| A |
| Academic Training |
Off-campus work authorization available for a J-1 student during or after the academic exchange period. The J-1 can be authorized to participate in paid or un-paid work that will benefit the exchange objective and provide practical training in the student’s field of study. |
| Actual Wage |
Wage rate paid by the employer to all other individuals with experience and qualifications similar to those of the H-1B nonimmigrant, for the specific employment in question. |
| Advance Parole |
Permission to travel outside the US without abandoning a petition for Permanent Residency. When you have advanced parole you no longer need to have a valid visa to re-enter the US. |
| Automatic Visa Revalidation |
an 8 digit number assigned to you by the USCIS at the time you first file documents indicating you intend to pursue permanent residency. This number is permanent and any applications for benefits like employment or advanced parole will ask for this number. (not the same A# that appears on your EAD for OPT) |
| Academic Training |
A non-immigrant alien, excluding aliens who are nationals of designated state sponsors of terrorism, who is maintaining status may travel to Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent Caribbean islands (except Cuba) for 30 days or less and return to the U.S. using an expired visa stamp. The alien must retain the Form I-94 (arrival/departure record) when leaving the country and will be required to show this form and documentation of valid status (I-20, DS-2019, I-797) to re-enter at the Port of Entry. The visa will be considered automatically extended to the date of re-entry. Re-entry using an automatically revalidated visa is prohibited for any alien who attempts to apply for a new visa during the time they are outside the United States.
|
| C |
| Credential Evaluation |
The conversion of educational credentials obtained in another country into their U.S. equivalents. |
| Curricular Practical Training (CPT) |
Off-campus work authorization available before an F-1 student completes academic coursework for an internship that is an integral part of the academic degree program, provides training in the field of study, and is required or recommended of all students in the academic program. The student must be enrolled in an elective internship class for credit to be authorized for CPT.
|
| D |
| DS-2019 |
“Certificate of Eligibility for the Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status.” This document is required for obtaining a J-1 visa and obtaining and maintaining the J nonimmigrant status. The DS-2019 has two pages. Page 1 contains program and biographical information. Page 2 consists of pre-printed instructions. Dependents (J-2) accompanying the J-1 Exchange Visitor must each have their own SEVIS DS-2019, which identifies them as the dependent. |
| Department of Homeland Security (DHS) |
DHS is responsible for securing American borders and managing the immigration process. Three bureaus exist within DHS and all share responsibility for immigration functions:
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
ICE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
CBP: Customs and Border Protection |
| Designated School Official (DSO) |
The Designated School Official (DSO) and Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) are in charge of overseeing and advising the F-1 student. These officials issue the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) and conduct official communications with the DHS and the USCIS on the student’s behalf. |
| Dual Intent |
An alien (H-1B) that is not subject to the presumption of immigrant intent.
|
| E |
| Employment Authorization Document (EAD) |
A work permit issued by the USCIS which provides legal documentation for a-US citizen or permanent resident to work in the U.S. |
| Exchange Visitor (J-1) |
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.
|
| I |
| I-20 |
This is the immigration document issued by a school through SEVIS for presentation at a U.S. Consulate abroad to apply for an F-1 Student visa; it must also be presented to an immigration official upon entry into the U.S. Students in F-1 status must carry a valid I-20 with a DSO authorization that is less than 12 months old, in addition to a valid passport and valid visa to facilitate re-entry to U.S. |
| I-94 Arrival/Departure record |
A small green or white card given to a nonimmigrant when they enter the United States. The I-94 card serves as evidence that a nonimmigrant has entered the country legally. It is stamped with a date indicating how long the nonimmigrant may stay for that particular trip. It is this date--and not the expiration date of the visa--that controls how long a nonimmigrant can remain in the United States. A new I-94 card with a new date is issued each time the nonimmigrant legally enters the United States. |
| I-131 |
This is the form number for the application for Advance Parole. It must be filed from within the US. You will not be allowed to re-enter the US with an expired document. |
| I-485 |
Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident. |
| Immigration Status |
This is often confused with “visa”. Immigration status is determined at the time of entry into the U.S. by an immigration official and is noted on the I-94 card. You may have many visa stamps in your passport but, upon entry into the U.S., an immigration inspector will admit you in only one immigration status, which is stamped on the I-94 card. |
| International Student/Scholar Compliance Fee (ISCF) |
A fee assessed to international students and scholars by the University of Georgia. The fee pays for computer systems, services and other processes the USCIS and DOS requires our University to maintain in order to bring students and scholars to our campus.
S
tudents who are NOT on University of Georgia documents are eligible for a waiver of the ISCF.
|
| L |
| Labor Condition Application (LCA) |
Attestation by an employer when filing for H-1B that there will be no adverse impact on the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers. |
| Lawful Permanent Residency (LPR) |
A foreign national who has immigrated to the U.S. and has been authorized to live and work permanently in the United States.
|
| M |
| Maintaining Legal Status |
Abiding by the rules and regulations that pertain to that particular nonimmigrant visa classification.
|
| N |
| Non-immigrant |
A person admitted to the U.S. for a temporary stay to pursue a specific activity or purpose (e.g., study, travel, business). Non-immigrants must have an established residence abroad to which they intend to return unless they are dual intent visitors.
|
| O |
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) |
Off campus work authorization authorized to an F-1 student to permit work in their field of study for a maximum of 12 months. The F-1 student must apply through the USCIS and must have a valid EAD card in order to be eligible to work.
|
| P |
| Port of Entry |
Any location in the United States or its territories that is designated as a point of entry for aliens and U.S. citizens. All district and file control offices are also considered ports, since they become locations of entry for aliens adjusting to immigrant status. |
| Premium Processing |
A mechanism to accelerate the normal processing time of an H-1B petition. With payment of $1000.00 USCIS guarantees that within 15 calendar days it will issue either an approval notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence or a notice of investigation. |
| Prevailing Wage- |
The average wage paid to similarly employed workers in the requested occupation in the area of intended employment.
|
| R |
| Responsible Officers (RO and ARO) |
The Responsible Officer (RO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) are in charge of overseeing and advising a J-1 Exchange Visitor. These officers issue the Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019) and conduct official communications with the DOS and the USCIS on the visitor’s behalf.
|
| S |
| SEVIS I-901 Fee |
A fee paid to the Department of Homeland Security by
students getting their visa for the first time. This fee was implemented in September
2004 for those who get an initial I-20 or DS-2019 to begin studies in the United States.
This fee is issued by the US government to supplement the administration and maintenance
costs of the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS). Students who are renewing
their visas, and dependents of students do not have to pay this fee. This is a one time
fee and has no relation to the ISCF from the University of Georgia. For more information
on this fee go to
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm |
| Specialty Occupation |
An occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. |
| Student |
A nonimmigrant class of admission, for a person to come temporarily to the United States to pursue a full course of study in an approved program in either an academic (college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, other institution, or language training program) or a vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution. |
| Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) |
An Internet database for collecting data to monitor and report on foreign students and scholars in the U.S. The system creates an interface between universities, the Department of Homeland Security, consulates and embassies abroad, and ports of entry. I-20s, for F-1 students, and DS-2019s, for J-1 students/scholars, are generated using SEVIS.
|
| U |
| U.S. Department of State (DOS) |
The State Department is responsible for administering the Exchange Visitor Program and overseeing diplomatic affairs and foreign relations for the U.S. including the U.S. consulates that issue visas to visitors to travel to the U.S. |
| USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) |
USCIS provides services formerly offered by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The USCIS is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities.
|
| V |
| Visa |
A visa is issued by a United States Consulate abroad as a stamp affixed into your passport. The only purpose of a visa is to apply for admission to the United States at the port of entry. The visa itself may expire while you are in the U.S., but your permission to stay in the U.S. may remain valid. The length of validity of each visa type is determined by an agreement between your home country and the U.S. government and is not necessarily tied to the length of your program of study. |
| Visa Waiver Program |
Allows citizens of selected countries, traveling temporarily to the United States under the nonimmigrant admission classes of visitors for pleasure and visitors for business, to enter the United States without obtaining nonimmigrant visas. Admission is for no more than 90 days.
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
|
| For more immigration terms and for broader
definitions of the terms provided in this glossary please visit the USCIS website at:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/glossary.htm
|
Commitment to Service
Glossary