Print this Page

Glossary of Immigration Terms & Legal Terms Begining with P

Panama Canal Act Immigrant

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
[ read more on Panama Canal Act Immigrant ]

Panel

1. In appellate cases, a group of judges (usually three) assigned to decide the case; 2. In the jury selection process, the group of potential jurors; 3. The list of attorneys who are b
[ read more on Panel ]

Panel Physician

A medically trained, licensed and experienced doctor practicing overseas who is appointed by the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. These medical professionals receive U.S. immigration-fo
[ read more on Panel Physician ]

Paralegal

A person who is not a lawyer but who has some relevant legal training and works under the supervision of a lawyer. Many attorneys employ paralegals to help them in a wide array of areas
[ read more on Paralegal ]

Parole

The release of a prison inmate–granted by the U.S. Parole Commission–after the inmate has completed part of his or her sentence in a federal prison. When the parolee is rele
[ read more on Parole ]

Parolee

A parolee is an alien, appearing to be inadmissible to the inspecting officer, allowed into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or when that alien's entry is determin
[ read more on Parolee ]

Per Country Limit

The maximum number of family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas that can be issued to citizens of any country in a fiscal year. The limits are calculated each fiscal year d
[ read more on Per Country Limit ]

Per Curiam

Latin, meaning "for the court." In appellate courts, often refers to an unsigned opinion.

Peremptory Challenge

A district court may grant each side in a civil or criminal trial the right to exclude a certain number of prospective jurors without cause or giving a reason.

Permanent Resident

Any person not a citizen of the United States who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. Also known as "Permanent Re
[ read more on Permanent Resident ]

Permanent Resident Alien

An alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA
[ read more on Permanent Resident Alien ]

Petit Jury or Trial Jury

A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consis
[ read more on Petit Jury or Trial Jury ]

Petition

The document that initiates the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding, setting forth basic information regarding the debtor, including name, address, chapter under which the case is filed,
[ read more on Petition ]

Petty Offense

A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison.

Physical Presence

From travel.state.gov The place where a person is actually, physically located.

Plaintiff

A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court.

Plan

A debtor's detailed description of how the debtor proposes to pay creditors' claims over a fixed period of time.

Plea

In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges.

Pleading

Written statements filed with the court which describe a party's legal or factual assertions about the case.

Polygamy

From travel.state.gov Having more than one husband or wife at the same time. Polygamy is illegal under American law.

Port of Entry

Any location in the United States or its territories that is designated as a point of entry for aliens and U.S. citizens. All district and files control offices are also considered port
[ read more on Port of Entry ]

Post

From travel.state.gov American Embassy, consulate or other diplomatic mission abroad. Not all American embassies, consulates and missions are visa-issuing posts.

Postpetition Transfer

A transfer of the debtor's property made after the commencement of the case.

Poverty Guidelines

From travel.state.gov The Department of Health and Human Services publishes a list every year giving the lowest income acceptable for a family of a particular size so that the family do
[ read more on Poverty Guidelines ]

Pre-inspection

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
[ read more on Pre-inspection ]

Prebankruptcy Planning

The arrangement (or rearrangement) of a debtor's property to allow the debtor to take maximum advantage of exemptions. (Prebankruptcy planning typically includes converting nonexem
[ read more on Prebankruptcy Planning ]

Precedent

A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court. Judges will generally "follow precedent" . meaning that they use the princ
[ read more on Precedent ]

Preference Immigration

From travel.state.gov A system for determining which and when people can immigrate to the United States within the limits of immigration set by Congress. In family immigration preferenc
[ read more on Preference Immigration ]

Preference System

After 1992: 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 fami
[ read more on Preference System ]

Preferential Debt Payment

A debt payment made to a creditor in the 90-day period before a debtor files bankruptcy (or within one year if the creditor was an insider) that gives the creditor more than the credito
[ read more on Preferential Debt Payment ]

Presentence Report

A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appr
[ read more on Presentence Report ]

Pretrial Conference

A meeting of the judge and lawyers to plan the trial, to discuss which matters should be presented to the jury, to review proposed evidence and witnesses, and to set a trial schedule. T
[ read more on Pretrial Conference ]

Pretrial Service

A function of the federal courts that takes place at the very start of the criminal justice process–after a person has been arrested and charged with a federal crime and before he
[ read more on Pretrial Service ]

Principal Alien

The alien who applies for immigrant status and from whom another alien may derive lawful status under immigration law or regulations (usually spouses and minor unmarried children).

Principal Applicant

From travel.state.gov The person named in the petition. For example, an American citizen may file a petition for his married daughter to immigrate to the United States. His daughter wil
[ read more on Principal Applicant ]

Priority

The Bankruptcy Code's statutory ranking of unsecured claims that determines the order in which unsecured claims will be paid if there is not enough money to pay all unsecured claim
[ read more on Priority ]

Priority Claim

An unsecured claim that is entitled to be paid ahead of other unsecured claims that are not entitled to priority status. Priority refers to the order in which these unsecured claims are
[ read more on Priority Claim ]

Priority Date

In the USCIS Immigrant visa petition application process, the priority date is the date the petition was filed. If the alien relative has a priority date on or before the date listed in
[ read more on Priority Date ]

Pro Per

A slang expression sometimes used to refer to a pro se litigant. It is a corruption of the Latin phrase "in propria persona."

Pro Se

Representing oneself. Serving as one's own lawyer.

Pro Tem

Temporary.

Probation

Sentencing option in the federal courts. With probation, instead of sending an individual to prison, the court releases the person to the community and orders him or her to complete a p
[ read more on Probation ]

Probation Officer

Officers of the probation office of a court. Probation officer duties include conducting presentence investigations, preparing presentence reports on convicted defendants, and supervisi
[ read more on Probation Officer ]

Procedure

The rules for conducting a lawsuit; there are rules of civil procedure, criminal procedure, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure.

Proof of Claim

A written statement describing the reason a debtor owes a creditor money, which typically sets forth the amount of money owed. (There is an official form for this purpose.)

Property of the Estate

All legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case.

Prosecute

To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.

Public Charge

Refers to becoming dependent upon the government for the expenses of living (food, shelter, clothing, etc.). Following U.S. immigration law, an applicant is ineligible for a visa if he/
[ read more on Public Charge ]