Immigration Acronyms

A
ADIT -- Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication System

AFACS -- A-Files Accountability and Control System

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

AILA -- American Immigration Lawyers Association

AO -- Asylum Officer

AOS -- Adjustment of Status

ARC -- Alien Registration Card (Green Card)

AVLOS -- Automated Visa Lookout System

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B

BCC -- Border Crossing Card (Mexico)

BHRHA -- Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs

BIA -- Board of Immigration Appeals

BP -- Border Patrol

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C

CAP -- Cuban Adjustment Program

CFR -- Code of Federal Regulations

CIJ -- Chief Immigration Judge

CIMT -- Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude

CIS -- Central Index System

CLAIMS -- Computer Linked Application Information Management Systems

CP -- Consular (immigrant) Processing

CSC -- California Service Center (Laguna Niguel)

CUSA -- Citizenship U.S.A.

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D

DD -- District Director

DED -- Deferred Enforced Departure

DO -- District Office; or Deportation Officer

DOE -- Date of Entry

DOL -- Department of Labor

DOS -- Department of State

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E

EAC -- Executive Associate Commissioner

EAD -- Employment Authorization Document

EOIR -- Executive Office for Immigration Review

ER -- Expedited Removal

EVD -- Extended Voluntary Departure

EWI -- Entry Without inspection

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F

FRC -- Federal Records Centers

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G

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

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H

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I

ICF -- Immigration Card Facility (Arlington, TX)

ICPS -- Integrated Card Production System

IDENT -- Automated Fingerprint Identification System

IE -- Immigration Examiner

II -- Immigration inspector

IIO -- Immigration Information Officer

IIRIRA -- Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act

IJ -- Immigration Judge

INA -- Immigration and Nationality Act

INV -- Investigations

IO -- Immigration Officer

IRCA -- Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

IV -- Immigrant Visa

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J

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K

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L

LAPR -- Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

LAW -- Legally Authorized (or Admitted) Worker

LEA -- Law Enforcement Agency

LPR -- Lawful Permanent Resident

LULAC -- League of United Latin American Citizens

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M

MRD -- Machine Readable Document

MS&D Bond -- Maintenance of Status and Departure bond

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N

NACARA -- Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act

NACS -- Naturalization Automated Casework System

NAILS -- National Automated Immigration Lookout System

NARA -- National Archives and Records Administration

NATZ -- Naturalization

NCIC -- National Crime Information Center (FBI)

NGOs -- Non-Governmental Organizations

NIF -- Notice of Intent to Fine

NIV -- Non Immigrant Visa

NRC -- National Records Center

NSC -- Nebraska Service Center (Lincoln)

NTA -- Notice to Appear

NVC -- National Visa Center (Dept. of State)

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O

OI -- Operating instructions

ONO -- Office of Naturalization Operations

OSC -- Order to Show Cause

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P

PHS -- Public Health Service

POE -- Port-of-Entry

POMS -- Port-of-Entry Management System

PRC -- Permanent Resident Card

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Q

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R

RAFACS -- Receipt and Alien File Accountability and Control System

RAW -- Replenishment Agricultural Worker

RFE -- Request for Evidence

RTD -- Refugee Travel Document

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S

SAVE -- Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement

SAW -- Special Agricultural Workers

SESA -- State Employment Services Agency

SIE -- Supervisory Immigration Examiner

SIO -- Supervisory Immigration Officer

SIO -- Special Inquiry Officer (Immigration Judge)

SLOB -- [Citizenship and Immigration] Services Lookout Book

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T

TAPS -- Telephone Application Processing System

TPS -- Temporary Protected Status

TSC -- Texas Service Center (Mesquite)

TRWOV -- Transit Without Visa

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U

UNHCR -- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

USC -- U.S. Citizen

USCS -- United States Customs Service

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V

VD -- Voluntary Departure

VOLAG -- Voluntary Agency

VR -- Voluntary Return

VSC -- Vermont Service Center (St. Albans)

VWPP -- Visa Waiver Pilot Program

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W

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X

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Y

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Z

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