U.S. immigration glossary (English–Chinese)
Wang Law Firm, LLC · David Wang, Managing Attorney
Notices, forms and official website instructions in U.S. immigration cases are almost all in English, and many terms are hard to understand even when translated literally. This glossary organizes common terms by topic, giving each English term, its standard Chinese rendering and a short explanation — useful when reading official documents or when you, or Chinese-speaking family members, talk with a lawyer. The explanations are kept brief; for specific eligibility rules, see the related detailed pages or official guidance.
1. Government agencies and common documents
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) | 美国公民及移民服务局 | Part of the Department of Homeland Security; adjudicates immigration applications filed in the U.S., such as the I-130, I-140, I-485 and N-400 |
| DOS (Department of State) | 美国国务院 | Issues visas through embassies and consulates worldwide and publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin |
| NVC (National Visa Center) | 国家签证中心 | Part of the State Department; after an immigrant petition is approved, it collects fees and documents and forwards the case to the embassy or consulate for the interview |
| CBP (Customs and Border Protection) | 海关与边境保护局 | Inspects travelers at ports of entry and decides whether to admit them and for how long |
| DOL (Department of Labor) | 美国劳工部 | Adjudicates LCAs, prevailing wage determinations and PERM labor certifications |
| EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) | 移民审查执行办公室 | Part of the Department of Justice; oversees the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) |
| AAO (Administrative Appeals Office) | 行政上诉办公室 | An office within USCIS that hears appeals of some USCIS denials, such as many I-140 and I-129 cases |
| I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) | 出入境记录 | Records your date of entry, status category and authorized period of stay; can be looked up and downloaded on the CBP website. Your lawful period of stay is governed by the I-94, not by the visa's validity |
| I-797 / Notice of Action | 行动通知 | The general term for formal notices from USCIS, including receipt notices, approval notices and biometrics appointment notices |
| Receipt Notice | 收据通知 | Confirms USCIS has received the application; it shows the receipt number (for example, one beginning with IOE), which you can use to check case status |
| Receipt Number | 收据号码 | The unique number for each case, made up of 3 letters followed by 10 digits |
| A-Number (Alien Registration Number) | 外国人登记号码 | A number the immigration system assigns to an individual, usually beginning with A, used for life |
| G-28 | 律师代理通知表 | The form a lawyer or accredited representative files when representing a case before USCIS, signed by both the applicant and the representative |
| FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Request | 信息公开申请 | A request to USCIS, CBP or other agencies for your own immigration file or travel records |
| Biometrics | 生物信息采集（指纹） | Fingerprints, photo and signature taken at an Application Support Center (ASC) for background checks and card production |
2. Adjudication and outcomes
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Premium Processing | 加急处理 | For some applications, an extra fee gets a USCIS decision or notice within a guaranteed time frame; it doesn't shorten priority date waits or guarantee approval |
| RFE (Request for Evidence) | 补件通知 | The officer finds the evidence insufficient and asks for more by a deadline; see What to do when you receive an RFE |
| NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) | 意向拒绝通知 | The officer is inclined to deny and gives the applicant a last chance to respond |
| NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke) | 意向撤销通知 | Notice of a proposal to revoke an approved petition, giving the applicant a chance to respond |
| Motion to Reopen | 重新开案动议 | A request, based on new facts (with new evidence), that the original deciding office reopen the case |
| Motion to Reconsider | 重新考虑动议 | Argues the original decision misapplied law or policy and asks the original deciding office to reconsider |
| Appeal | 上诉 | A request that a higher body (such as the AAO or BIA) review the original decision; availability and deadlines depend on the category |
| Administrative Processing | 行政审查 | Further review needed after a consular interview, with the decision on hold; often appears together with 221(g) |
| 214(b) | 214(b) 条款拒签 | A refusal for failing to establish eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa (most often, failing to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent); see What to do after a 214(b) refusal |
| 221(g) | 221(g) 条款暂拒 | The visa can't be issued yet because documents are missing or administrative processing is needed; it may be issued once documents are provided or the review is complete |
3. Status, admission and inadmissibility
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Nonimmigrant Visa | 非移民签证 | A visa for coming to the U.S. for a temporary purpose, such as B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B, L-1 or E-2 |
| Immigrant Visa | 移民签证 | A visa applied for abroad that makes you a permanent resident upon entry |
| Status | 身份 | Your category of lawful stay inside the U.S., which is different from the visa (your entry document) |
| Maintaining Status | 维持身份 | Following the conditions of your status (such as attending classes as required as a student, or working for the approved employer on a work visa) and staying within your authorized period |
| Change of Status (COS) | 转换身份 | Switching from one nonimmigrant status to another inside the U.S., such as F-1 to H-1B |
| Extension of Stay (EOS) | 延期 | Applying to extend your stay in the same status |
| Duration of Status (D/S) | 身份有效期内 | A notation common on I-94s for F-1, J-1 and similar statuses, meaning you can stay as long as you maintain status rather than until a fixed date; the government has issued a new rule replacing it with fixed periods of stay, which is currently in litigation — check current rules |
| Dual Intent | 双重意图 | Some categories (such as H-1B and L-1) allow the holder to also have immigrant intent and are not subject to the 214(b) presumption of immigrant intent |
| Unlawful Presence | 非法滞留 | Days accrued after, for example, staying past your authorized period; departing after more than 180 days (but less than 1 year) of unlawful presence in a single stay can trigger a 3-year bar, and departing after 1 year or more in total can trigger a 10-year bar |
| Overstay | 逾期居留 | Remaining in the U.S. past the period of stay authorized on your I-94 |
| Inadmissibility | 不可入境 | The grounds listed in INA 212(a) for being denied a visa or entry, such as health, criminal, fraud and unlawful presence grounds |
| Waiver | 豁免 | An application to waive a specific ground of inadmissibility; common forms include the I-601, I-601A and I-212, each with different requirements |
| Public Charge | 公共负担 | A ground of inadmissibility assessing whether the applicant is likely to depend primarily on government assistance; the related rules have changed in recent years — check current rules |
| EAD (Employment Authorization Document) | 工作许可卡 | Applied for with Form I-765; allows the holder to work in the U.S. while it is valid |
| Advance Parole (AP) | 回美证明（预先假释） | Applied for with Form I-131; usually needed before traveling abroad while an I-485 is pending, so the application isn't treated as abandoned |
| Parole | 假释入境 | Permission to enter temporarily for a specific reason without a valid visa; parole itself is not an "admission" |
4. The green card process
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Petitioner | 申请人 / 担保人 | The party filing the immigrant petition, such as a citizen petitioning for a relative or an employer petitioning for an employee |
| Beneficiary | 受益人 | The person the petition is for, who will receive the immigration benefit |
| Derivative Beneficiary | 附属受益人 / 随行家属 | The spouse and unmarried children under 21 who receive status along with the principal applicant |
| Immediate Relative | 直系亲属 | Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens, and parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21; not subject to annual limits, so there is no backlog |
| Preference Category | 优先类别 | Categories subject to annual limits, such as family-based F1–F4 and employment-based EB-1 through EB-5 |
| Priority Date | 优先日 | Your place in line, generally the PERM filing date or the I-130 / I-140 filing date (when no labor certification is required) |
| Visa Bulletin | 排期表 | The State Department's monthly chart of cutoff dates by category and country of birth; see How to read the U.S. Visa Bulletin |
| Final Action Date | 最终裁决日（表 A） | If your priority date is earlier than this date, your green card or immigrant visa can be approved |
| Dates for Filing | 递交申请日（表 B） | If your priority date is earlier than this date, you can file documents early; whether it can be used for filings inside the U.S. depends on USCIS's monthly announcement |
| Current (C) | 无排期 | A "C" on the Visa Bulletin means there is no wait in that category that month |
| Retrogression | 排期倒退 | Cutoff dates move backward, and applicants who had become current may have to keep waiting |
| Adjustment of Status (AOS) | 调整身份 | Applying for a green card inside the U.S. with Form I-485; see Adjustment of status |
| Consular Processing | 领事程序 | The case is transferred through the NVC, and you interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for an immigrant visa, becoming a permanent resident upon entry |
| Affidavit of Support (I-864) | 经济担保书 | The sponsor's commitment to financially support the immigrant; it must meet income standards, and a joint sponsor can be added |
| CSPA (Child Status Protection Act) | 儿童身份保护法 | Calculates a child's age using a statutory formula to prevent, under certain conditions, a child from "aging out" while waiting in line |
| Civil Surgeon | USCIS 指定医生 | The doctor who performs the immigration medical exam (I-693) in the U.S.; abroad, it is a State Department-designated panel physician. See What to know about the I-693 immigration medical exam |
| Green Card (Permanent Resident Card, I-551) | 绿卡 / 永久居民卡 | The card proving permanent resident status; ten-year cards must be renewed periodically |
| Conditional Residence | 有条件居民 | A two-year green card obtained through a marriage of less than two years, or through EB-5 |
| Removal of Conditions (I-751 / I-829) | 解除条件 | Filed within the 90 days before a two-year green card expires: I-751 for marriage-based cases, I-829 for EB-5 |
5. Work visas and employment-based immigration
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Specialty Occupation | 专业职位 | The type of position the H-1B requires, usually one needing a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field |
| LCA (Labor Condition Application) | 劳工条件申请 | A filing the employer makes with the Department of Labor before filing for an H-1B and similar visas, committing to pay at least the required wage, among other things |
| Prevailing Wage | 现行工资 | The going wage the Department of Labor determines for a particular position and area |
| PWD (Prevailing Wage Determination) | 现行工资认定 | The first step of the PERM process, in which the Department of Labor issues the wage standard for the specific position |
| PERM / Labor Certification | 劳工证 | Certification by the Department of Labor after the employer shows, through a recruitment test, that no qualified U.S. workers are available; see PERM labor certification |
| Cap | 名额上限 | The H-1B has a statutory number of visas each fiscal year; when demand exceeds it, they are allocated by registration lottery. The specific rules have changed in recent years |
| Cap-Exempt | 不受名额限制 | H-1Bs at, for example, universities and their affiliated nonprofits or nonprofit and government research organizations, which can be filed year-round |
| Registration (H-1B) | H-1B 电子登记 | For cap-subject H-1Bs, the employer first registers online, and only selected registrations can proceed to file a petition |
| Portability | 转换雇主（可携性） | An eligible H-1B worker can start working for a new employer once that employer files a petition; after an I-485 has been pending 180 days, the applicant can change employers within a same or similar occupation |
| Extraordinary Ability (EB-1A) | 杰出人才 | For people with sustained national or international acclaim in their field, who can self-petition; see EB-1A |
| Multinational Manager (EB-1C) | 跨国公司高管 | The employment-based immigrant category for qualifying multinational managers and executives |
| NIW (National Interest Waiver) | 国家利益豁免 | Waives the job offer and PERM requirements; applies to EB-2. See NIW |
| Self-Petition | 自我申请 | A petition filed by the individual without employer sponsorship, such as EB-1A or NIW |
6. Investor visas and investment immigration
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Treaty Country | 条约国 | A country with a qualifying trade or investment treaty with the U.S.; only its nationals can apply for E-1/E-2. Mainland China is not an E-2 treaty country, while holders of Taiwan passports can apply |
| Treaty Investor (E-2) | 条约投资者 | A nonimmigrant visa for developing and directing a U.S. business through a substantial investment; see E-2 treaty investor visa |
| Substantial Investment | 实质性投资 | The E-2 has no fixed minimum amount; the investment must be large enough relative to the business's total cost to ensure the business can operate successfully |
| At Risk | 承担风险 | The invested funds have been committed and could be lost, rather than sitting idle in an account or carrying a guaranteed return |
| Marginal Enterprise | 边际企业 | A business that only supports the investor and their family; an E-2 business cannot be marginal |
| Source of Funds | 资金来源 | Proof that the investment funds were lawfully obtained, with the path of funds traced; see EB-5 source of funds |
| EB-5 | EB-5 投资移民 | The category for obtaining a green card by investing and creating jobs; see EB-5 |
| TEA (Targeted Employment Area) | 目标就业区 | A rural area or an area of high unemployment, where a lower investment amount applies |
| Regional Center | 区域中心 | An economic unit designated by USCIS to promote EB-5 investment; investors invest in a new commercial enterprise in an affiliated project, can count indirect jobs, and file Form I-526E |
| Direct Investment | 直接投资 | The investor invests in and runs the business themselves, must create full-time jobs directly, and files Form I-526 |
| Job Creation | 创造就业 | Each EB-5 investor must create at least 10 full-time positions for qualifying U.S. workers |
7. International student status
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| SEVP / SEVIS | 学生与交流访问者项目 / 信息系统 | The program that certifies schools for international students and manages student records, and its database |
| I-20 | 入学资格证明 | The F-1 status document the school issues, used to apply for a visa, enter the U.S. and maintain status |
| DSO (Designated School Official) | 学校指定官员 | The staff member in a school's international student office who issues I-20s and updates SEVIS records |
| CPT (Curricular Practical Training) | 课程实习 | Practical training that is part of the curriculum, authorized by the school during studies |
| OPT (Optional Practical Training) | 选择性实习 | Work authorization for practical training related to your field, generally up to 12 months; see F-1 and OPT |
| STEM OPT | STEM 延期 | Graduates with STEM degrees can apply for a further 24-month extension after OPT; the employer must use E-Verify |
| Cap-Gap | 身份空档延续 | When an employer timely files an H-1B change-of-status petition for an F-1 student, the student's status (and OPT work authorization) can continue for a period of time to avoid a gap; the specific period depends on current rules |
| Grace Period | 宽限期 | After completing studies or OPT, F-1 students generally have 60 days to prepare to depart, transfer or change status (new rules may shorten this — check current rules) |
8. Naturalization and travel
| Term | Chinese | Explanation |
|---|
| Naturalization (N-400) | 入籍 | Applying to become a U.S. citizen once a permanent resident meets the requirements; see N-400 requirements and process |
| Continuous Residence | 连续居住 | Before naturalizing, you must have resided continuously for 5 years (3 years on the route through marriage to a citizen spouse); a single trip abroad of more than 6 months may break it |
| Physical Presence | 实际居住 | Days actually spent in the U.S. during the required period: at least 30 months on the 5-year route and at least 18 months on the 3-year route |
| Good Moral Character | 品德良好 | One of the statutory requirements for naturalization, reviewing conduct during the statutory period |
| Re-entry Permit | 回美证 | Applied for by a permanent resident before leaving; can serve as the document for returning after an extended time abroad. See Reentry permits |
| SB-1 (Returning Resident Visa) | 返美居民签证 | Available from an embassy or consulate for permanent residents who stayed abroad too long for reasons beyond their control |
| Abandonment | 放弃身份 | A permanent resident who moves their permanent home out of the U.S. may be found to have abandoned their green card; see Traveling abroad as a green card holder |
| I-407 | 放弃永久居民身份记录 | The form signed when voluntarily giving up a green card; signing it is voluntary |
Didn't find the term you were looking for, or can't make sense of a notice you received? You can send the notice to a lawyer to interpret it for you. For what to look for when choosing a representative, see How to choose a U.S. immigration lawyer.
Not sure which visa or green card route fits you? Book a consultation, and we'll walk you through your options in English or Chinese.
This article is general information and is not legal advice. Laws and policies may change; rely on the latest official information and on an attorney's advice for your specific situation.
