AAO

Administrative Appeals Office

Act

Implies the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended

A-File

Alien File

Alien

Any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.

A-Number

Alien Number

AOS

Adjustment of Status

ASC

Application Support Center

BIA

Board of Immigration Appeals

CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CCA

Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (PDF 167KB)

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CIS

Citizenship and Immigration Services (also known as BCIS or USCIS)

COA

Class of Admission

COB

Country of Birth

COC

Country of Citizenship

CSPA

DD

District Director

DHS

Department of Homeland Security

DOB

Date of Birth

DOD

Department of Defense

DOJ

Department of Justice

DOL

Department of Labor

DOS

Department of State

DV

Diversity Visa Program

EAD

Employment Authorization Document

EOIR

Executive Office for Immigration Review

EWI

Entry Without Inspection

FAM

Foreign Affairs Manual

FCO

File Control Office

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act

Green Card 

Officially known as Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551/151)

HQ

Headquarters

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

IIRIRA

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996

IJ

Immigration Judge

IMFA

Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986

IMMACT

The Immigration Act of 1990

INA

Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended

INS

Immigration and Naturalization Service

INSERTS

Immigration and Naturalization Service Early Research and Transmittal System

IRCA

Immigration Reform and Control Act, 1986

IV

Immigrant Visa

LAPR

Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

LPR

Lawful Permanent Resident

NATZ

Naturalization

NIV

Non Immigrant Visa

NOID

Notice of Intent to Deny

NOIR

Notice of Intent to Revoke

NVC

National Visa Center

OI

Operation Instructions

OIC

Officer in Charge

OSC

Order to Show Cause

PA

Privacy Act

POE

Port of Entry

Transit Without Visa

Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism" Act of 2001

U.S.C.

United States Code

USC

United States Citizen

VD

Voluntary Departure

VWPP

Visa Waiver Pilot Program