| AAO | Administrative Appeals Office (formerly the Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU)) |
| AC | Associate Commissioner (of INS) |
| AC21 | American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act of 2000 |
| ACE | Accelerated Citizen Examination |
| ACPA | Assistant Chief Patrol Agent |
| ACWIA | American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 |
| AD | Approval Date |
| ADD | Assistant District Director. Also, ADDE (Examinations); ADDI (Investigations); ADDM (Management) |
| ADIT | Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications system (ADIT photos are no longer used) |
| AEDPA | Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 |
| AFACS | A-Files Accountability and Control System |
| AFAIK | As Far As I Know |
| A-File | Alien File |
| AG | Attorney General of the United States |
| AILA | American Immigration Lawyers Association |
| AILF | American Immigration Law Foundation |
| ALC | Alien Labor Certification |
| ALJ | Administrative Law Judge |
| AMIS | Asset Management Information System |
| A-Number | Alien Number |
| AO | 1. Administrative Officer 2. Asylum Officer 3. Adjudication Officer |
| AOC | Asylum Officer Corps |
| AOIC | Assistant Officer-in-Charge |
| AOS | 1. Adjustment of Status (USCIS definition) 2. Affidavit of Support (Dept of State definition) |
| ARC | Alien Registration Card (also called Permanent Resident Card or Green Card) |
| A/S | Adjustment of Status |
| AP | 1. Advance Parole 2. Administrative Processing |
| AR | Administrative Review |
| ASC | Application Support Center (fingerprinting location) |
| ASVI | Alien Status Verification Index |
| AVLOS | Automated Visa Lookout System |
| AWO | Affirmance Without Opinion |
| BALCA | Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals |
| BAR | Board of Appellate Review |
| BCA | Bureau of Consular Affairs |
| BCC | I-186 or I-586 Nonresident Alien Border Crossing Card |
| BCIS | Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (now USCIS) |
| BEC | Backlog Elimination Center |
| BIA | Board of Immigration Appeals |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints, signatures, photographs, and other material used to personally and uniquely identify a person |
| BIT | Bilateral Investment Treaty |
| BOP | Bureau of Prisons; also, Burden of Proof |
| BP | Border Patrol |
| CAT | United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
| CBP | (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection |
| CCA | Child Citizenship Act |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CGFNS | Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools |
| CIJ | Chief Immigration Judge |
| CIS | 1. Central Index System 2. Citizenship and Immigration Services (more commonly known as USCIS) 3. Center for Immigration Studies |
| CLAIMS | Computer Linked Application Information Management System |
| CLN | Certificate of Loss of Nationality |
| CMT | Crime of Moral Turpitude (also known as Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT)) |
| CO | 1. Certifying Officer (of DOL) 2. Consulate Officer |
| COA | Class of Admission |
| COB | Country of Birth |
| COC | Country of Citizenship |
| ConOff | Consular Officer |
| CORAP | Central Office of Refugee, Asylum, and Parole |
| COS | Change of Status |
| CP | Consular Processing |
| CPR | Conditional Permanent Resident |
| CPT | Curricular Practical Training |
| CR | Conditional Resident |
| C/S | Change of Status |
| CSC | California Service Center |
| CSPA | Child Status Protection Act |
| CUSA | Citizenship U.S.A. |
| CWOP | Cancelled WithOut Prejudice |
| D&D | Detention and Deportation |
| DAO | 1. District Adjudication Officer 2. Deputy Adjudications Officer |
| DCF | Direct Consular Filing |
| DCPA | Deputy Chief Patrol Agent |
| DD | District Director |
| DDD | Deputy District Director |
| DED | Deferred Enforced Departure |
| DFS | Designated Fingerprint Service |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DO | 1. District Office 2. Deportation Officer |
| DOB | Date of Birth |
| DOD | Date of Defense |
| DOE | Date of Entry |
| DOJ | Department of Justice |
| DOL | Department of Labor |
| DORA | Dallas Office Rapid Adjustment of Status |
| DOS | Department of State |
| DOT | Dictionary of Occupational Titles |
| D/S | Duration of Status |
| DSO | Designated School Official |
| DV | Diversity Visa Lottery Program |
| EAC | Eastern Adjudication Center (now Vermont Service Center) |
| EAD | Employment Authorization Document (I-688B) |
| EAJA | Equal Access to Justice Act |
| ENFORCE | Enforcement Case Tracking System |
| EOIR | Executive Office for Immigration Review |
| EOS | Extension of Stay |
| ER | Expedited Removal |
| E/S | Extension of Status or Stay |
| ETA | Employment and Training Administration |
| EVD | Extended Voluntary Departure |
| EVL | Employment Verification Letter |
| EWI | Entry Without Inspection |
| EWIC | Essential Worker Immigration Coalition |
| FAM | Foreign Affairs Manual |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions |
| FARES | Fees and Applications Receipt and Entry System |
| FCCPT | Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy |
| FCN | Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation |
| FCO | File Control Office |
| FED. REG. | Federal Register |
| FGM | Female Genital Mutilation |
| FMG | Foreign Medical Graduate |
| FOIA | Freedom of Information Act |
| FP | Fingerprinting |
| FR | Federal Register |
| FSN | Foreign Service National |
| FSO | Foreign Service Officer |
| FTA | Free Trade Agreement |
| FTO | Free Trade Officer |
| GAL | General Administration Letter of DOL |
| GC | Green Card |
| GEMS | General Counsel Management System |
| GPO | Government Printing Office |
| Green Card | Permanent Resident Card |
| HB | House Bill |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| HR | House Report |
| HRIFA | Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act |
| IA | Immigration Agent |
| IBIS | Interagency Border Inspection System |
| ICE | (U.S.) Immigration and Customs Enforcement |
| ICMS | Investigations Case Management System |
| ID | Interview Date |
| IDENT | Automated Fingerprint Identification System |
| IE | Immigration Examiner |
| iEAD | Interim EAD |
| IFM | Inspector’s Field Manual |
| IG | Inspector General |
| II | Immigration Inspector |
| IIO | Immigration Information Officer |
| IIRAIRA | Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (also IIRIRA) |
| IJ | Immigration Judge |
| ILT | AILA’s Immigration Law Today |
| IMBRA | International Marriage Brokers Act |
| IMFA | Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments Act |
| IMHO | In My Humble Opinion |
| IMMACT90 | Immigration Act of 1990 |
| IMO | In My Opinion |
| INA | Immigration and Nationality Act |
| INFOPASS | Online appointment system to take an appointment with local immigration officer |
| INS | Immigration and Naturalization Service (now USCIS) |
| INSERTS | Immigration and Naturalization Service Early Research and Transmittal System |
| INSPASS | INS Passenger Accelerated Service System |
| INTCA | Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 |
| INV | Investigations |
| IO | Immigration Officer |
| IR | 1. Interpreter Releases 2. Immediate Relative |
| IRCA | Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 |
| IRS | International Revenue Service |
| IVACS | Immigrant Visa Applicant Control System |
| IV | Immigrant Visa |
| LAPR | Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence |
| LAU | Legalization Appeals Unit |
| LAW | Lawfully Authorized (or Admitted) Worker |
| LCA | Labor Condition Application |
| LC | Labor Certification |
| LIFE | Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act of 2000 |
| LIN | Northern Service Center (now Nebraska Service Center) |
| LPR | Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) |
| LWOP | Leave WithOut Pay |
| LUD | Last Update Date |
| MRD | Machine Readable Document |
| MSC | Missouri Service Center (National Service Center) |
| MS&D | Maintenance of Status and Departure bond |
| MTINA | Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1991 |
| MTR | Motion To Reopen |
| NACARA | Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act |
| NACS | Naturalization Automated Casework System |
| NAFTA | North American Free Trade Agreement |
| NAILS | National Automated Immigration Lookout System |
| NATZ | Naturalization |
| NBC | National Benefits Center |
| NBCOTA | Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998 |
| NBCOT | National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists |
| NOA | Notice of Action. The notice that you receive after filing an application with USCIS. |
| NOIF | Notice of Intent to Fine |
| NC | Name Check |
| ND | Notice Date. The date when your application was entered into the USCIS database. |
| NG | NewsGroup |
| NIV | Nonimmigrant Visa |
| NIW | National Interest Waiver |
| NOF | Notice of Findings |
| NOID | Notice of Intent to Deny |
| NOIR | Notice of Intent to Revoke |
| NRC | National Record Center |
| NSC | Nebraska Service Center |
| NSEERS | National Security Entry Exit Registration System |
| NTA | Notice to Appear |
| NVC | National Visa Center |
| OARS | Outlying Area Reporting Station |
| OCAHO | Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer |
| ODP | Orderly Departure Program |
| OES | Occupational Employment Statistics |
| OI | Operations Instructions |
| OIC | Officer-in-Charge |
| OIL | Office of Immigration Litigation of DOJ’s Civil Division |
| OMB | Office of Management and Budget |
| O*NET | Occupational Information Network |
| ONO | Office of Naturalization Operations (now ISD) |
| OOH | Occupational Outlook Handbook (DOL) |
| OPT | Optional Practical Training |
| O/S | Out of Status, or Overstay |
| OSC | Order to Show Cause; also, Office of Special Counsel |
| OTM | Other than Mexican |
| PA | 1. (Border) Patrol Agent 2. Privacy Act |
| PCC | Police Clearance Certificate |
| PD | Priority Date |
| PERM | Program Electronic Review Management System |
| PISS | Pre-INS Submission Syndrome |
| PLC | Permanent Labor Certification |
| POE | Port of Entry |
| PP | Premium Processing |
| PR | Permanent Residence |
| PRC | Permanent Resident Card (also called an Alien Registration Card or Green Card) |
| PT | Practical Training |
| QDE | Qualified Designated Entity |
| RAW | Replenishment Agricultural Worker |
| RC | Regional Commissioner of USCIS |
| RD | 1. Receipt Date. The date the application was received by USCIS 2. Regional Director of USCIS |
| RFE | Request for Evidence |
| RFI | Request for Initial Evidence |
| RN | Registered Nurse |
| RO | Responsible Officer of J- 1 Exchange Visitor Program |
| ROW | Rest Of the World |
| RSC | Regional Service Center |
| RTD | Refugee Travel Document |
| RVIS | Remote Video Inspection System |
| SAO | Security Advisory Opinion |
| SAO | Supervisory Adjudication Officer |
| SA | Special Agent |
| SAW | Special Agricultural Worker |
| SB | Senate Bill |
| SC | Service Center |
| SDAO | Supervisory District Adjudications Officer |
| SENTRI | Secure Electronic Network for Travelers’ Rapid Inspection |
| SEVIS | Student and Exchange Visitor Information System |
| SIE | Supervisory Immigration Examiner |
| SII | Supervisory Immigration Inspector |
| SIO | 1. Supervisory Immigration Officer; 2. Special Inquiry Officer (former title for Immigration Judges) |
| SK | Specialized Knowledge for L Visa |
| SO | Significant Other |
| SRC | Southern Regional Center (now Texas Service Center) |
| SR | Senate Report |
| SVP | Specific Vocational Preparation |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSN | Social Security Number |
| SWA | State Workforce Agency |
| TA | Trial Attorney |
| TAG | Technical Assistance Guide No. 656-Labor Certifications (1981) |
| TAL | Technology Alert List |
| TCN | Third Country National |
| TPCR | Transition Period Custody Rules |
| TPS | Temporary Protected Status |
| TN | Trade NAFTA |
| TSA | Transportation Security Administration |
| TSC | Texas Service Center |
| TWOV | Transit Without Visa |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| UPL | Unauthorized Practice of Law |
| US-VISIT | United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program |
| USA PATRIOT Act | Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 |
| USC | 1. U.S. Code 2. U.S Citizen |
| USCIS | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) |
| USCS | U.S. Customs Service |
| VAWA | Violence Against Women Act |
| VB | Visa Bulletin |
| VD | Voluntary Departure |
| VO | Visa Office |
| VOLAG | Volunteer Agency |
| VSC | Vermont Service Center |
| VTC | Video Teleconferencing |
| VWPP | Visa Waiver Pilot Program |
| VWP | Visa Waiver Program |
| WAC | Western Adjudication Center (now California Service Center) |
