IMMIGRATION ACRONYMS

INS Facility Acronyms

GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS

A Back to Top
 ACB -- Administrative Center Burlington
ACD -- Administrative Center Dallas
ACE -- Accelerated Citizen Examination
ACL -- Administrative Center Laguna Niguel
ACPA -- Assistant Chief Patrol Agent
ACT -- Administrative Center Twin Cities
ADD -- Assistant District Director
ADDE -- Assistant District Director, Examinations
ADDI -- Assistant District Director, Investigations
ADDM -- Assistant District Director, Management
ADIT -- Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication System
ADP-- Automated Data Processing
AFACS -- A-Files Accountability and Control System
A File -- Basic Alien File (contains Alien #)
AILA -- American Immigration Lawyers Association
AM -- Administrative Manual
AMIO -- Alien Migration Interdiction Operation
AMIS -- Asset Management Information System
ANI -- Automatic Number Identifier
AO -- Administrative Officer
AO -- Asylum Officer
AOC -- Asylum Officer Corps
AOIC -- Assistant Officer-in-Charge
APHIS -- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services
APIS -- Advance Passenger Information System
APO -- Administrative Center Property Officer
APP -- Annual Performance Plan or Automated Permit Port
ARC -- Alien Registration Card (Green Card)
ASC -- Application Support Center (Naturalization)
ASIS -- Anti-Smuggling Information System
ASU -- Anti-Smuggling Unit
ASVI -- Alien Status Verification Index
AUO -- Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime
AVLOS -- Automated Visa Lookout System

 B Back to Top

BACS -- Bond Accounting System
BAS -- Balanced Adjudications System
BCC -- Border Crossing Card (Mexico)
BCI -- Border Coordination Initiative
BCIC -- Border Crossing Identification Card (I-586)
BHRHA -- Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs
BIA -- Board of Immigration Appeals
BMIS -- Bond Management Information System
BOP -- Bureau of Prisons
BORTAC -- Border Patrol Tactical Unit (HQ at Biggs Army Airfield, TX)
BP -- Border Patrol
BPA -- Border Patrol Academy/Border Patrol Agent
BPR -- Border Process Re-Engineering Project
BPSH -- Border Patrol Sector Headquarters
BRP -- Backlog Reduction Plan (Naturalization)

 C  Back to Top

CADRE -- Computer Assisted Detection and Reports Enhancement System
CAO -- Center Adjudications Officer
CAP -- Citizens Advisory Panel
CAP -- Contracting and Procurement
CAP -- Cuban Adjustment Program
CATI -- Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing
CATS -- Consolidate Asset Tracking System
CAWG -- Control Authorities Working Group
CBOs -- Community-Based Organizations
CBIC -- Canadian Border Intelligence Center
CBT -- Computer-Based Training
CCATTS -- Correspondence Control and Task Tracking System
CFOA -- Chief Financial Officers Act
CFR -- Code of Federal Regulations
CI -- Criminal Investigator; Cooperating Individual; Confidential Informant
CIC -- Crime Information Center
CIJ -- Chief Immigration Judge
CIMT -- Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude
CIPRIS -- Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students, now SEVP
CIPS -- Combined Immigration and Public Health Inspection Procedure
CIR -- Commission on Immigration Reform
CIRP -- Computer Incident Response Program
CIS -- Central Index System
CLAIMS -- Computer Linked Application Information Management Systems
COLA -- Cost of living allowance
COTR -- Contracting Officer Technical Representative
COTS -- jail management, hotel and airline reservation software
CPA -- Chief Patrol Agent
CPS -- Current Population Survey (Census)
CR -- Contact Representative
CRO -- Central Region Office (Dallas)
CSC -- California Service Center (Laguna Niguel)
CSPM -- Computer Security Program Manager
CSR -- Customer Service Representative (IRM - Computer)
CSSO -- Computer Systems Security Officer
CTRS -- Critical Transaction Reporting System
CUSA -- Citizenship U.S.A.
C&TS -- Computer & Telecommunications System

 D  Back to Top

D&D -- Detention and Deportation
DACS -- Deportable Alien Control System
DAO -- District Adjudication Officer; or Deputy Adjudications Officer
DAS -- Duty Assignment Sheet (Border Patrol)
DBM -- Distributed Budget Module
DCL -- Dedicated Commuter Lane
DCM -- Deputy Chief of Mission
DCOS -- Debt Collection System
DCPA -- Deputy Chief Patrol Agent
DD -- District Director
DDD -- Deputy District Director
DDOS -- Detention and Deportation Optimization System
DDP -- Detention and Deportation Program
DED -- Deferred Enforced Departure
DEO -- Detention Enforcement Officer
DFS -- Designated Fingerprint Service
DIAS -- Directives and Instructions Access System
DMS -- Detention Management System
DO -- District Office; or Deportation Officer
DOE -- Date of Entry
DOL -- Department of Labor
DOS -- Department of State

 E  Back to Top

EAC -- Executive Associate Commissioner
EAD -- Employment Authorization Document
EFOIA -- Electronic Freedom of Information Act initiative
ELR -- Employee Labor Relations
ENFORCE -- Enforcement Case Tracking System
EOD -- Entrance On Duty
EOIR – Executive Office for Immigration Review
EPIC – El Paso Intelligence Center
ER -- Expedited Removal
ERO -- Eastern Region Office (Burlington, VT)
ETC -- Eastern Telephone Center
EVD -- Extended Voluntary Departure
EVP -- Employment Verification Pilot
EVRP -- Encrypted Voice Radio Program
EWI -- Entry Without Inspection

 F  Back to Top

FAAS -- Foreign Affairs Administrative Support System
FACS -- Financial Accounting and Control System
FARES -- Fees and Applications Receipt and Entry System
FCC -- Fingerprint Clearance Coordination Center
FCO -- Files Control Office
FD-258 -- Fingerprint Card
FDL -- Forensic Document Laboratory
FEHBP -- Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
FEPA -- Federal Employee Pay Act
FEPCA -- Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act, 1990
FEGLI -- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
FFMS -- Federal Financial Management System (will replace FACS)
FIPS -- FOIA/PA Information Processing System
FLIR -- Forward-Looking Infrared
FLETC -- Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
FLRA -- Fair Labor Relation Authority
FLSA -- Fair Labor Standard Act
FOIA/PA -- Freedom of Information Act/ Privacy Act
FOS/HM -- Field Operations Support & Hardware Maintenance
FRC -- Federal Records Centers
FSIP -- Federal Service Impasse Panel
FTE -- Full-Time Equivalent
FTP -- File Transfer Protocol
FTRs -- File Transfer Requests

 G  Back to Top

GEMS -- General Counsel Management System
GMRA -- Government Management and Reform Act
GPRA -- Government Performance and Results Act
GREEN CARD -- Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151 or I-551)
GUI -- Graphical User Interface

 H  Back to Top

HMIO -- Haitian Migration Interdiction Operation
HPO -- HQ Property Officer
HQFFM -- HQ Office of Files and Forms Management
HQIAO -- HQ International Affairs
HQINS -- HQ Office of Inspections
HQIRM -- HQ Information Resource Management
HQISD -- HQ Immigration Services Division
HQMGM -- HQ Office of Management
HQOCR -- HQ Office of Congressional Relations
HQOIA -- HQ Internal Audit
HQONO -- HQ Office of Naturalization Operations
HQOPA -- HQ Office of Public Affairs
HQOPP -- HQ Office of Policy & Planning
HQOPS -- HQ Office of Field Operations
HQOCR -- HQ Office of Congressional Relations
HQPRG -- HQ Office of Programs
HQREC -- HQ Office of Records
HQSEC -- HQ Office of Security
HQCSP -- HQ Career Sustainment Program
HRO -- Human Resource Office
HTTP -- Hypertext Transfer Protocol (server)
HW -- Hardware

 I  Back to Top

IA -- Immigration Agent; or Investigative Assistant
IAO -- Office of International Affairs
IATA -- International Air Transport Association
IBIS -- Interagency Border Inspection System
ICAD -- Integrated Computer Aided Detection
ICAO -- International Civil Aviation Organization
ICF -- Immigration Card Facility (Arlington, TX)
ICMS -- Investigations Case Management System
ICPS -- Integrated Card Production System
IDENT -- Automated Fingerprint Identification System
IDP -- In District Processing
IDO -- Immigration Detention Officer
IE -- Immigration Examiner
IFM -- Inspector’s Field Manual
IHP -- Institutional Hearing Program
II -- Immigration Inspector
IIE -- Integrated Interior Enforcement
IIO -- Immigration Information Officer
IIRIRA -- Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
IJ -- Immigration Judge
INA -- Immigration and Nationalty Act
INAB -- Inspections National Advisory Board
INSERTS -- INS Easy Research & Transmittal System
INSPASS -- INS Passenger Accelerated Service System
INSpect -- INS Program for Excellence and Comprehensive Tracking
INTEX -- Inspections Travelers Examination
INV -- Investigations
IO -- Immigration Officer
IOA -- Immigration Officer Academy
IOBTC -- Immigration Officer Basic Training Course
IRC -- Internet Relay Chat (server)
IRCA -- Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
IRM -- Information Resources Management
IRP -- Institutional Removal Program
ISA -- Information System Architecture
ISIS -- Integrated Surveillance Information System
ISP -- Internet Service Provider
IT -- Information Technology
IV -- Immigration Visa
IVR -- Interactive Voice Response
IV&V -- Independent Validation and Verification

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JABS -- Joint Automated Booking System
JEVP -- Joint Employment Verification Pilot Program (SSA/INS)
JMD -- Justice Management Division
JPATS -- Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation Service
JTTF -- Joint Terrorism Task Force
JVA -- Joint Voluntary Agency

 L  Back to Top

LAN -- Local Area Network
LAPR -- Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence
LAPS -- Legalization Application Processing System
LAW -- Legally Authorized (or Admitted) Worker
LDC -- Leadership Development Center ( Dallas , TX .)
LEA -- Law Enforcement Agency
LEAA -- Law Enforcement Availability Act of 1994
LEADS -- Law Enforcement Analytical Data System
LEO -- Law Enforcement Officer
LESC -- Law Enforcement Support Center
LPR -- Lawful Permanent Resident
LULAC -- League of United Latin American Citizens

M  Back to Top

MFAS – Marriage Fraud Amendment System

MDC -- Modified Departure Control
MIRP -- Mexican Interior Repatriation Program
MOBIS -- Management, Organizational and Business Improvement Services
MRD -- Machine Readable Document
MS&D Bond – Maintenance of Status and Departure bond

MTBF – Mean Time Between Failures (for hardware components)

N  Back to Top

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
NBPC -- National Border Patrol Council (One of two collective bargaining units)
NCIC – National Crime Information Center
NFC -- National Finance Center
NFS -- Network File System

NFTS – National File Tracking System
NGOs -- Non-Governmental Organizations
NIF -- Notice of Intent to Fine
NIIS -- Non-Immigrant Information System
NINSC -- National INS Council (One of two collective bargaining units)
NIV – Non Immigrant Visa
NNTP -- Network News Transfer Protocol
NQP -- Naturalization Quality Procedures
NRC -- National Records Center

NRTP – National Records Training Program
NSC -- Nebraska Service Center ( Lincoln )
NSI -- National Security Information
NTA -- Notice to Appear
NVC -- National Visa Center (Dept. of State)

 O  Back to Top

OA -- Office Automation
OARS -- Outlying Area Reporting System
OASIS -- Operational Activities Special Information Systems
OBTS – Offender Base Tracking System
OCDETF – Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
OCR -- Office of Congressional Relations (HQOCR or ROOCR)
OI -- Operating Instructions
OIA -- Office of Internal Audit
OIA/IRB -- Office of Internal Audit/Internal Review Branch
OIC – Officer-in-Charge
OIL – Office of Immigration Litigation
OIRM -- Office of Information Resources Management
ONO -- Office of Naturalization Operations
OPSEC -- Operations Security
OSC -- Order to Show Cause
OTM – Other than Mexican

 P  Back to Top

PA -- (Border) Patrol Agent
PAIC -- Patrol Agent in Charge
PAL -- Passenger Acceleration Lane (in San Clemente – See SENTRI)

PAMS – Private Attorney Maintenance System
PAO -- Public Affairs Officer
PAS -- Performance Management System
PCO -- Property Control Officer
PHS -- Public Health Services
PICS -- Password Issuance and Control System
PIMS -- Performance Indicator Management System
PIO -- Public Information Officer
PMFA -- Permanent Full-time Authorized Position
PMPT -- Permanent Part-time Position
POE -- Port-of-Entry
POMS -- Port-of-Entry Management System
POP -- Post Office Protocol
POSTS -- Personnel Office Systems Tracking System
PPE -- Personal Protective Equipment
PRC -- Permanent Resident Card
PQIC -- Port Quality Improvement Committees

 Q  Back to Top

QASP – Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

 R  Back to Top

RAFACS -- Receipt and Alien File Accountability and Control System
RAPID -- Records and Processes Improvement Design
RAPS -- Refugees, Asylum and Parole System
RAW -- Replenishment Agricultural Worker
RD -- Regional Director
ROOCR -- Regional Office of Congressional Relations
RPFS -- Responsible Party Filing System
RRU -- Rapid Response Unit (Headquarters)
RTD – Refugee Travel Document
RTP - National Records Transition Project

 S  Back to Top

SA -- Special Agent
SAVE -- Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement
SAW -- Special Agricultural Workers
SBPA -- Supervisory Border Patrol Agent

SC – Service Center
SCAAP -- State Criminal Alien Assistance Program
SCD -- Service Computation Date
SDEO -- Supervisory Detention Enforcement Officer
SDO -- Supervisory Detention Officer
SENTRI -- Secure Electronic Network for Travelers’ Rapid Inspection
SEVIS - Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
SEVP - Student and Exchange Visitor Program
SHRO -- Servicing Human Resources Office
SIE -- Supervisory Immigration Examiner
SII -- Supervisory Immigration Inspector
SIO -- Supervisory Immigration Officer
SIO -- Special Inquiry Officer (Immigration Judge)
SITD -- Strategic Information and Technology Development
SLOB -- Service Lookout Book
SME -- Subject Matter Expert
SMTP -- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SNMP -- Simple Network Management Protocol
SOI -- Supervisory Operations Inspector
SPC -- Service Processing Center
SPPB -- Systems Policy & Planning Branch
SSA -- Supervisory Special Agent
SW -- Southwest; Software

 T  Back to Top

TAPS -- Telephone Application Processing System
TECS -- Treasury Enforcement Communications System
TFTP -- Trivial File Transfer Protocol (server)
TIC -- The Interdiction Committee
TIP -- Technology Infrastructure Project
TPCR -- Transition Period Custody Rules
TPFT-- Temporary Full-Time Employee
TPPT -- Temporary Part-Time Employee
TPS -- Temporary Protected Status
TSC -- Texas Service Center (Irving)
TRWOV -- Transit Without Visa

U  Back to Top

UNHCR -- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
USC -- U.S. Citizen
USCS -- United States Customs Service

 V  Back to Top

VARS -- Vehicle Accounting and Reporting System
VCRP -- Violent Crimes Reduction Programs
VD -- Voluntary Departure
VOLAG -- Voluntary Agency
VR -- Voluntary Return
VSC -- Vermont Service Center (St. Albans)
VTC -- Video Teleconferencing
VWPP -- Visa Waiver Pilot Program

 W  Back to Top

WAN -- Wide Area Network
WORM -- Write-Once, Read Many
WRO -- Western Region Office ( Laguna Niguel , CA )
WTC -- Western Telephone Center

INS FACILITIES FCO = File control Office;  CCO = Case Control Office
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