Acronyms

Browse our comprehensive list of immigration and asylum acronyms and abbreviations.
Search for an acronym by selecting the letter in the index, or alternatively use the search box.

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A
A
Asylum

AA
Administrative Assistant

AASC
Accompanied Asylum Seeking Child

ABS
Absconder

ACID
Asylum Cases Information Database

ACU
Asylum Co-ordination Unit

ADCS
Association of Directors of Children’s Services

ADJ
Adjudicator

ADSU
Asylum Decision Service Unit

AEA
After Entry Appeals

AFB
Asylum Fingerprint Bureau

AFU
Application Forms Unit

AG
Asylum Group

AI
Asylum Immigration / Asylum Instruction

AIO
Assistant Immigration Officer

AIR
Asylum Interview Record

ALU
Asylum Liaison Unit

AN
Application for Naturalisation

AO
Administrative Officer

APC
Appeals Processing Centre

APP
Application

APU
Asylum Policy Unit

ARC
Asylum Registration Card

ARE
Appeal Rights Exhausted
This is used to describe a person who has been refused asylum or any form of temporary protection, or whose leave to remain has expired and an application to extend it refused, and who has exhausted all possible appeals

ASCMP
Asylum Support Case Management system

ASF1
Asylum Support Form

ASS
Appeals Support Section

ASU
Asylum Screening Unit

ASYS
Asylum Support System

AVR
Assisted Voluntary Return

B
B (OS)
Application form to register as British citizen

B (OTA)
Application form to register as British citizen

BC
British Citizen

BCI
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009

BCPI
Border control Policy Implementation

BCU
Business Case Unit

BEO
Bedford Enforcement Office

Brit Cit
British Citizen

C
C/N
Call Note

CAMHS
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (NHS)

CCT
Criminal Casework Team / Complex Casework Team

CEU
Croydon Enforcement unit

CID
Case Information Database

CIG
Country Information Guidance

CIO
Chief Immigration Officer

CJEU
Court of Justice of the European Union

CL(C)
Charge Leave (Croydon)

CLN
Clandestine

CMU
Casework Management Unit

COA
Change of Address

CoAT
Change of Address Team

COC
Change of Circumstances

CPC
Central Point of Contact

CPS
Crown Prosecution Service

CR (1)
Application for blue or yellow certificate for Croatian

CR (2)
Application for blue certificate for Croatian

CR (3)
Application for purple certificate for Croatian

CR (4)
Application for residence card (non-EEA family of Croatian)

CR (5)
Application for an accession residence card (non-EEA family of Croatian)

CRI
Computer Records Immigration Service Hybrid / Computer Records Immigration Service Investigation Section

CRTS
Case Resolution Team South

CTD
Convention Travel Document

CW
Case worker

CWK
Casework

CYP
Children and Young People

CYP
Children and young people

D
DBS
Disclosure and Barring Service

DC
Detention Centre

DCM
Dialogical Communication Method

DDV
Destitution Domestic Violence concession (application for victims of domestic violence)

DEMPU
Detainee Escorting & Population Management Unit

DEP
Dependant

DL
Discretionary Leave

DM
Decision Maker

DMC
Document Management Centre

DPA
Data Protection Act (1998)

DPU
Data Protection Unit

DQSP
Data Quality Special Projects (formally Case Cleansing and Cestations team)

DR
Detention Review

DRF1
Application form for derivative residence card in UK

E
E&E
Immigration Service Evidence & Enquiry Unit

EA
Emergency Accommodation

EAS
Existing Asylum Seeker

EC
Entry Clearance

ECF
Exceptional Case Funding

ECHR
European Convention on Human Rights

ECJ
European Court of Justice

ECO
Entry Clearance Officer

ECtHR
European Court of Human Rights

EDD
Enforcement Distribution Desk

EDR
Expected Date of Release

EEA
European Economic Area

EEA (EFM)
Application form for a registration certificate or residence card for an extended family member

EEA (FM)
Application form for a registration certificate or residence card for a family member

EEA (PR)
Application form for a document certifying permanent residence or permanent residence card

EEA (QP)
Application form for a registration certificate as a qualified person

ELR
Exceptional Leave to Remain

ELTE
Exceptional Leave to Enter

EME
East Midlands Enforcement

EO
Executive Officer

ERCU
Enforcement and Removals Caseworking Unit

EST
Emergency Support Token

ETD
Emergency Travel Document

EU
European Union

EV
Emergency Voucher

EV’s
Emergency Vouchers

EXTN
Extension

F
F/P
Fingerprints

FAO
For Attention Of

FAS
Failed Asylum Seeker

FC
File Creation

FCO
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FGM
Female Genital Mutilation

FLR
Further Leave to Remain

FLR (AF)
Application form to extend stay in UK (HM Forces)

FLR (BUS)
Application form to extend stay in the UK

FLR (DL)
Form to apply to extend stay or settle in the UK as a person who was refused asylum

FLR (FP)
Application form to extend stay in the UK

FLR (HRO)
Application form for applications outside the Immigration Rules based on human rights

FLR (IR)
Application form broadly for applications made under the Immigration Rules not covered by another form

FLR (LR)
Application form to extend stay in UK (long residence)

FLR (M)
Form to apply for an extension for stay as the partner (together with any dependent children) of a person present and settled in the UK, or of a person with limited leave or humanitarian protection

FLR (O)
Form to apply for an extension of stay in the category of academic visitor, domestic worker, UK ancestry, visitor for private medical treatment, dependant of a person who has limited leave to enter or remain in the UK other than under the points based system, general visitor, or other purposes/reasons not covered by other application forms.

FLR (P)
Application form to extend stay in UK as child of a refugee

FLR (S)
Application form to extend stay in UK as a stateless person

FLTR
Further Leave to Remain

FOI
Freedom of Information

Form AN
Application to naturalise as a British citizen

Form EM
Application form to register as British citizen

Form NC
Application for duplicate citizenship certificate

Form NR
Application for review when British citizenship is refused

Form NS
Application for confirmation of British nationality status

Form T
Application for confirmation of British nationality status

FR
Final Refusal

FRE
First Reporting Event

FSD
Financial Services Directorate

FTP
Foundation Training Programme

FTR
Failure to Report

FTS
File Tracking System

FTT
Failure to Travel

FTTIAC
Immigration and Asylum Chamber, First-tier Tribunal

G
G
General

GAN
Gatwick North Terminal

GAT
Gatwick / Gatwick South Terminal

GCID
General Cases Information Database

GDPR
General Data Protection Regulation

GOA
Grounds of Appeal

H
HAT
Housing + Accommodation

HC
High Commission

HC2
Health Certificate

HEO
Higher Executive Officer

HMI
Her Majesty’s Inspector

HMRC
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (responsible for the collection of tax)

HO
Home Office

HOF
Home Office File

HP
Humanitarian Protection

HR
Human Rights

HRA
Human Rights Act (1999)

HSMP
Highly Skilled Migrant Program

I
I/T
In time / In Transit

I/V
Interview

IAA
Immigration Appellant Authority

IAF
Immigration Asylum Fingerprint

IAFT-5
Appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) – Complete This Form if You Are Appealing From Inside the United Kingdom and You Have the Right to Do So

IBPD
Immigration and Border Policy Directorate

IBU
Interview Booking Unit

ICC
Initial Consideration Croydon

ICD
Integrated Casework Directorate

ICI
Independent Chief Inspector

ICS
Initial Consideration Sheffield

ICU
Initial Consideration Unit

IEI
Illegal Entry Interview

IES
Illegal Entry Section

IFB
Immigration Fingerprint Bureau

IHS
Immigration Health Surcharge

ILL
Illegal

ILL CLN
Illegal Clandestine

ILR
Indefinite Leave to Remain

ILR WPP
Leave to Remain With Previous Passport

IMM
Immigration

IND
Immigration + Nationality Directorate

INDECS
Immigration + Nationality Enquiry Bureau

INEB
Immigration Nationality Enquiry Bureau

INT
Interview

IO
Immigration Officer

IRC
Immigration Reception Centre

IS
Immigration Service

IS96
Most people who are subject to immigration control and are not detained are on temporary admission, which usually includes regular reporting requirements. They will have been given a form called IS96.
Asylum seekers who apply at a port of entry may be granted temporary admission to the UK and given an IS96 letter, which can later be used to obtain an ARC. IS96 letters may also be issued to people who are released from detention.

ISDU
Immigration Service Documentation Unit

ISHQ
Immigration Service Headquarters

IST
Interim Support Token

IT
In Time

J
JIU
Joint Intelligence Unit

JR
Judicial Review

K
KCS
Keeping Children Safe

L
LA
Local authority

LAA
Legal Aid Agency

LASPO
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

Lay By
Hold/Store for Files

LC
Landing card

LCCW
Liverpool Charged Casework

LCU
Landing Card Unit

LEO
Local Enforcement Office

LGBT
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender

LGBTI
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex

LHR
London Heathrow

LKA
Last known address

LSCU
London Support Casework Unit

LTE
Leave to Enter

LTR
Leave to Remain

LWT
London Workflow Team

M
M/Cert
Marriage Certificate

MCT
Ministerial Correspondence Unit

MCU
Ministerial Correspondence Unit

MEU
Midlands Enforcement Unit

MLR
Medico Legal Report

MN1
Application form to register child under 18 as British citizen

MODCU
Management of Detained Cases Unit

MOE
Method of Entry

MPCS
Ministerial Correspondence Section

MPO
MP’s Office

N
N
Nationality

N/A
No Action

N/A
Not Applicable

NASS
National Asylum Support Service

NASS 1
Nass Application Form

NAT
Nationality

NCC
Non Charging Casework

ND
Nationality Directorate

NFA
No Further Action

NINO
National Insurance Number

NK
Not Known

NP
Non Political Asylum

NRM
National Referral Mechanism

NRPF
No Recourse to Public Funds

NSA
Non-suspensive appeals

NSA hub
Non-suspensive appeals processing team (in the Home Office)

NTL
No Time Limit (form to apply for an indefinite leave stamp)

O
OCC
Office of the Children’s Commissioner

OISC
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner

OOT
Out of Time Application

OPR
Other Ports Removal

OSCU
Operational Support & Certification Unit

P
PA
Political Asylum

PAQ
Political Asylum Questionnaire

PAX
Passenger

PBS
Points Based System

PCU
Public Caller Unit

PEO
Public Enquiry Office

POA
Port of Arrival / Proof of Address

POU
Presenting Officers Unit

PPT
Passport

PR
Police Registration

PROFFCE
Private Office

PS
Police Station

PSG
Particular Social Group

PTA
Post Tribunal Appeal / Permission to Appeal

PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Q
QA
Quality Audit

QAT
Quality Audit Team

R
R
Refuse

R/P
Residence Permit

RC
Reporting Centre

RCT
Removals and Cessation’s Team

RCU
Residual Casework Unit

RD
Removal Directions

Reps
Representatives

RFRL
Reasons for Refusal Letter / Reasons for Refusal

RG
Removals Group

RGY
Registry

RIF
Refugee Index Forum

RLE
Refuse Leave to Enter

ROA
Right of Appeal

RODMU
Regional Management Detention Management Unit

RPU
Return of Passport Unit

RR
Reporting Restriction

RS
Regular Support

RS1
Application form to register as British citizen

RST
Regular Support Token

RST
Removals and Cessations Team

RV
Regular Vouchers

S
S of S
Secretary of State

S.55 duty
The duty imposed by section 55 of the Borders Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009

S1
Application form to register as British citizen

S2
Application form to register as British citizen

S3
Application form to register as British citizen

SAB
Subject Access Bureau

SAG
Statement of Additional Grounds

SAL
Standard Acknowledgement Letter

SAR
Subject Access Request

SCQ
Self-Completion Questionnaire

SCW
Senior Caseworker

SEF
Statement of Evidence Form

SEO
Senior Executive Officer

SET
Application for Settlement

SET (AF)
Settle in the UK as a former member of HM Forces

SET (DV)
Application form to settle in the UK as a victim of domestic violence

SET (F)
Application form to settle in the UK as a child under 18

SET (LR)
Application form to settle in the UK on the basis of long residence

SET (M)
Application form to settle in the UK as the partner of a person who is in the UK and settled here

SET (P)
Application form to settle in the UK as a refugee

SHA
Secure Handling Area

SOL
Solicitor

ST
Support Token

STU
Student

SUB
Subject

SUBS
Subsistence

T
T/C
Telephone call

T/CALL
Telephone call

T/SOLS
Treasury Solicitors

TA
Temporary Admission

TD
Travel Documents / Team Dispatcher

TD112 BRP
Application for Home Office travel document

TN(3)
Terminal (3) Heathrow

TN2
Terminal 2 Heathrow

TR
Temporary Release

U
UASC
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child

UK
United Kingdom

UKBA
UK Border Agency

UKF
Application form to register as a British citizen

UKM
Application form to register as a British citizen

UKPA
United Kingdon Passport Agency

UKVI
UK Visas and Immigration

UNCRC
United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child

UNHCR
United Nations High Commission for Refugees

UTIAC
Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)

V
VAF
Visa Application Form

VAF AF
Application form for UK visa as member of HM Armed Forces

VAF1A
Application form for UK visa as member of HM Armed Forces

VAF2
Application form for UK visa (non PBS work or UK ancestry)

VAF4A
Application form for family visa (family settlement or reunion, family joining refugee, or access rights to a child)

VAF4B
Application form for a UK visa as a returning resident

VAF5
Application form for EEA family permit

VAF7
Application form for certificate showing right of abode

VAF9
Application form for UK visa under the points-based system

VARP
Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme

VIPP
Vignette in previous passport

VL
Voucher Letter

VOT
Victim of Trafficking

VRS
Voluntary Returns Service

VVIPP
Visitor Visa in Previous Passport

W
WDW
Withdrawn

WH
Working Holidaymaker

WIP
Work in Progress

WP
Work Permit

X
XFR
Transferred

XLTE
Exceptional Leave to Enter

XLTR
Exceptional Leave to Remain

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X