Browse our comprehensive list of immigration and asylum acronyms and abbreviations.
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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
