Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Afghan Humanitarian Parolee (AHP)

A person from Afghanistan who has been granted temporary permission from the United Sates government to enter and physically stay in the country for a period of time, usually two years.

Afghan or Iraqi Special Immigrant

A person from Afghanistan or Iraq arriving in the United States after employment with the United States Military or United Sates based agency in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Alien

A person who is not a citizen of the United States.

Amerasian

An alien who was born in Vietnam after January 1, 1962, and before January 1, 1976, and was fathered by a citizen of the United States. (See Section 110)

Asylee

An alien who has been granted asylum in the United States; however, an applicant for asylum (that is, a person who has applied for but has not been granted asylum) is ineligible for assistance, except possibly in the case of a Cuban/Haitian entrant.

USCIS

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS)). This Bureau is within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

CHEP

Cuban/Haitian Entrant Program. This has been combined with the Office of Refugee Services in the continuing Resolution of 1983 (P.L. 97-377).

Cuban Parolee/Haitian Entrant

A person from Cuba/Haiti arriving in the United States without having undergone normal departure proceedings, whose future has not been determined by the USCIS. (See Section 110).

CHP

Cuban Humanitarian Parolee

HHP

Haitian Humanitarian Parolee

DFCS

Division of Family and Children Services

DHS

Department of Homeland Security. USCIS (formerly INS) is within this department.

DOS

Department of State – funds the Reception and Placement Program.

DT

The visa waiver class of admission into the United States. The DT status may also be utilized for Parolees. Parolees with DT status for Haiti, Cuba, Afghan and Ukraine are the only group eligible for public benefits.

ESL

Classes teaching English as a Second Language. (Sometimes called ELT, for English Language Training, or ELI, for English Language Instruction.)

Exclusion Order

A judge’s order referring any alien found to be inadmissible to an Immigration Inspector for further examination.

Family

One or more adults (and children, if any) related by blood or law, and residing in the same household. Where adults other than spouses reside together, each may be considered a separate family by the State.

Form I-94

Serves as a control document, entry-departure record, identification card, and proof of alien registration. The I-94 is issued by the USCIS.

Full-Time Student

A student enrolled in an institution of higher education (other than correspondence school) who is carrying a full-time academic workload as determined by the school.

“Green Card” – Form I-551

Alien Registration Receipt Card, sometimes called “Resident Alien Card.” (It is not green.) The I-551 is issued by the USCIS. (See Section 160 for more information.)

Individual Employment Plan

A written, individualized plan for helping an employable recipient of RCA attain the earliest possible employment. (See Section 120.)

INS

Immigration and Naturalization Service. INS is now the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within DHS.

Institutions of Higher Education

Public or private non-profit and proprietary institutions as well as post secondary vocational institutions that provide educational programs.

Post-secondary vocational institution

A public or private nonprofit educational institution that provides at least a six-month program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

Proprietary institution of higher education

An educational institution which provides at least a six-month program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

Public or private nonprofit institution of higher education

An educational institution which provides an educational program for which it awards an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree; or at least a two-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree; or at least one-year training program which leads to a certificate or degree and prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

LPR – Lawful Permanent Resident

An alien who has an I-551, Alien Registration Receipt Card, who is permanently residing in the U.S.

ORR – Office of Refugee Resettlement

Federal office within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which provides funds to States, public and private, and non-profit agencies to assist refugees and asylees in resettling in the United States and in attaining self-sufficiency.

ORS

Office of Refugee Services.

Parolee

An alien not otherwise admissible who is allowed to enter into the United States at the discretion of the government. Normally parolees are not treated as refugees, except possibly in the case of a Cuban/Haitian parolee.

RCA

Refugee Cash Assistance. (See Section 115.)

Reception and Placement

Basic services provided to refugees during their first 90 days in the U.S. Services are provided by refugee resettlement agencies and funded by the U.S. Department of State. Services include airport reception and basic needs support for at least 30 days; including housing, furnishings, food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Services also include home visits, case management, counseling, orientation, and referrals to health services, employment services, etc. Services are designed to support refugees in achieving economic self-sufficiency.

RES

Refugee Employment Services.

RMA

Refugee Medical Assistance.

Refugee

  1. any person outside his or her country of nationality or residence who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion or political opinion or

  2. any person within his or her country of nationality or residence who is persecuted or has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion or political opinion.

Refugee Resettlement Program Contract Agencies

Private, non-profit agencies, which administer a full range of services to refugees. This includes the Resettlement Agencies.

Sponsor

An individual, church, civic organization, or other local group or organization that undertakes certain responsibilities as a moral commitment to resettle a refugee or entrant in the U.S.

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee (UHP)

  1. Citizens or nationals of Ukraine who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paroled into the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, known as Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs).

  2. Non-Ukrainian individuals who last habitually resided in Ukraine, who DHS has paroled into the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit.

  3. A spouse or child2 of an individual described in section I.A. or I.B. who is paroled into the United States after September 30, 2023.

  4. A parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of an unaccompanied refugee minor3 or an unaccompanied child4 described in section I.A. or I.B. who is paroled into the United States after September 30, 2023.

U4U

United for Ukraine

Victims of Trafficking

  1. An act of human trafficking in which the victim is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or

  2. the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, using force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.