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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NACARA
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.

National
An individual who has pledged allegiance to a certain country.

National Interest Waiver (NIW)
An immigrant visa that applies to aliens who deemed to be "exceptional" in their field.

National of the United States
A national of the United States is a citizen of the United States, or a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States. For more information, see INA Section 101(a)(22), 8 USC Section 1101(a)(22).

Nationality
The description used on an individual’s citizenship or country where the person is deemed a national.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Official
A nonimmigrant foreigner who enters the United States temporarily as a member of the armed forces or as a civilian employed by the armed forces on assignment with a foreign government signatory to NATO

Naturalization
The bestowment of citizenship upon a person when he/she is born.

Naturalization Application
The form used by legal permanent residents to submit an application for U.S. citizenship.

NBC
National Benefits Center, formerly the "Missouri Service Center"

Nonimmigrant
A foreigner who enters the United States temporarily for a specific purpose and who must fulfill two requirements: a permanent resident overseas and  has actual qualification for the nonimmigrant classification. Some of the nonimmigrant classifications are students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, exchange visitors, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers among others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor children.

Nondiversity Country
A country that has high rates of immigration to the United States. Note that passport holders of non-diversity countries cannot participate in the Diversity Visa Program. Another word for non-diversity countries are occasionally called non-qualifying or excluded countries.

Nonimmigrant Status
The term used to describe an individual’s status for a set period of time. It is a limited status while in the United States. The individual is not a permanent resident of the United States while on a Nonimmigrant Status.

Nonpreference Category
This category was removed by the Immigration Act of 1990 and used to grant Nonpreference visas to qualified applicants who were not entitled to a visa under the preferences categories.

North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
The agreement that governs the mutual trading relationship between the United States and Canada and establishes a similar relationship with Mexico.

Not Subject to Numerical Limitation
This means that an alien is entitled to immigrant status as an immediate relative within the meaning of INA 201(b)(2)(i), or as a special immigrant within the meaning of INA 101(a)(27) (A) and (B), unless specifically subject to a limitation other than under INA 201(a), (b), or (c).

Notice of Action
A form issued by the USCIS as proof that a petition or application is received and in process. The Notice of Action is also issued by the USCIS as a receipt for paid fees. The Notice of Action number is I-797. This is not a downloadable form, it is sent to the applicant by the USCIS.

NPRM
Abbreviation for Notice of Proposed Rule Making

NSC
Nebraska Service Center

Numerical Limit, Exempt from
Those foreigners granted lawful permanent resident statuses and that are usually exempt from numerical limits set by the Immigration Act of 1990. Exempt categories consist of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, refugees, asylees, Amerasians, aliens adjusted under the legalization provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and certain parolees from the former Soviet Union and Indochina.

Nursing Relief Act of 1989
The act allows H-1 nonimmigrant registered nurses to become legal permanent residents if they had been employed as nurses for at least 3 years and who meet certain labor certification requirements.

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