8 USC § 1572 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t8/s1572"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "8 USC § 1572 - Definitions"
title_number: 8
title_name: "ALIENS AND NATIONALITY"
section_number: "1572"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 13
chapter_name: "IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 106–313, title II, § 203, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1263.)"
---


# § 1572. Definitions

In this subchapter:

**(1)** **Backlog** The term “backlog” means, with respect to an immigration benefit application, the period of time in excess of 180 days that such application has been pending before the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

**(2)** **Immigration benefit application** 8 U.S.C. 1101

The term “immigration benefit application” means any application or petition to confer, certify, change, adjust, or extend any status granted under the Immigration and Nationality Act [ et seq.].

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 106–313, title II, § 203, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1263.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in par. (2), is , , which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 1101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under .