English for Immigration & Visa Applications

"nonimmigrant visa"

A temporary visa that does not grant permanent residency rights.

"She applied for a nonimmigrant visa to attend the conference in New York."

"visa waiver program"

An agreement allowing citizens of certain countries to travel without a visa for short stays.

"Citizens from the UK can use the visa waiver program for stays up to 90 days."

"consular interview"

An in-person meeting at an embassy or consulate to evaluate a visa application.

"He prepared thoroughly for his consular interview at the US Embassy."

"supporting documentation"

Additional papers required to prove eligibility for a visa.

"The officer asked her to submit supporting documentation including bank statements."

"I-94 arrival record"

A US customs form documenting the terms and duration of an authorized stay.

"Always check your I-94 arrival record to confirm your authorised length of stay."

"biometric enrollment"

The collection of fingerprints and photographs for identity verification.

"Applicants must attend a biometric enrollment appointment before the visa is issued."

"visa validity period"

The window of time during which a visa can be used to enter a country.

"Her visa validity period was ten years, but each stay could not exceed six months."

"dual intent visa"

A visa that allows the holder to seek both temporary stay and permanent residency.

"The H-1B is a dual intent visa, so applicants can also file for a green card."

"port of entry"

An official location where travelers legally cross into a country.

"Miami International Airport is one of the busiest ports of entry in the United States."

"customs declaration"

A form listing goods brought into a country, subject to duty or restriction.

"You must submit a customs declaration if you are carrying more than $10,000 in cash."

"admissibility"

The legal eligibility to enter a country based on immigration rules.

"The officer questioned his admissibility because the visa category did not match his stated purpose."

"secondary inspection"

A more detailed screening process conducted after initial immigration checks.

"She was sent to secondary inspection because there was a discrepancy in her travel history."

"entry stamp"

An official seal placed in a passport confirming legal entry into a country.

"The entry stamp showed the date and the maximum authorised length of stay."

"prohibited goods"

Items that are illegal to bring into a country.

"The customs officer explained that certain agricultural products are prohibited goods."

"declaration threshold"

The monetary value above which goods must be declared to customs.

"The declaration threshold for duty-free goods is usually around $800 in the US."

"overstay violation"

Remaining in a country beyond the authorised period of stay.

"An overstay violation can result in a ban on re-entry for several years."

"lawful permanent resident"

A foreign national who has been granted the right to live indefinitely in the US.

"After five years as a lawful permanent resident, she became eligible to apply for citizenship."

"adjustment of status"

The process of changing from a temporary visa to permanent residency without leaving the country.

"He filed for adjustment of status after receiving an approved employment-based petition."

"conditional green card"

A two-year green card granted to spouses of US citizens married for less than two years.

"They filed to remove the conditions on her conditional green card after two years of marriage."

"priority date"

The date a petition was filed, which determines an applicant's place in the immigration queue.

"His priority date had finally become current, allowing him to proceed with his green card."

"immigrant petition"

A formal request filed to classify a foreign national under a specific immigration category.

"Her employer filed an immigrant petition on her behalf under the EB-2 category."

"green card lottery"

The Diversity Visa Program that randomly selects applicants for permanent residency.

"She was selected in the green card lottery and could now apply for permanent residency."

"continuous residence"

The requirement to have lived in the US without long interruptions for naturalisation purposes.

"A trip longer than six months can break the continuous residence requirement."

"removal of conditions"

The process of converting a two-year conditional green card to a ten-year permanent one.

"They filed Form I-751 for removal of conditions on her permanent residency."

"naturalisation certificate"

The official document confirming that a person has been granted citizenship.

"She proudly displayed her naturalisation certificate at the ceremony."

"civics test"

An exam testing knowledge of a country's history, government, and values.

"He studied for weeks to pass the civics test as part of his citizenship application."

"oath of allegiance"

A formal sworn commitment to loyalty to a new country.

"Taking the oath of allegiance was an emotional moment she had worked towards for years."

"renunciation of prior citizenship"

The formal act of giving up citizenship in another country.

"Some countries require renunciation of prior citizenship before naturalisation."

"eligible for naturalisation"

Meeting all legal requirements to apply for citizenship.

"After three years as a permanent resident married to a citizen, she was eligible for naturalisation."

"Form N-400"

The US application form for naturalisation as a citizen.

"He submitted Form N-400 along with his biographic information and fee payment."

"good moral character"

A legal standard requiring applicants to demonstrate law-abiding behaviour over a set period.

"Applicants must prove good moral character for the five years before filing for citizenship."

"dual citizenship"

Holding citizenship in two countries simultaneously.

"Not all countries permit dual citizenship, so she checked the rules before applying."

"asylum seeker"

A person who has fled their home country and is requesting protection in another country.

"The asylum seeker submitted her application within one year of arriving in the US."

"well-founded fear"

A legal standard requiring credible evidence of persecution in one's home country.

"She had to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on her political beliefs."

"convention refugee"

A person recognised under the 1951 Refugee Convention as requiring international protection.

"He was granted status as a convention refugee by the UNHCR office."

"credible fear interview"

An initial screening to determine if an asylum seeker's claim has enough merit to proceed.

"She passed the credible fear interview and her case was referred to immigration court."

"withholding of removal"

A legal protection preventing deportation to a country where an individual faces serious harm.

"The judge granted withholding of removal because returning would put his life at risk."

"protected grounds"

The five reasons for persecution qualifying for refugee status: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.

"Her claim was based on protected grounds — specifically her membership in a persecuted social group."

"resettlement programme"

An official scheme that moves recognised refugees from a transit country to a third country.

"The family was accepted into a resettlement programme and relocated to Canada."

"voluntary departure"

An agreement to leave a country by a specific date to avoid a formal deportation order.

"He chose voluntary departure to avoid the long-term bar associated with forced removal."

"proof of address"

Documents confirming where a person lives, required for official registrations.

"A utility bill or bank letter is commonly accepted as proof of address."

"national insurance number"

A UK identifier used for tax and social security purposes.

"She applied for her national insurance number as soon as she received her Biometric Residence Permit."

"biometric residence permit"

A card issued to non-EEA nationals in the UK confirming immigration status and right to work.

"Employers in the UK often ask to see an employee's biometric residence permit."

"right to work check"

An employer's legal obligation to verify a person's immigration status before hiring.

"HR conducted a right to work check before confirming her employment contract."

"social security number"

A US identifier used for tax, employment, and government benefits.

"He needed a social security number before he could open a bank account."

"English language requirement"

A minimum language proficiency level required for certain visas or citizenship applications.

"She took an approved test to meet the English language requirement for her settlement visa."

"community integration"

The process of becoming an active, participating member of a new society.

"The council offered free courses to support community integration for new arrivals."

"sponsor obligation"

The legal responsibilities of a person or organisation that supports a visa application.

"The university was reminded of its sponsor obligation to report changes in a student's enrolment."