It is important to familiarize yourself with the following immigration terms and abbreviations. These are common immigration terms used at USCIS offices, United States Embassies, and United States Consulates. You will also find these terms in immigration forms and other legal documents.

Our Glossary of Immigration Terms is organized in alphabetical order and divided into sections due to its extensive size. Use the menu below to locate the term you are looking for.

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Deferred Inspection
See Parolee.

Department of State
The Department of State is an Executive Branch Department with jurisdiction over non-domestic issues. It is the government agency responsible for managing the United States foreign affairs.

Departure under Safeguards
The physical observation of an unlawful foreigner departing the United Sates by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

Dependent
An official term used for the spouse and children of the principal applicant.

Deportable Alien
A deportable alien is anybody who entered the United States illegally or legally, but breached the terms of his/ her classification or status later on.

Deportation
Deportation is the legal act of removing an alien from the United States after he/she has been found removable for infringing the immigration laws. Deportation is ordered by an immigration judge without any kind of punishment.

Derivative Citizenship
U.S. citizenship passed on to children through the naturalization of parents or to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents.

DHS
Abbreviation for Department of Homeland Security

District
Varying geographic regions and territories of the United States.
 
Diversity Visas
A category of immigrants from underrepresented countries and countries unfavorably affected by the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965. The main goal of diversity visas is to increase immigrants from such countries.

Diversity Country
The description of a country that has low rates of immigration to the United States. The citizens of a diversity country can enter he diversity visa program.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The United States Government issues 50,000 Green Cards every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. Applicants are selected randomly by a computer-generated drawing.

Docket Control
The USCIS term used for following the case status of possible removable foreigners.

Documentarily Qualified
The description of an alien who has provided all documents and is deemed sufficient to meet the requirements of INA 222(b), and all necessary clearance procedures of the consular office have been completed. Note that the term “Documentarily Qualified” shall only be used to describe an alien's qualification to formally apply for an immigrant visa – not whether the applicant receives the visa or not.

DOL
DOL is an acronym for the Department of Labor of the United States.

DOS
Abbreviation for Department of State

Dual Intent
Dual intent is the process of nonimmigrants in E, H, and L status that may simultaneously have intent to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently.

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► Click on the letters above for more U.S. Immigration Terms.