Definition
Unlawful Presence
Also: ULP
Time spent in the U.S. after a period of authorized stay has expired or without admission.
Accruing more than 180 days of unlawful presence triggers a 3-year bar on reentry; more than 1 year triggers a 10-year bar. Unlawful presence is one of the most common grounds requiring an I-601A or I-601 waiver.
See also
More immigration terms
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USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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USCIS Receipt Number
A 13-character identifier assigned to each USCIS case (e.g., MSC2090123456).
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USCIS Service Center
A USCIS facility that processes paperwork only — never visited in person.
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VAWA Self-Petition
Self-petition path to a green card for abuse victims of U.S. citizen or LPR family members.
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Visa Bulletin
Monthly DOS publication showing which priority dates are eligible to move forward.
Not legal advice. Definitions are provided for educational use. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.