Understanding the U.S. immigration system can be hard to grasp. This is true especially when it involves tricky terms and legal language. If you are in the UK and have family in the U.S., or if you think about moving, it is important to know what these terms mean. This will help you understand the news better.
This guide explains the most common U.S. immigration words in simple English. It also compares them to the UK system when it helps. If you want to keep up with policy changes or just stay informed, this glossary will make things easier to understand.
What key immigration terms do you need to know?
Green Card
What It Means: A Green Card is the U.S. Resident Card. It gives people the chance to live and work in the United States for a long time. Most people get it through family support, a job, or special protection.
UK Comparison: Most like the UK’s Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Green Cards also come with extra rights. You can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship with them.
Visa Overstay
What It Means: Staying in the U.S. after your visa expires is called overstaying. If you overstay, you could face penalties. These might include being banned from returning to the U.S. or having trouble getting visas in the future.
UK Comparison: Staying too long in the UK can get you removed or banned. How this is dealt with can vary based on the type of visa you have.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
What It Means: A U.S. government agency enforces immigration laws. It detains people and manages deportations.
UK Comparison: Unlike the UK’s Home Office, ICE focuses more on removals and important enforcement actions.
USCIS stands for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
What It Means: USCIS takes care of immigration applications. This includes visas, Green Cards, and requests for citizenship.
UK Comparison: The best way to think about it is UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). However, USCIS does more than UKVI.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
What It Means: A program gives protections to people called Dreamers. These are individuals who entered the U.S. without permission as children. This program does not give citizenship. However, it does allow them to get work permits.
UK Comparison: The UK does not have the same program for children who arrive illegally. However, rules about refugees and kids without parents may be a bit alike.
Asylum vs. Refugee
What It Means:
- Asylum: A way to seek safety by people who are already in the U.S.
- Refugee: Safety given to people who are not in the U.S. before they arrive.
UK Comparison: There are like differences in the UK. However, U.S. asylum applications usually have stricter rules.
Undocumented Immigrant
What It Means: This term is often used for a person who is living in the U.S. without legal permission.
UK Comparison: In the UK, this is often called an “illegal immigrant.” But this term can have stronger legal and political meanings.
Deportation
What It Means: The official act of sending a person out of the U.S. for breaking immigration laws can sometimes split up families.
UK Comparison: Loved ones in the UK who have connections to the U.S. might feel the impact of family deportations.
TPS (Temporary Protected Status)
What It Means: This title is for people from countries in crisis. It lets them live and work in the U.S. for a short time. But, they can lose this status if needed.
UK Comparison: The UK has limited visas for people from countries facing crisis, but it does not have a special TPS status.
Naturalization
What It Means: The process that allows a permanent resident to become a U.S. citizen is clear. Applicants need to meet residency requirements. They must also pass citizenship tests.
UK Comparison: The process for getting U.S. citizenship is like applying for British citizenship. However, the U.S. usually has stricter rules.
Public Charge Rule
What It Means: This policy limits the chance of getting a visa or Green Card if people are thought to need public benefits.
UK Comparison: The UK has the same rules to make sure that applicants do not use public money while they are there.
Family Sponsorship
What It Means: U.S. citizens and residents can help their close family members get Green Cards. However, the wait times for other family members can take years.
UK Comparison: The U.S. family visa process is similar to the UK family visas. However, in the U.S., there is a quota system. This can cause longer delays.
H-1B Visa
What It Means: A work visa lets highly skilled workers do their jobs in the U.S. It is often used in tech fields. There is a limit to how many can be granted each year, and it is given through a lottery system.
UK Comparison: The UK’s Skilled Worker visa has the same goal. However, it does not have a lottery limit.
Adjustment of Status
What It Means: Applying for a Green Card while you are in the U.S. is different than applying from another country.
UK Comparison: Switching from one visa to another in the UK is similar. However, the timelines and rules in the U.S. can be more complicated.
Consular Processing
What It Means:The process of applying for a visa or Green Card at a U.S. embassy or office outside the U.S.
UK Comparison: For UK residents, this is like applying for a UK visa at a British office in another country.
I-130 and I-485 Forms
What It Means:
- I-130: A request for a family member to come to the U.S.
- I-485: A form to change status to a resident.
Forms like these often confuse people. Understanding what they involve can save time and reduce frustration.
Why knowing these terms matters
If you have connections to the U.S., like family, job opportunities, or interest in immigration rules worldwide, knowing these terms is helpful. You will see these terms in immigration news, policy discussions, and legal matters that can affect your friends or family living in the U.S.
Further resources
To learn more, explore these trusted resources:
- USCIS: This is the official government website for U.S. immigration.
- Immigration Help: They provide free advice and tools to check eligibility for immigrants.
- Home Office: This site helps connect UK and U.S. immigration.
Getting to know U.S. immigration can feel easy. When you have the right tools and information, you’ll be ready to link UK and U.S. steps.