US Immigration Abbreviations and Forms
View the US Immigration Glossary| US Immigration Abbreviations: | |
 AAO |
Administrative Appeals Office |
| AO |
Adjudications Officer |
|
ADIT |
Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications System (ADIT Photo's no longer used by the USCIS ) |
|
AOS |
Affidavit of Support |
|
AOS |
Adjustment of Status |
| AP |
Advance Parole (most common) or Administrative Processing |
| AR |
Administrative Review |
|
Consulate |
Work place of a diplomat who's job is to look after the interest of it's citizens in a foreign country. This is also where visas are processed |
|
BCIS |
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services |
| Biometrics |
Biormetrics are fingerprints, signatures, photographs and other material used to personally and uniquely identify a person. |
| CO |
Consulate Officer |
|
CPR |
Conditional Permanent Resident |
| CBP |
Customs and Border Protection |
|
CSC |
California Service Center |
|
DOJ |
Department of Justice. |
| DOS |
Department of State |
| DHS |
Department of Homeland Security |
|
EAD |
Employment Authorization Document |
|
e-File |
E-Filing is a process of filing form specific immigration related benefits online |
|
Embassy |
The building in which an ambassador lives or works. The Embassy does not process visas |
| EWI |
Entered WIthout Inspection |
|
FAQ |
Frequently Asked Questions |
| Green Card |
A document issued by the USCIS that proves your legal status as a Permanent Resident in the US. |
|
LPR |
Legal Permanent Resident (also PR, Permanent Resident) |
|
INA |
Immigration and Nationality Act |
|
IBIS |
Interagency Border Inspection System |
|
INS |
Immigration and Naturalization Service (old name for now USCIS) |
| IMBRA |
International Marriage Brokers Act |
|
IRS |
Internal Revenue Service |
|
ISP |
Internet Service Provider |
|
IVACS |
Immigrant Visa Applicant Control System |
|
JFK |
John F. Kennedy International Airport |
|
NG |
Newsgroup |
| NBC |
National Benefits Center (in Missouri) |
|
NOA |
The "NOA" is internet-speak for the I-797 "Notice of Action" -- with "NOA1" being the receipt and "NOA2" being the notice of approval. [Please note that there is the possibility of other I-797's being generated prior to approval notices]. |
|
NSC |
Nebraska Service Center |
| NVC |
National Visa Center (in New Hampshire) |
|
PDF |
Adobe Portable Document Format (used by Adobe Reader) |
|
PISS |
Pre-INS Submission Syndrome |
|
POE |
Port of Entry. Usually airport or border crossing inspection post. |
|
PR |
Permanent Resident (Also LPR - Legal Permanent Resident) |
| RFE |
Request for Evidence |
| SIF |
Sign In Failed |
| SO |
Significant Other |
|
SSA |
Social Security Administration |
|
SSN |
Social Security Number |
| Touch |
When the UCSIS "Touches" your petition or file it means that an action was taken which required your file to be physically touched or moved. Example: Your file is touched when it is given to an adjudicator to process. |
|
TPS |
Temporary Protected Status |
|
TSC |
Texas Service Center |
| USC |
US Citizen |
|
USCIS |
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (part of the Dept of Homeland Security) |
| US Visit |
System in airports that captures biometrics of people entering the country |
|
VSC |
Vermont Service Center |
|
VWP |
Visa Waiver Program |
| US Immigration Forms: (See the example forms and download section for more information) |
|
| AR-11 |
Change of Address form. May be completed online via the Change of Address tool located on the USCIS website or submit the COA form via snail mail. |
| DS-3025 |
The vaccine worksheet that SHOULD be collected from the docs doing the visa medical. |
| G-325A |
Biographic Information. Needs to be filled out for petitioner and beneficiary when petitioning, and again [for the benefiary only] when filing adjustment of status. |
| I-9 |
Employment Eligibility Verification. You will be required to fill this form out when applying for a job to show you are legally employable. |
| I-90 |
Application to Replace Alien Registration Card (Green Card). This will need to be filed if you lose your green card. (and I think when it expires) |
|
I-94 |
Arrival/Departure record. This will be issued at the originating airport, on the flight or at the border if traveling from Canada or Mexico. It may be stamped with a 90 day work authorization and should be kept until the USCIS (INS) interview |
|
I-102 |
Form to apply for I-94 if it was lost, destroyed or mutilated. |
|
I-129F |
Petition for Alien Fiance(e). ALso used when filing for a K-3 Visa. Can only be filed by US Citizen and must be filed in the US. |
|
I-130 |
Petition for alien relative. |
|
I-134 |
Affidavit of support. Used when applying for non-immigrant visas. |
|
I-131 |
Application for Re-entry Permit/Advance Parole. Required to re-enter between filing I-485 and getting the green card stamp. |
| 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). A processing form. Similar to WR-702 or WR-703. |
|
I-485 |
Adjustment of Status form. Must be filed after the wedding to begin process of transferring status to permanent resident. |
| I-551 |
Alien Registration Receipt Card. The 'Green' Card. After a successful interview at the USCIS (INS) office, this will be stamped in the passport and the laminated card send afterwards. |
| I-601 |
Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludability |
|
I-688 |
This is the number of a laminated Employment Authorization Document. (Currently version I-688B) |
| I-693 |
Civil Surgeons Medical Report |
| I-693A |
Medical supplement. This documentation of immunization form is used by the civil surgeon to transfer the beneficiary's vaccine history prior to completing the adjustment of status. |
| I-751 |
Petition to remove conditions. This form must be filed jointly by original petitioner and beneficiary in the 3 months prior to the 2nd anniversary of obtaining conditional permanent residency. |
| I-765 |
Application for Employment Authorization Document |
| I-797 |
Notice of Action. Both the receipt notice, and approval notice will be issued on this form. |
| I-864 |
Affidavit of support. This form is to be filed with I-485 when adjusting status, an immigrant visa and other USCIS benefits. |
| I-864EZ |
Simplified version of the Affidavit of support used in some situations. |
| I-865 |
Sponsors change of address. If you signed the I-864 affidavit, you must report change of your address within 10 days. |
|
9003 |
"Additional Questions to be Completed by All Applicants for Permanent Residence in the United States" (an old form no longer used by the Internal Revenue Service) |
| N-400 |
Application for Naturalization (to United States Citizen) |
|
N-600 |
Application for Certificate of Citizenship |
|
WR-702 or WR-703 |
Data Collection for Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications System (ADIT). A processing form. Similar to I-468. |