Panama Canal Act Immigrants
Three categories of special immigrants established by Public Law 96-70 (Act of 9/27/79): 1) certain former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government, their spouses and children; 2) certain former employees of the U.S. government in the Panama Canal Zone, their spouses and children; and 3) certain former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government on April 1, 1979, their spouses and children. The Act provides for admission of a maximum of 15,000 immigrants, at a rate of no more than 5,000 each year. They are not, however, subject to the worldwide limitation.

Parolee
A parolee is an alien, appearing to be inadmissible to the inspecting officer, allowed to enter the United States under urgent humanitarian reasons or when that alien’s entry is determined to be for significant public benefit. Parole does not constitute a formal admission to the United States and confers temporary admission status only, requiring parolees to leave when the conditions supporting their parole cease to exist. Although these aliens are processed as nonimmigrants upon arrival, parolees are not included in nonimmigrant admission data. Types of parolees include:  1) Deferred inspection — Parole may be granted to an alien who appears not to be clearly admissible to the inspecting officer. An appointment will be made for the alien’s appearance at another Service office where more information is available and the inspection can be completed. 2) Advance parole — authorized at an INS District office in advance of alien’s arrival. 3) Port of entry parole — authorized at the port upon alien’s arrival. 4) Humanitarian parole — authorized at INS headquarters, e.g., granted to an alien who has a serious medical condition which would make detention or immediate return inappropriate. 5) Public interest parole — authorized at INS headquarters, e.g., granted to an alien who is a witness in legal proceedings or is subject to prosecution in the United States.  6) Overseas parole — authorized at an INS District or suboffice while the alien is still overseas.

Per-Country Limit
The maximum number of family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas that can be issued to any country in a fiscal year. The limits are calculated each fiscal year depending on the total number of family-sponsored and employment-based visas available. No more than 7 percent of the visas may be issued to natives of an independent country in a fiscal year; dependencies of independent countries cannot exceed 2 percent. The per-country limit does not indicate, however, that a country is entitled to the maximum number of visas each year, just that it cannot receive more than that number. Because of the combined workings of the preference system and per-country limits, most countries do not reach this level of visa issuance.

Permanent Resident Alien
  See Immigrant.

Port of Entry
  Any location in the United States or its territories which is designated as a point of entry for aliens and U.S. citizens. All district and files control offices are also considered ports since they become locations of entry for aliens adjusting to immigrant status.

Preinspection
  Complete immigration inspection of airport passengers before departure from a foreign country. No further immigration inspection is required upon arrival in the United States other than submission of INS Form I-94 for nonimmigrant aliens.

Preference System (prior to fiscal year 1992)
The six categories among which 270,000 immigrant visa numbers are distributed each year during the period 1981-91. This preference system was amended by the Immigration Act of 1990, effective fiscal year 1992.  (See Preference System (Immigration Act of 1990).)   The six categories were: unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens (20 percent); spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence (26 percent); members of the professions or persons of exceptional ability in the sciences and arts (10 percent); married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (10 percent); brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens over 21 years of age (24 percent); and needed skilled or unskilled workers (10 percent). A nonpreference category, historically open to immigrants not entitled to a visa number under one of the six preferences just listed, had no numbers available beginning in September 1978.

Preference System (Immigration Act of 1990)
The nine categories since fiscal year 1992 among which the family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant preference visas are distributed. The family-sponsored preferences are: 1) unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; 2) spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens; 3) married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; 4) brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. The employment-based preferences are: 1) priority workers (persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers); 2) professionals with advanced degrees or aliens with exceptional ability; 3) skilled workers, professionals (without advanced degrees), and needed unskilled workers; 4) special immigrants; and 5) employment creation immigrants (investors). The number of visas issued annually may vary; they are described in Appendix 2.

Principal Alien
The alien from whom another alien derives a privilege or status under immigration law or regulations (usually spouses and minor children).