“A” or Alien Number

Identifying number – currently 9 digits – assigned to an immigrant’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents including: I-94, Employment Authorization Car, and Green Card

Asylum Seeker or “Asylee”

Person who has fled personal danger in his or her home country, has entered the United States directly in search of safety and protection and in order to stay must apply for asylum.

Cuban or Haitian Entrant

An immigrant originally from Cuba or Haiti who sets foot on dry U.S. soil.  These immigrants are given special “parolee” immigration status. 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

A Cabinet department of the U.S. federal government with the responsibility of protecting the territory of the U.S. from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters.  DHS includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement which handles immigration. 

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Work eligibility document for refugees and immigrants. 

Refugees are work authorized indefinitely and only need an EAD until they get their Texas ID.

Parolees need to renew their EAD’s in order to be eligible for work after one year, however they can receive an extension on their work authorization until their EAD is renewed.

English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)

English classes for individuals whose first language is not English.

General Education Development (GED)

Equivalency exam for individuals who did not receive a High School diploma

Family Reunification

Case in which resettled refugees are reunited with relatives overseas

Green Card

Immigration document certifying lawful permanent resident status.

Also known as : permanent resident card, alien registration receipt, or resident alien card

I-94

Immigration document that notes immigration status and work authorization.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Branch of DHS responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security.  Charged with handling immigration issues.

Immigrant

Any alien residing in the United States

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

IOM arranges resettlement processing and transportation for migrants and refugees; administers interest-free transportation loans; and provides programs for medical screening, language training, and cultural orientation

Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

Non-U.S. Citizen who enters the United States with an immigrant visa or who has achieved permanent status after entering; entitled to live and work in the Unites States and collect entitlement benefits

Match Grant Program

Program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) with the goal of helping refugees attain self-sufficiency within four months after their arrival in the United States. 

In order to receive Match Grant funding, refugees are enrolled in an Employment Program and are expected to start working within a few months after arrival.  In this program, refugees receive cash assistance, rent and utility assistance, and also have help with job placement.

Naturalization

Process of becoming a U.S. Citizen after 5 years of lawful permanent residency in the Untied States

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

Agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that plans, develops, and directs implementation of a comprehensive program for domestic refugee and entrant resettlement assistance. ORR’s major goal is to provide assistance to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment within the shortest time possible following their arrival in the U.S.

Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs of Texas (OIRA)

The Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) provides services to refugees in Texas. Federally-funded services for eligible individuals include cash assistance, medical assistance and social services.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

Time-limited and need-based transitional cash assistance provided to refugees, asylees, and parolees who do not qualify for cash assistance under TANF or SSI programs and meet federally established income eligibility requirements.

Refugee

Person admitted to the United States from a country of first asylum and who is “unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of origin because of past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on the person’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion”.

Social Security Number

All refugees, asylees, and parolees are legal and receive social security numbers upon entrance into the United States

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

United Nations Secretariat mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees.  Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, and strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

A bureau of DHS responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities.

VOLAG or “Voluntary Agency”

One of ten agencies that resettles refugees admitted to the United States