Glossary

Common terms and abbreviations in the EB-3 process.

PERM (labor certification): The employer’s application to the Department of Labor showing that no able, willing, qualified U.S. worker is available and that hiring a foreign worker won’t hurt U.S. workers’ wages and conditions. Filed on Form ETA-9089.
Prevailing wage: The wage DOL sets for the job in that area. The employer must pay at least this much. Requested on Form ETA-9141.
Local recruitment: Required advertising of the job, through newspapers, the state workforce agency and other channels, before PERM is filed.
Priority date: Usually the date DOL received the PERM application. It sets your place in line.
I-140: The employer’s immigrant petition to USCIS, which checks that the worker meets the job requirements and the employer can pay the wage.
Premium processing: A fee (Form I-907) for USCIS to decide the I-140 within a set time. It doesn’t shorten the visa bulletin wait.
Visa Bulletin: The State Department’s monthly table, with Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts.
Final Action Date: If your priority date is earlier, your green card or immigrant visa can be issued.
Date for Filing: If your priority date is earlier, you may file your paperwork early.
Retrogression: When demand exceeds supply and bulletin dates move backward.
Chargeability: Visa numbers are counted by country of birth, not nationality.
Adjustment of status (AOS): Becoming a permanent resident from inside the U.S. by filing Form I-485.
I-485: The application to adjust status.
EAD (work permit): Employment authorization you can request on Form I-765 while an I-485 is pending.
Advance parole: Permission to travel and return while an I-485 is pending, requested on Form I-131.
Consular processing: Getting an immigrant visa through an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
National Visa Center (NVC): The State Department office that collects immigrant visa documents and fees and schedules consular interviews.
DS-260: The online immigrant visa application, submitted through the NVC.
Immigration medical exam: For adjustment, Form I-693 completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon; for consular processing, an exam by an embassy-approved panel physician.
Child Status Protection Act (CSPA): A law that, in some cases, lets children over 21 still immigrate as dependents. See the CSPA calculator.
AC21: A 2000 law covering H-1B extensions beyond six years and job portability after an I-485 has been pending 180 days.
Lawful permanent resident (LPR): A green card holder.
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which decides I-140s, I-485s and other applications.
Department of Labor (DOL): Decides prevailing wages and labor certifications.
Request for Evidence (RFE): A USCIS request for more documents. Answer by the deadline; it isn’t a denial.
Beneficiary: The sponsored foreign worker.
Petitioner: The U.S. employer that files the PERM and I-140.