U.S. Immigration Law Research Guide: Commonly Used Abbreviations

A/S

Adjustment of Status (also AOS)

AAO

Administrative Appeals Office

ADD

Assistant District Director

ADIT

Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunications System

AFM

Adjudicator’s Field Manual (document)

AG

Attorney General of the United States

AILA

American Immigration Lawyers’ Association

AO

Asylum Officer

AOS

Adjustment of Status (also A/S)

APA

Administrative Procedure Act

ARC

Alien Registration Card (also called “permanent resident card” or “green card”)

ASC

Application Support Center

BALCA

Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals

BAR

Board of Appellate Review

BCC

Border Crossing Card

BCIS

Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS)

BIA

Board of Immigration Appeals (EOIR)

BP

Border Patrol (CBP)

C/S

Change of Status

CAT

U.N. Convention Against Torture

CPB

Customs and Border Protection (DHS)

CIJ

Chief Immigration Judge

CLASS

Consular Lookout and Support System

CLN

Certificate of Loss of Nationality

CMT

Crime of Moral Turpitude (also, CIMT)

CR

Conditional Resident

CSC

California Service Center (USCIS)

DD

District Director

DHS

Department of Homeland Security

DO

District Office or Deportation Officer

DOD

Department of Defense

DOE

Date of Entry

DOT

Dictionary of Occupational Titles

DRO

Detention and Removal Operations or Detention and Removal Office (ICE)

DV

Diversity Visa Lottery Program

E/S

Extension of Status

EA

Employment Authorization

EAC

Eastern Adjudication Center (Now Vermont Service Center)

EAD

Employment Authorization Document

EEV

Electronic Employment Verification (E-Verify)

EOIR

Executive Office for Immigration Review

ER

Expedited Removal

ETA

Employment & Training Administration (DOL)

EVD

Extended Voluntary Departure

EWI

Entry without inspection

FAM

Foreign Affairs Manual

FDC

Federal Detention Center

FSN

Foreign Service National

FSO

Foreign Service Official

GMC

Good Moral Character

GPO

Government Printing Office

H.R.

House Report

HSA 

Homeland Security Act of 2002

IBIS

Interagency Border Inspection System

ICE

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (DHS)

ICMS

Investigations Case Management System

IFM

Inspector’s Field Manual

IG

Inspector General

IIO

Immigration Information Officer

IIRIRA

Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996

IJ

Immigration Judge

ILT

AILA’s Immigration Law Today

Ceased publication in 2008, but selected back issues are available on the AILA website.

IMFA

Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments Act of 1986

INA

Immigration & Nationality Act

INS

Immigration & Naturalization Service (now defunct)

IO

Immigration Officer

IR

Immediate Relative

IRCA

Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986

ISD

Immigration Services Division

IV

Immigrant Visa

KCC

Kentucky Consular Center

LAW

Lawfully Authorized or Admitted Worker

LC

Labor Certification

LCA

Labor Condition Application

LAU

Legalization Appeals Unit

LIN

Northern Service Center (Lincoln); now Nebraska Service Center

LPR

Lawful Permanent Resident

MRD

Machine Readable Document

MRP

Machine Readable Passport

MSPA

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act

MTR

Motion to Reopen [or Motion to Reconsider]

NACARA

Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

NAILS

National Automated Immigration Lookout System

NBC

National Benefits Center

NIF

Notice of Intent to Fine

NIIS

Nonimmigrant Information System

NIV

Nonimmigrant Visa

NIW

National Interest Waiver

NOF

Notice of Findings

NPWHC

National Prevailing Wage and Helpdesk Center

NRC

National Record Center

NSC

Nebraska Service Center

NTA

Notice to Appear

NVC

National Visa Center

O/S

Out of Status or Overstay

OCAHO

Office of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (EOIR)

OCIJ

Office of Chief Immigration Judge (EOIR)

ODP

Orderly Departure Program

OES

Occupational Employment Statistics

OIC

Officer-in-Charge

OIL

Office of Immigration Litigation (DOJ)

OMB

Office of Management and Budget

OOH

Occupational Outlook Handbook (DOL)

OPPM

Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum (EOIR)

OPT

Optional Practical Training

OSC

Order to Show Cause

PERM

Program Electronic Review Management System

PIMS

Petition Information Management System

POE

Port of Entry

PRC

Permanent Resident Card (also called “Alien Registration Card” or “Green Card”.

PSR

Presentence Report

PT

Practical Training

PTI

Pretrial Intervention Program

PWD

Prevailing Wage Determination

QDE

Qualified Designated Entity

RAW

Replenishment Agricultural Worker

RFE

Request for Evidence

RIR

Reduction in Recruitment

RO

Responsible Officer (J Visa Program)

RSC

Regional Service Center

RTD

Refugee Travel Document

S.R.

Senate Report

SA

Special Agent

SAO

Security Advisory Opinion

SAO

Supervisory Adjudication Officer

SAW

Special Agricultural Worker

SC

Service Center

SDAO

Supervisory District Adjudications Officer

SENTRI

Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection

SEVIS

Student & Exchange Visitor Information System

SEVP

Student & Exchange Visitor Program

SIJ

Special Immigrant Juvenile

SK

Specialized Knowledge (for L Visa)

SPC

Service Processing Center

SRC

Southern Regional Center [now, Texas Service Center]

STEM

Science, Technical, Engineering, Mathematics

SVP

Specific Vocational Preparation

SWA

State Workforce Agency

TA

Trial Attorney

TAG

Technical Assistance Guide No. 656—Labor Certifications

TAL

Technology Alert List

TCN

Third Country National

TD

Treaty Dependent

TEGL

Training and Employment Guidance Letter

TPCR

Transitional Period Custody Rules

TPS

Temporary Protected Status

TSA

Transportation Security Administration (DHS)

TSC

Texas Service Center

TVPRA

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005

TWOV

Transit without visa

U.S.C.C.A.N.

U.S. Code Congressional and Admin. News

UNHCR

U.N. High Commission for Refugees

USC

U.S. Citizen or U.S. Code

USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USSG

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines

US-VISIT

U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program

VAWA

Violence Against Women Act

VD

Voluntary Departure

VGTOF

Violent Gang or Terrorist Organization File

VO

Visa Office

VSC

Vermont Service Center

VWP

Visa Waiver Program

WAC

Western Adjudication Center (now, California Service Center)

WHTI

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative