General Terms
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA):
The genetic material that contains the instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
Paternity Test:
A DNA test to determine if a man is the biological father of a child.
Maternity Test:
A DNA test to determine if a woman is the biological mother of a child.
Sibling DNA Testing:
A DNA test to determine if two individuals are biological siblings.
Grandparent DNA Testing:
A DNA test to determine if a grandparent and grandchild are biologically related.
AABB-accredited laboratory:
A laboratory that has been accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) to meet rigorous standards for quality and accuracy in DNA testing.
Chain of Custody:
A documented record that tracks the movement and handling of evidence to ensure its integrity.
Terms related to Passports
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA):
A document issued by a U.S. consulate to a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent.
Certificate of Citizenship:
A document issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that verifies a person’s U.S. citizenship.
Terms related to Immigration
Petitioner:
The U.S. citizen who is filing an immigrant visa petition for a relative.
Beneficiary:
The foreign relative who is the subject of the immigrant visa petition.
I-130 Request For Evidence letter:
A document issued by USCIS requesting additional evidence to support a claim of relationship in an immigrant visa application.
Secondary Option:
An alternative option offered by USCIS when the primary evidence submitted is insufficient.