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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Occupation
The type of employment held in the country of last legal residence or in the United States for foreigners who enter the United States or change status without a labor certification. Occupation is the type of employment for which certification has been issued for an alien with a labor certification.

OPT
OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. OPT is an opportunity for foreign students to work for one year of off-campus. An OPT can be received at different study levels.

Orphan
The Immigration and Nationality Act defines an orphan for the purposes of immigration to the United States as:

• A child, whose both parents died, disappeared, or deserted.
• The child of an unmarried mother or surviving parent may be considered an orphan if that parent is unable to care for the child suitably and has irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption in writing.
• The child of an unmarried mother may be considered an orphan only if the mother does not marry and the child’s biological father does not legitimate the child.
• The child of a surviving parent if the surviving parent has not married since the death of the other parent.

Overstay
A visitor who has exceed the stay in the U.S. after the date indicated on the Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94.

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