Immigration Law Dictionary

Immigration Law terms

Alien

A citizen of a state in transit, working, residing or otherwise within the territory of another state.

Asylum

A secure place of refuge.

Asylum Shopping

The practise by an individual given asylum by one state as a refugee, to then use that status to attempt to migrate to another country.

Citizenship

The status of an individual as owing allegiance to, and enjoying the benefits of, a designated state.

Consul

A representative of a foreign government assigned to another country to promote and protect the commercial interests of the subjects of his government.

Convention Refugee

An individual defined in the 1951 UN refugee treaty as having a well-founded fear that, were he or she to return to their country of origin, he or she would suffer persecution.

Deportation

The removal of a foreign national under immigration laws for reasons such as illegal entry or conduct dangerous to the public welfare.

Espionage

The practice of playing the spy, or of employing spies.

Ex Patriate

A person who has abandoned his or her country of origin and citizenship and has become a subject or citizen of another country.

Expatriation

The voluntary renunciation or abandonment of citizenship.

Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds

A criteria of immigration law; an unusual, undeserved or disproportionate hardship caused to a person seeking consideration.

Human Trafficking

The transportation or commercial exchange of an individual by coercion or deception for the purpose of exploitation.

Marriage of Convenience

A marriage entered into not for love and mutual affection but in order to facilitate immigration.

Moral Turpitude

An act of baseness or depravity contrary to accepted moral standards.

National Interest

A matter which has or could have impact upon all other members of society.

Passport

A document issued in the name of a government vouching for the citizenship of an identified individual.

Refoulement

The return of an alleged refugee to his state of origin.

Refugee

A person who is outside his state of origin or of residence, and cannot return for fear of human-rights related persecution.

State

Groups of people which have acquired international recognition as an independent country and which have a population, a common language and a defined and distinct territory.

Visa

A permit issued by a state allowing for the temporary visit by a citizen of another, for a period of time and a specific purpose.