asylumProtection given to someone who fled danger. In the United States it is asked for by a person already in the country or at a port of entry.
borderThe line that separates two countries. Some borders follow natural features of the land or the sea; others were set by agreements between governments.
citizenSomeone who is a member of a nation by law. A person can be a citizen from birth or become one later.
emigrateTo move out of one's homeland for good. From the side of the country left behind, the person who goes is an emigrant.
immigrantA newcomer who makes a home in another nation. Tourists and others on short stays are not counted as immigrants.
immigrationArriving in a foreign land in order to settle there. It is the same move as emigration, seen from the country of arrival.
migrationRelocating from one's usual home to another area. It can cross a border or stay inside one country.
naturalizationThe steps by which a foreigner gains citizenship. New U.S. citizens finish it by taking the Oath of Allegiance.
passportA travel document proving identity and nationality. A government issues it for international travel.
port of entryA place where people may lawfully enter a country. International airports and road crossings on a land border are usually ports of entry.
refugeeSomeone who escaped their country to find safety. Refugees cannot go home because they fear persecution or face war or violence there.
visaAn entry permit that a foreign government issues. A U.S. visa does not by itself grant the right to enter; officers at the port of entry decide.
Show all 36 terms (24 more)
Push and pull 12
country of originThe nation a migrant has moved away from. The country the migrant moves to is called the country of destination.
diasporaA people living scattered far from their homeland. Its members often keep cultural and emotional ties to that homeland.
ethnic enclaveA district where one cultural group is concentrated. New immigrants often settle close to one another and build networks there.
famineA time when a whole area runs short of food. War, crop failure and natural disasters are among its causes.
forced migrationBeing made to leave home against one's will. Conflict, violence and disasters are common causes.
internal migrationMoving to a new home within the same country. Worldwide it is the most common kind of human migration.
persecutionCruel treatment aimed at a person or a group. Its most common forms target religion, race and political views.
pull factorAn attraction that draws people to a new place. Job opportunities and better living conditions are examples.
push factorA hardship that drives people to leave home. A lack of jobs, war and drought are examples.
remittanceMoney a migrant sends to family back home. Most of it is sent from richer countries to poorer ones.
resettlementThe lasting move of refugees to a new country. Resettled refugees may stay for the long term and may later become citizens.
voluntary migrationMoving by one's own free choice. Push and pull factors both shape the choice.
Citizenship 12
Certificate of NaturalizationThe paper that proves someone became a citizen. A new citizen receives it after taking the Oath of Allegiance.
civics testAn oral test on U.S. history and government. It is given at the naturalization interview, together with an English test.
consulateA country's office in a foreign city, run by a consul. U.S. consulates and embassies abroad handle applications for visas.
customsThe government service that inspects incoming goods. It also collects tariffs, the taxes on imports.
dual citizenshipBeing a citizen of two countries at once. It is also called dual nationality.
embassyA country's chief office in another nation. It usually stands in the capital of the country that hosts it.
foreign-bornBorn outside the country where one now lives. The Census Bureau counts as foreign born everyone who was not a citizen of the United States at birth.
Green CardThe U.S. card that proves permanent resident status. Its official name is the Permanent Resident Card. Most cards run for 10 years.
lawful permanent residentA noncitizen allowed to live in a country for good. In the United States such a person is also called a Green Card holder.
Oath of AllegianceThe pledge of loyalty spoken to become a U.S. citizen. It includes a promise to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States.
quotaA fixed limit on how many people are admitted. A 1924 law limited immigration to the United States through quotas based on national origin.
statelessNot counted as a citizen by any country. A stateless person has no nationality.
How this list was compiled: Term list chosen for this site on 2026-10-16. Each meaning is written in our own words and was checked that day against the Glossary of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary), which defines visa, port of entry, refugee, asylee, naturalization, resettlement, lawful permanent resident, Green Card, Certificate of Naturalization and stateless, and against the Key Migration Terms of the International Organization for Migration (https://www.iom.int/key-migration-terms, read in the Internet Archive copy), which defines immigration, immigrant, emigration, migration, internal migration, displacement, country of origin, country of destination, remittances, naturalization, visa and stateless person. The oath and the civics test were checked on the USCIS pages Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and The Naturalization Interview and Test, asylum and dual citizenship on USA.gov (https://www.usa.gov/asylum, https://www.usa.gov/dual-citizenship), foreign-born on the Census Bureau page About the Foreign-Born Population (https://www.census.gov/topics/population/foreign-born/about.html), and the 1924 quota law on the page of the Office of the Historian of the Department of State (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act). Each term was also checked against its English Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/) or its entry in Wiktionary, the free dictionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/), both under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license: Immigration, Emigration, Human migration, Travel visa, Passport, Port of entry, Refugee, Border, Forced displacement, Internal migration, Persecution, Famine, Third-country resettlement, Diaspora, Ethnic enclave, Remittance, Permanent residency, Green card, Multiple citizenship, Consul (diplomacy), Diplomatic mission, Customs, Immigration Act of 1924 and Foreign born. The rows passport, border, push factor, pull factor, voluntary migration, persecution, famine, diaspora, ethnic enclave, consulate, embassy and customs rest on Wikipedia and Wiktionary alone. The sentence after each meaning is our own. Licence: own work
How it works
This immigration vocabulary worksheet opens on the words for moving to a new country: immigrant, emigrate, citizen, visa, passport, port of entry, refugee, asylum and naturalization. Twelve meanings wait in a mixed order, with the key on page two.
Read the full guide
Push and pull
In Set, the second sheet is the geography of migration: push factor, pull factor, voluntary migration, forced migration, internal migration, persecution, famine, country of origin, diaspora, ethnic enclave, remittance and resettlement.
Citizenship
The third follows the path to U.S. citizenship and the offices on the way: lawful permanent resident, Green Card, Oath of Allegiance, civics test, dual citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, consulate, embassy, stateless, customs, quota and foreign-born.
One-line meanings for vocabulary practice, not legal advice; immigration law differs by country and changes over time.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between an immigrant and an emigrant?
They are the same person seen from two sides. Someone who leaves a country to settle elsewhere is an emigrant to the country left behind and an immigrant to the country of arrival.
What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker?
An asylum seeker has asked a country for protection and is waiting for a decision. A refugee has been recognized as someone who fled their country and cannot return because of persecution, war or violence.
What are push and pull factors?
Push factors are hardships that drive people away from home, such as famine, a natural disaster or poor housing. Pull factors are attractions of a new place, such as education, security or family already living there.