP) puts on a visa when there is a mistake in the visa or the visa is a duplicate visa (two of the same kind). It does not affect the validity of other U.S. visas in your passport. It does not mean that the passport holder will not get another visa.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): DHS was created in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack and united 20 formerly independent agencies into a single organization to better coordinate their activities. Three of these agencies are concerned with immigration policies, procedures, implementation and enforcement of U.S. immigration laws, and more. These DHS organizations include United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Together they provide the basic governmental framework for regulating the flow of visitors, workers and immigrants to the United States. USCIS is responsible for the approval of all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa petitions, the authorization of permission to work in the United States, the issuance of extensions of stay, change or adjustment of an applicant's status while the applicant is in the United States, and more. CBP is responsible for admission of all travelers seeking entry into the United States, and determining the length of authorized stay, if the traveler is admitted. Once in the United States the traveler falls under the jurisdiction of DHS. Visit the DHS website for more information.
ESTA: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that confirms the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). VWP is available to nationals from 35 participating countries. A valid ESTA approval is required for all VWP travel to the United States. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, though it is recommended travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans. To learn whether you may be able to travel on VWP, and therefore whether you need ESTA authorization, see the Visa Waiver Program webpage on this website. For more information about ESTA and/or to apply, see the DHS, Custom and Border Protection’s ESTA webpage.
Green card: Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551 (formerly called Alien Registration Card, also known as green card), is a wallet-sized card showing that the person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrant) in the United States For more information visit the USCIS website.
I-94: The I-94 Arrival/Departure Record for nonimmigrant travelers. When you are admitted the CBP officer at the U.S. port of entry will stamp your passport and issue a completed Form I-94, which denotes how long you are legally authorized to stay within the U.S. Visit the CBP website to learn more.
Kentucky Consular Center (KCC): A U.S. Department of State facility located in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It gives domestic (U.S.) support to the worldwide operations of the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office. It manages the Diversity Visa (DV) Program.
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR): A non-U.S. citizen who has been granted permission to live permanently in the United States through lawful immigration or adjustment of status and has a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551 (formerly called Alien Registration Card, also known as green card). Form I-551 is a wallet-sized card showing that the person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrant) in the United States. Permanent resident status is not the same as being a U.S. citizen. However, you have authority to live and work in the United States permanently, as well as other rights and responsibilities. Learn more about Lawful Permanent Residents, including how to replace or renew a Permanent Resident Card, on the USCIS Website. Learn about requirements for entry into the United States on the CBP website. This person may also be called a legal permanent resident, a green card holder, a permanent resident alien, a legal permanent resident alien (LPRA) and resident alien permit holder.
Machine Readable Visa (MRV): A visa that contains biometric information about the passport holder. A visa that immigration officers read with special machines when the applicants enter the United States. It gives biographic information about the passport holder and tells the DHS information on the type of visa. It is also called MRV.
Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV): A U.S. visa allows the bearer, a foreign citizen, to apply to enter the United States temporarily for a specific purpose. Nonimmigrant visas are primarily classified according to the principal purpose of travel. With few exceptions, while in the United States, non-immigrants are restricted to the activity or reason for which their visa category was issued. Examples of persons who may receive nonimmigrant visas are tourists, student, diplomats and temporary workers. For more information, see Temporary Visitors to the United States.
Out of status: A U.S. visa allows the bearer to apply for entry to the United States in a certain classification, for a specific purpose and duration. For example, student (F), visitor (B), temporary worker (H). Every visa is issued for a particular purpose and for a specific class of visitor. Each visa classification has a set of requirements that the visa holder must follow and maintain. When you arrive in the United States, a DHS CBP inspector determines whether you will be admitted, length of stay and conditions of stay in, the United States. When admitted you are given a Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record), which tells you when you must leave the United States. The date granted on the I-94 card at the airport governs how long you may stay in the United States. If you remain longer than that authorized date, or you engage in activities not permitted for your visa category, you violate your status and are considered be "out of status". It is important to understand the concept of immigration status and the consequences of violating that status. Failure to maintain status can result in arrest, and violators may be required to leave the United States. Violation of status also makes you ineligible for getting a new a visa. Most people who violate the terms of their status are barred from lawfully returning to the United States for many years. For more details, watch the video “The Price is Too High.”
Skills List: The Exchange Visitor Skills List (J Visas) is a list of fields of specialized knowledge and skills that are deemed necessary for the development of an exchange visitor's home country. When you agree to participate in an Exchange Visitor Program, if your skill is on your country’s Skills List you are subject to the two-year foreign residence (home-country physical presence) requirement, which requires you to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program, under U.S. law. Review the Exchange Visitor webpage to learn more.
Temporary Worker: A foreign worker who will work in the U.S. for a limited period of time. Some visas classes for temporary workers are H, L, O, P, Q and R. If you are seeking to come to the United States for employment as a temporary worker in the United States (H, L, O, P, and Q visas), your prospective employer must file a petition with DHS, USCIS. This petition must be approved by USCIS before you can apply for a visa. Select temporary worker visas to go to the Department of State website to learn more, and review information about NAFTA workers (TN visa) and treaty traders/investors (E visas).
Visa Waiver Program (VWP): Citizens of participating countries meeting the Visa Waiver Program requirements to may be allowed to enter the United States as visitors for pleasure or business without obtaining a visa. Visitors can stay only 90 days and cannot extend their stay. Go to our information on the Visa Waiver Program to learn more.
Waiver of Ineligibility: In immigration law certain foreign nationals are ineligible for visas to enter the United States for medical, criminal, security or other conditions and activities. Some applicants for visas are able to apply for permission to enter the United States despite his/her ineligibility; this process requires a waiver. The applicant must apply for permission to enter the United States (waiver). See Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas for more information.
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