MMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT

Updated Through February 2013

Acronyms used in footnote text

INA: TITLE I

ACT
Definitions
101
ACT
Applicability of Title II to certain Nonimmigrants
102
ACT
Powers and duties of the Attorney General and the Commissioner.
103
ACT
Powers and duties of the Secretary of State
104
ACT
Liaison with internal security officers.
105
ACT Employment authorization for battered spouses of certain
106 nonimmigrants. 2/

INA: TITLE II -- IMMIGRATION

CHAPTER 1 - SELECTION SYSTEM

ACT 201 Worldwide level of immigration.

ACT 202 Numerical limitation to any single foreign state.
ACT 203 Allocation of immigrant visas.
ACT 204 Procedure for granting immigrant status.
ACT 205 Revocation of approval of petitions.
ACT 206 Unused immigrant visas.
Annual admission of refugees and admission of emergency situation
ACT 207
refugees.
ACT 208 Asylum
ACT 209 Adjustment of status of refugees.
ACT 210 Special agricultural workers.
ACT
Repealed
210A

CHAPTER 2 -- QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION OF ALIENS; TRAVEL

CONTROL OF CITIZENS AND ALIENS
ACT
Documentary requirements.
211
ACT General classes of aliens ineligible to receive visas and ineligible for
212 admission; waivers of inadmissibility.
ACT
Admission of certain aliens on giving bond.
213
ACT
Requirements for sponsor's affidavit of support.
213A
ACT
Admission of nonimmigrants.
214
ACT
Travel documentation of aliens and citizens.
215
ACT Conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses and sons
216 and daughters.
ACT Conditional permanent resident status for certain alien entrepreneurs,
216A spouses, and children.
ACT
Visa waiver program for certain visitors.
217
ACT
Admission of temporary H - 2A workers.
218
ACT
Designation of foreign terrorist organization
219

CHAPTER 3 -- ISSUANCE OF ENTRY DOCUMENTS

ACT 221 Issuance of visas.

ACT 222 Applications for visas.
ACT 223 Reentry permits.
ACT 224 Immediate relative and special immigrant visas.

CHAPTER 4 -- INSPECTION, APPREHENSION, EXAMINATION, EXCLUSION, AND

REMOVAL

ACT Lists of alien and citizen passengers arriving or departing; record of resident
231 aliens and citizens leaving permanently for foreign country.
ACT
Detention of aliens for observation and examination.
232
ACT Entry through or form foreign territory and adjacent islands; landing
233 stations.
ACT
Designation of ports of entry for aliens arriving by civil aircraft.
234
ACT Inspection by immigration officers; expedited removal of inadmissible
235 arriving aliens; referral for hearing.
ACT
Preinspection at foreign airports.
235A
ACT Apprehension and detention of aliens.
236
ACT Mandatory Detention of Suspected Terrorists; Habeas Corpus; Judicial
236A Review
ACT
General classes of deportable aliens.
237
ACT
Expedited removal of aliens convicted of committing aggravated felonies.
238
ACT
Initiation of removal proceedings.
239
ACT
Removal proceedings
240
ACT
Cancellation of removal; adjustment of status.
240A
ACT
Voluntary departure.
240B
ACT
Records of admission.
240C
ACT
Detention and removal of aliens ordered removed.
241
ACT
Judicial review of orders of removal
242
ACT
Redesignated
242A
ACT
Repealed
242B
ACT
Penalties related to removal
243
ACT
Temporary protected status
244

CHAPTER 5 -- ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

ACT Adjustment of status of nonimmigrant to that of person admitted for

245 permanent residence.
ACT Adjustment of status of certain entrants before January 1, 1982, to that of
245A person admitted for lawful residence
ACT
Rescission of adjustment of status
246
ACT
Adjustment of status of certain resident aliens to nonimmigrant status
247
ACT
Change of nonimmigrant classification
248
ACT Record of admission for permanent residence in the case of certain aliens
249 who entered the United States prior to July 1, 1924 or January 1, 1972
ACT
Removal of aliens who have fallen into distress
250
CHAPTER 6 -- SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ALIEN CREWMEN

ACT
Lists of alien crewmen; reports of illegal landings
251
ACT
Conditional permits to land temporarily
252
ACT
Hospital treatment of alien crewmen afflicted with certain diseases
253
ACT
Control of alien crewmen
254
ACT Employment on passenger vessels of aliens afflicted with certain
255 disabilities
ACT
Discharge of alien crewmen
256
ACT Bringing alien crewmen into United States with intent to evade immigration
257 laws
ACT
Limitations on performance of longshore work by alien crewmen
258

CHAPTER 7 -- REGISTRATION OF ALIENS

ACT 261 Aliens seeking entry into the United States

ACT 262 Registration of aliens in the United States
ACT 263 Provisions governing registration of special groups
ACT 264 Forms and procedure
ACT 265 Notices of change of address
ACT 266 Penalties

CHAPTER 8 -- GENERAL PENALTY PROVISIONS

ACT 271 Prevention of unauthorized landing of aliens

ACT 272 Bringing in aliens subject to exclusion on a health-related ground
ACT 273 Unlawful bringing of aliens into United States
ACT 274 Bringing in and harboring certain aliens
ACT
Unlawful employment of aliens
274A
ACT
Unfair immigration-related employment practices
274B
ACT
Penalties for document fraud
274C
ACT
Civil penalties for failure to depart
274D
Entry of alien at improper time or place; misrepresentation and
ACT 275
concealment of facts
ACT 276 Reentry of removed alien
ACT 277 Aiding or assisting certain aliens to enter the United States
ACT 278 Importation of alien for immoral purpose
ACT 279 Jurisdiction of district courts
ACT 280 Collection of penalties and expenses

CHAPTER 9 -- MISCELLANEOUS

ACT
Nonimmigrant visa fees
281
ACT
Printing of reentry permits and blank forms of manifests and crew lists
282
ACT Travel expenses and expense of transporting remains of immigration officers
283 and employees who die outside of the United States
ACT
Members of the Armed Forces
284
ACT
Disposal of privileges at immigrant stations
285
ACT
Disposition of moneys collected under the provisions of this title
286
ACT
Powers of immigration officers and employees
287
ACT
Local jurisdiction over immigrant stations
288
ACT
American Indians born in Canada
289
ACT
Central file; information from other departments and agencies
290
ACT
Burden of proof
291
ACT
Right to counsel
292
ACT
Deposit of and interest on cash received to secure immigration bonds
293
ACT
Undercover investigation authority
294
ACT Transportation of remains of immigration officers and border patrol agents
295 killed in the line of duty

INA: TITLE III

CHAPTER 1 -- NATIONALITY AT BIRTH AND BY COLLECTIVE NATURALIZATION

ACT
Nationals and citizens of the United States at birth
301
ACT
Persons born in Puerto Rico
302
ACT Persons born in the Canal Zone or Republic of Panama on or after February
303 26, 1904
ACT
Persons born in Alaska on or after March 30, 1867
304
ACT
Persons born in Hawaii
305
ACT
Persons living in and born in the Virgin Islands
306
ACT
Persons living in and born in Guam
307
ACT
Nationals but not citizens of the United States at birth
308
ACT
Children born out of wedlock
309

CHAPTER 2 -- NATIONALITY THROUGH NATURALIZATION

ACT
Naturalization authority
310
ACT
Eligibility for naturalization
311
ACT Requirements as to understanding the English language, history, principles
312 and form of government of the United States
ACT Prohibition upon the naturalization of persons opposed to government or law,
313 or who favor totalitarian forms of government
ACT Ineligibility to naturalization of deserters from the Armed Forces of the
314 United States
ACT Alien relieved from training and service in the Armed Forces of the United
315 States because of alienage barred from citizenship
ACT Requirements as to residence, good moral character, attachment to the
316 principles of the Constitution, and favorable disposition to the United States
ACT
Temporary absence of persons performing religious duties
317
ACT
Prerequisites to naturalization -- burden of proof
318
ACT
Married persons and employees of certain nonprofit organizations
319
ACT Children born outside the United States and residing permanently in the
320 United States; conditions under which citizenship automatically acquired
ACT
[Repealed]
321
ACT Children born and residing outside the United States; conditions for acquiring
322 certificate of citizenship
ACT
Repealed
323
ACT
Former citizens of United States regaining United States citizenship
324
ACT Nationals but not citizens of the United States; residence within outlying
325 possessions
ACT
Resident Philippine citizens excepted from certain requirements
326
ACT Former United States citizens losing citizenship by entering the armed forces
327 of foreign countries during World War II
ACT
Naturalization through service in the Armed Forces of the United States
328
Naturalization through active-duty service in the Armed Forces during World
ACT
War I, World War II, the Korean hostilities, the Vietnam hostilities, or in
329
other periods of military hostilities
Posthumous citizenship through death while on active-duty service in the
ACT
armed forces during World War I, World War II, the Korean hostilities, the
329A
Vietnam hostilities, or in other periods of military hostilities
ACT
Constructive residence through service on certain United States vessels
330
ACT
Alien enemies; naturalization under specified conditions and procedure
331
ACT
Procedural and administrative provisions; executive functions
332
ACT
Photographs
333
ACT
Application for naturalization; declaration of intention
334
ACT
Investigation of applicants; examination of applications
335
ACT
Hearings on denials of applications for naturalization
336
ACT
Oath of renunciation and allegiance
337
ACT
Certificate of naturalization; contents
338
ACT Functions and duties of clerks and records of declarations of intention and
339 applications for naturalization
ACT
Revocation of naturalization
340
ACT
Certificates of citizenship or U.S. non-citizen national status; procedure
341
Cancellation of certificates issued by the Attorney General, the
ACT
Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner; action not to affect citizenship
342
status
ACT
Documents and copies issued by the Attorney General
343
ACT
Fiscal provisions
344
ACT Repealed
345
ACT Authorization granted for publication and distribution of citizenship
346 textbooks from naturalization fees
ACT
Compilation of naturalization statistics and payment for equipment
347
ACT
Repealed
348

CHAPTER 3 -- LOSS OF NATIONALITY

ACT
Loss of nationality by native-born or naturalized citizen
349
ACT
Repealed
350
ACT
Restrictions on loss of nationality
351
ACT
Repealed
352
ACT
Repealed
353
ACT
Repealed
354
ACT
Repealed
355
ACT Nationality lost solely from performance of acts or fulfillment of
356 conditions
ACT
Application of treaties; exceptions
357

CHAPTER 4 -- MISCELLANEOUS

Certificate of diplomatic or consular officer of the United States as to loss of

ACT
American nationality under Chapter IV, Nationality Act of 1940, or under
358
Chapter 3 of this title
ACT Certificate of nationality for a person not a naturalized citizen for use in
359 proceedings of a foreign state
ACT Judicial proceedings for declaration of United States nationality in event of
360 denial of rights and privileges as national
ACT
Cancellation of United States passports and Consular Reports of Birth
361

INA: TITLE IV

CHAPTER 1 -- MISCELLANEOUS

ACT 401 Repealed

ACT 402 Omitted as executed
ACT 403 Omitted as executed
ACT 404 Authorization of appropriations
ACT 405 Savings clauses
ACT 406 Separability
ACT 407 Effective date

CHAPTER 2 -- REFUGEE ASSISTANCE

ACT
Office of Refugee Resettlement
411
ACT Authorization for programs for domestic resettlement of and assistance to
412 refugees
ACT
Congressional reports
413
ACT
Authorization of appropriations
414

INA: TITLE V

ACT 501 Definitions

ACT 502 Establishment of removal court
ACT 503 Removal court procedure
ACT 504 Removal Hearing
ACT 505 Appeals
ACT 506 Custody and release pending removal hearing
ACT 507 Custody and release after removal hearing

ACRONYMS

IMMACT is the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-649, Stat. (November 29, 1990).

VCCLEA is the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-
322, 108 Stat. 1796 (September 13, 1994).

INTC is the Immigration and Naturalization Technical Corrections of 1994, Pub. L. 103-
416, Stat. (October 25, 1994).

MTINA is the Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization

Amendments of 1991, Pub. L. 102-232, 105 Stat. 1733. (December 12, 1991).

AEDPA is the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-132,
110 Stat. 1214 (April 24, 1996).
IIRIRA is the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsiblity Act of 1996, Pub.
L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 (September 30, 1996).