Acronyms and Abbreviations

[Admin]

A
'A' File
Basic Alien File (contains Alien #)

AAO
Administrative Appeals Office

AILA
American Immigration Lawyers Association

AO
Adjudications Officer

AOS
Adjustment of Status

AP
Advance Parole

AP
Administrative Processing

AR
Administrative Review

ARC
Alien Registration Card (Green Card)

AVLOS
Automated Visa Lookout System

B


BCC
Border Crossing Card (Mexico)

BIA
Board of Immigration Appeals


C

CBP
Customs and Border Protection

CCD
Consular Consolidated Date Base - stores past visa applications and outcomes

CFR
Code of Federal Regulations

CIMT
Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude

CIS
Central Index System

CLAIMS
Computer Linked Application Information Management Systems

CLASS
Consular Lookout and Support System

CP
Consular (immigrant) Processing

CO or ConOff
Consular Officer

CSC
California Service Center (Laguna Niguel)

D

DCF
Direct Conulate Filing. The unofficial term often used on the internet to describe the process of filing the I-130 Petition directly to the US Consulate abroad. The rules governing DCF have changed in January 2007, drastically eliminating most from filing in this manner.

DD
District Director

DHS
Department of Homeland Security

DO
District Office; or Deportation Officer

DOE
Date of Entry

DOS
Department of State

E


EAD
Employment Authorization Document

e-file
A system to file certain applications and petions online

EOIR
Executive Office for Immigration Review

ER
Expedited Removal

EVD
Extended Voluntary Departure

EWI
Entry Without Inspection

F

FAM
Foreign Affairs Manual (Department of State)

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

FDNS
The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security

FOIA
Freedom Of Information Act

FRC
Federal Records Center

FR
Federal Register - The official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

FTS
Fraud Tracking System

G


GC / GREEN CARD
Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)


H

I


IBIS
Interagency Border Inspection System
\
ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICF
Immigration Card Facility (Arlington, TX)

IDENT
Automated Fingerprint Identification System

IE
Immigration Examiner

II
Immigration Inspector

IIO
Immigration Information Officer

IJ
Immigration Judge

IMBRA
International Marriage Brokers Regulation Act

INA
Immigration and Nationality Act

INV
Investigations

IO
Immigration Officer

IRCA
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

IRS
Internal Revenue Service

ISP
Internet service Provider

IV
Immigrant Visa

IVACS
Immigrant Visa Applicant Control System

J

K


KISS
Keep It Short and Simple or Keep It Simple Silly

L


LAPR
Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

LPR
Lawful Permanent Resident

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M


MSC
Missouri Service Center - Now the National Benefits Center

MRD
Machine Readable Document

N


NACS
Naturalization Automated Casework System

NAILS
National Automated Immigration Lookout System

NARA
National Archives and Records Administration

NATZ
Naturalization

NBC
National Benefits Center (Missouri Service Center)

NCIC
National Crime Information Center (FBI)

NCSC
National Customer Service Center

NG
News Group

NIIS
Non-Immigrant Information System

NIV
Non Immigrant Visa

NOA
Notice Of Action

NRC
National Records Center

NSC
Nebraska Service Center (Lincoln)

NTA
Notice to Appear

NVC
National Visa Center (Dept. of State)

O


ONO
Office of Naturalization Operations

OP
Original Poster

P

PDF
Portable Document Format (e.g. used by Adobe Reader)

POE
Port Of Entry

PRC
Permanent Resident Card

Q


R

RAFACS
Receipt and Alien File Accountability and Control System

RFE
Request for Evidence

S

SIE
Supervisory Immigration Examiner

SIO
Supervisory Immigration Officer

SNAP
Scheduling Notification for Applicant Processing system - Fingerprint Scheduling Program

So
Significant Other

SSA
Social Security Administration
SSN

Social Security Number

T

TPS
Temporary Protected Status

TSC
Texas Service Center (Mesquite)

U

USC
United States Citizen

USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCS
United States Customs Service

USDOJ
U.S. Department Of Justice

V

VAWA
Violence Against Woman Act

VD
Voluntary Departure

US Visit
US-VISIT is part of a continuum of security measures that begins overseas and continues through a visitor’s arrival in and departure from the United States. It incorporates eligibility determinations made by both the Departments of Homeland Security and State. See here

VSC
Vermont Service Center (St. Albans)

VWP
Visa Waiver Program


W

X

Y

Z

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FORMS
U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS)

AR-11
Change of Address form. This form must be completed by an alien in the US to report a change of address within 10 days. You can now change your address online here
I-9
Employment Eligibility Verification. Form I-9 Process in a Nutshell
I-90
Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
I-94W & I-94
Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Form. Foreign visitors to the United States complete an I-94 if they hold a valid visa, or an I-94W if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program
I-102
Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival - Departure Document
I-129F
Petition for Alien Fiance(e)
I-130
Petition for Alien Relative
I-131
Application for Travel Document
I-134
Affidavit of Support. Often used for those applying for K visas as one thing a Consulate Officer may use when determining if an applicant will or wont become a public charge to overcome the public charge issue
I-212
Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal
I-468
Data Collection for Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications System (ADIT)
I-485
Application To Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
I-551
Alien Registration Receipt Card - The 'Green' Card
I-601
Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludability
I-612
Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement of INA Section 212(e)
I-693
Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status - Civil Surgeons Medical Report
I-693A
Medical Supplement
I-751
Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence
I-765
Application for Employment Authorization Document
I-797 & I797C
Notice of Action
I-824
Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
I-864
Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act. This form is filed with I-485 when adjusting status or with an application for an Immigrant Visa
I-864A
Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
I-864EZ
Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act. A shorter version of Form I-864 designed for cases that meet certain criteria. See here
I-864W
Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption.See here
I-864P
Poverty Guidelines
I-865
Sponsors change of address. The sponsor of an I-864 affidavit of Support, must use this form to report a change of address within 10 days
G-325A
Biographic Information. Needs to be filled out for petitioner and beneficiary when petitioning, and again when filing for adjustment of status
G-28
Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative
G-639
Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Request
G-884
Return of Original Documents
N-400
Application for Naturalization (to United States Citizen)
N-470
Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes
N-600
Application for Certificate of Citizenship

DEPARTMENT OF STATE (DOS)
212g
The 221(g) is a section of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which is used when the embassy or consulate are unable to take immediate action on a visa case
DS-156
Non-Immigrant Visa Application - For those applying for a K visa
DS-156K
Non-Immigrant Fiance(e) Visa Application
DS-157
Supplemental Non-Immigrant Visa
DS-158
Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant
DS-230
Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration. Parts I & II
DS-3025
Instructions to Panel Physicians for Completing Vaccination Documentation Worksheet. See here