Glossary of Terms
Immigration Terms
Nonimmigrant Visas
A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) is a U.S. document that is attached to a foreign national’s passport, which describes the type of visa issued. A nonimmigrant visa authorizes a foreign national to be lawfully admitted to the U.S. for temporary travel during a specified...
Marriage Fraud/Sham Marriage
A sham marriage is one that is entered into for the purposes of evading U.S. immigration laws or requirements. Marriage fraud or entering into a sham marriage is a federal crime subject to up to several years of imprisonment, significant fines and loss of...
Immigrant Visa (Green Card)
An immigrant visa (IV) is a U.S. document that is attached to a foreign national’s passport, which describes the type of visa issued. An immigrant visa authorizes the foreign national to be lawfully admitted to the U.S. in order to permanently reside in...
H-1B or H1B Visa
Una visa H-1B o H1B es una visa de trabajo que está disponible para los empleados extranjeros que serán contratados en ocupaciones de especializadas como una licenciatura, su equivalente o un título superior es normalmente un requisito mínimo. Los trabajos...
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery)
The Immigration and Nationality Act established the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program or DV visa lottery system in 1990, which makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas each year. The Department of State oversees the DV Lottery program. It is designed to...
Deferred Action
The U.S. government can its exercise its power not to deport or remove any alien from the U.S. Deferred action or acción deferida is a tool used by the U.S. government or any of its agencies, like U.S.CIS or ICE, in making a formal decision to delay the...
Adjustment of status
Adjustment of Status is the procedure allowing certain aliens already in the United States to apply for immigrant status. Aliens admitted to the United States in a nonimmigrant, refugee, or parolee category may have their status changed to that of lawful...
Family Law Terms
Joint Custody
Joint custody is a family law term that refers to a child custody arrangement in which both parents share the decision-making responsibilities and physical care of the child. Joint custody arrangements are often made during divorce proceedings, in which...
No Fault Divorce
A no fault divorce is one in which neither spouse blames the other for the end of the marriage. The couple seeking a no-fault divorce merely must assert that they are incompatible, or that irreconcilable differences exist between them. In a no-fault...
Legal Separation
An arrangement in which a married couple lives apart but remains legally married following a court order. A couple that want to get a divorce, but needs time to work out certain financial issues, may obtain a legal separation in most states. A legal...
Contested Divorce
A contested divorce is when the two parties do not agree about getting a divorce, or about the terms of the divorce. Usually the couple will disagree on matters such as child custody, financial support, and the distribution of marital assets. When these...
