Terms and Concepts

• Author: Elizabeth Anne Campbell; Rachel DeLia Settlage; Veronica Thronson
• Pages: 103-109

Appendix A

Terms and Concepts1

103

Act or INA: the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.

Adjustment of status: the process by which eligible individuals already

in the United States can obtain lawful permanent resident status

(or a green card) without having to return to their home country

to complete the visa process.

Admissible/admissibility: being eligible/eligibility to enter the United

States.

Admission or admitted: the lawful entry of an alien into the United States

after inspection and authorization by an immigration ofcer.

Aggravated felony: a crime (or a conspiracy or attempt to commit a crime)

described in section 101(a)(43) of the INA.

Alien: any person not a citizen or national of the United States.

Application: see Benet request.

Application for admission: the application for admission into the United

States and not the application for the issuance of an immigrant or

nonimmigrant visa.

Arriving alien: an applicant for admission coming or attempting to come

into the United States at a port of entry, or an alien seeking transit

through the United States at a port of entry, or an alien interdicted

in international or United States waters and brought into the United

1. 8 C.F.R. § 1.2 (2013); INA § 101,8 U.S.C. § 1101 (2012); B’ L D-

 (9th ed. 2009).

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