INA
Immigration and Nationality Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations. Regulations implementing laws passed by Congress
DHS Department of Homeland Security
(March 1, 2003). Department has jurisdiction over immigration services as
well as other functions. BCIS, BICE, and BCBP are part of DHS
BCIS Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
All Service Centers and District Offices which are responsible for most
immigration adjudications fall under BCIS.
BICE Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
BICE is responsible for Immigration investigations, detention, removal,
intelligence and SEVIS.
BCBP Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.
BCBP is responsible for Immigration inspections (POEs), Border Patrol and
Customs Service.
OI Operating Instructions
Instructions for federal employees to apply regulations
DOS Department of State
PDSO Principal Designated School Official
DSO Designated School Official
I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Students.
Electronically generated form that replaces the paper Form I-20A-B
EAD Employment Authorization Document
RTI Real Time Interactive
SEVIS-web-based application for use in issuing an individual I-20 and updating a students record.
Batch Processing Electronic submission of records to SEVIS instead of RTI. Useful for submission of large numbers records.
ICD Interface Control Document
Provides the documentation required for batch processing.
I-94 I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
SEVIS Student Exchange Visitor Information System
SEVP Student Exchange Visitor Program
Special Registration (NSEERS) National Security Entry-Exit Registration
System
Fingerprinting, photographing, and interviewing of citizens and nationals
of designated countries who are required to register with BCIS. Rules pertaining
to Special Registration are available on the DHS website.
Cip Codes Classification of Instructional Programs
Accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program
classifications. SEVIS requires the 2000 CIP codes available at :
http://www.nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002165.pdf
D/S Duration of Status
Period of authorized stay granted to an F-1 student while pursuing a full
course of study at an educational institution approved by the federal government
for attendance by foreign students; D/S also extends to a student engaging
in authorized practical training following completion of studies and/or
intending to transfer to another school.
Grace Period Period of time a student is given to depart the United States after completing or withdrawing from a program of study.
Distance Education Delivery of instruction that does not require a student to be physically present in the classroom. This might include correspondence, course, web-based instruction, etc.
Border Commuter Student A national of Canada or Mexico admitted to the United States as an F-1 non-immigrant student to enroll in a full course of study, albeit on a part time basis, in an approved school located within 75 miles of a United States land border. A border commuter student must return to his/her home each day and seek admission to the United States at a land border port-of-entry.
Status An individuals legal status in the United States
Visa The stamp in the passport that permits an alien to apply at the port of entry for admission into the United States.
P.O.E. Port-of-Entry
Entry point into the United States where individuals are inspected by an
immigration officer upon arrival to the U.S., whether by air, land, or sea.
