Abbreviations and US Immigration Terms
 
 
   
 

Abbreviations and US Immigration Terms

Should I use a K-1 Fiancee Visa and marry my lady in the United States OR use a K-3 Visa (Spousal Visa/Marriage Visa) and marry my lady in the Philippines?

We have tried to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of both the K-1 and the K-3 visa. It is entirely up to you to choose which process to follow. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining either one!






 
  • AO
    		•  Adjudications Officer
     
  • AOS
    		• Affidavit of Support
     
  • 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
    		•  Biometrics' 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
     
  • 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
     
  • IVACS
    		•  Immigrant Visa Applicant Control System
     
  • 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)
     
  • POE
    		•  Port of Entry. Usually airport or border crossing inspection post.
     
  • PR
    		•  Permanent Resident (Also LPR - Legal Permanent Resident)
     
  • RFE
    		•  Request for Evidence
     
  • 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