A. Immigrant

A general term for new arrivals, this includes legal immigrants, refugees, asylees, parolees, and others. Legal immigrants are granted admission to the U.S. on the basis of family relation or job skill.

B. Nonimmigrant

An alien allowed to enter the U.S. for a specific purpose and for a limited period of time such as a student, visitor, or tourist.

C. Refugee

A person who flees his or her country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group.

D. Asylee

Similar to a refugee, this is a person who seeks asylum and is already present in the U.S. when he or she requests permission to stay.

E. Parolee

The Justice Department has discretionary authority to permit certain persons or groups to enter the U.S. in an emergency or because it serves an overriding public interest. Parole may be granted for humanitarian, legal, or medical reasons. Some persons who fear persecution are "paroled" into the U.S. as refugees when the number of refugees allowed to enter that year has been exceeded.

F. Alien not lawfully present in the U.S.

Also known as an undocumented immigrant, this is someone who enters or lives in the U.S. without official authorization, either by entering without inspection by the INS, overstaying their visa, or violating the terms of their visa.

G. Cuban/Haitian entrants

This category was created for the Cuban and Haitian arrivals in 1980, who were allowed to obtain work permits.

H. PRUCOL

Permanently residing under color of law is not a method for entering the country, but indicates that an individual is legally present under statutory authority and may remain under administrative discretion. PRUCOL is no longer an eligibility classification under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. (PRWORA)

I. Deeming

Some legal immigrants come to the U.S. with the aid of citizens who serve as their sponsors. That sponsor signs an affidavit of support agreeing to help support and sustain the immigrant. Deeming means that the income and resources of the sponsor and his or her spouse are deemed or considered available when determining the sponsored alien's eligibility.

J. Affidavit of Support

An affidavit of support is the contract that an immigrant's sponsor signs, agreeing to financially assist the immigrant to prevent him or her from becoming a public charge. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 make affidavits of support legally binding documents and are enforceable until the immigrant naturalizes.

K. Public Charge

Immigrants who become dependent upon public assistance, fail to find employment, and are unlikely to be self-supporting in the future may be deported on the grounds that they have become a "public charge."

L. Naturalization

Naturalization is the process by which a foreign-born individual becomes a citizen of the U.S. Naturalization requires that the person be over 18 years old, lawfully admitted to the U.S., reside in the country continuously for five years, and have a basic knowledge of English, American government, and U.S. history. There is an exemption from the English and civics requirements for certain disabled immigrants.