The following is a listing of the most common UK immigration acronyms (in alphabetical order) that pop up on this board- there's quite a lot of them here, but it certainly doesn't cover everything! I tried to stick to the ones that would be relevant to the average UK-Y member. For more information on some acronyms and some additional ones, visit the
terms and definitions page at the Transpondia website.
If there's an acronym that you think should really be on this list, be sure and let me know and I'll add it in (same with if you notice an incorrect/unclear definition!)
BC- British citizen.
BIA- Border and Immigration Agency. This government department is in charge of setting UK immigration policy and dealing with all immigration applications made from within the UK. The BIA is a directorate of the UK Home Office.
CIO- Chief Immigration Officer. A senior immigration officer (see IO, below) based at UK ports.
COA- Certificate of Approval. A form issued by the Border and Immigration Agency that allows a non-EU citizen who is in the UK on a visa of more than six months to get married in the UK. The ONLY exception to this rule is in the case of a marriage within the Church of England, where a COA is not needed.
CP- Civil partnership, as in the legal union that can be formed by same-sex couples in the UK.
CTA- Common Travel Area. The geographic area including the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey.) In most cases, there are no immigration checks when traveling wholly within the CTA. UK nationals are able to freely travel thoughout the CTA, but those of other nationalities (including holders of UK visas) may have to obtain visas to enter/reside in other parts of the CTA.
DSP- Diplomatic Service Procedures. Guidelines about issuing UK entry clearance at consulates overseas- a UKVisas parallel to the IDIs (see below).
EC- Entry clearance. Provides permission to travel to the UK for a specific purpose (ie marriage, visit, study, work, etc.) Issued by British missions overseas.
ECO- Entry Clearance Officer. Approves/rejects UK visa applications at a British mission overseas.
EEA- European Economic Area. Includes all of the member states of the
European Union (EU), along with Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. Citizens of these countries do not need visas to live and work in the UK (although they may need work authorization if they are a citizen of one of the newer EU member states.) Switzerland is not part of the EEA, but its citizens have the same right to live/work freely in the UK as EEA nationals. The UK immigration forms applicable to EEA & Swiss citizens and their families are numbered EEA1-4.
FLR- Further Leave to Remain. Time-limited permission to remain in the UK for any number of reasons, granted to someone who is already residing in the UK on another visa. FLR can be granted for a number of categories (with restrictions), including studies, work, marriage, or as a dependent of another UK visa holder. FLR normally comes with a blanket prohibition on accessing Public Funds, or "benefits."
FLR(M)- the name of the form used to apply for Further Leave to Remain on the basis of marriage/partnership to a permanent resident of the UK or a British citizen. Can be used by spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, depending on the circumstances.
HO- Home Office, a large part of the UK government responsible for several functions including immigration. Often used interchangeably with BIA/IND on this forum.
HSMP- Highly Skilled Migrants Programme. A points-based scheme that allows migration to the UK to work. HSMP is based on a combination of points scored for age, salary, and education.
IAS- Immigration Advice Service. A non-profit organisation/charity in the UK that gives free or fee-paying immigration representation and advice.
IDI- Immigration Directorates' Instructions. Guidance to caseworkers who handle immigration applications made within the UK that clarify many aspects of the Immigration Rules. The IDIs are available to view on the BIA's web site.
IED- Immigration Employment Document. Can take the form of a work permit (see WP, below) or HSMP approval letter.
IGS- International Graduates Scheme. A scheme that commenced on 1 May 2007 to allow all international graduates of UK universities to remain in the UK for 12 months to work in the UK. Holders of UK bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas completed after 1 May 2007 are eligible for this programme.
ILPA- Immigration Law Practicioners' Association. A professional association of immigration lawyers, advisers and other practicioners who work within the field of UK immigration law.
IND- Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The former name of what is now the Border and Immigration Agency (see BIA, above.)
ILE- Indefinite Leave to Enter. Permission to enter and reside in the UK permanently and allows full access to public funds. Issued to someone who is outside the UK and is an equivalent status to ILR (see below). A common ILE category is the minor dependent of a British citizen by descent. Formerly issued to all long-term partners/spouses of UK citizens, but since 2 April 2007 only available to long term partners who can demonstrate knowledge of life in the UK/language requirement for settlement.
ILR- Indefinite Leave to Remain. Permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, with no time limit attached ("permanent residence.") Allows full access to public funds. Can be lost if the holder resides outside the UK for more than 2 years.
IO- Immigration Officer. Inspects passports, conducts entry interiews, and controls access into the UK at all UK ports. In the case of non-visa national visitors, issues visit visas at the port through a six-month passport stamp.
KOL- Knowledge of Life/Language. Refers to the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the English language and knowledge of life in the UK for ILR applicants (introduced April 2007) and applicants for citizenship who received ILR before April 2007. These requirements can be fulfilled by passing the Life in the UK Test.
LLR- Limited Leave to Remain. Permission to remain in the UK for a limited time period. Usually used interchangably with Further Leave to Remain (FLR).
LTR- general shorthand for Leave to Remain.
MM- Managed Migration. Refers to most economic migration categories (ie work permit/HSMP) and student migration.
OISC- Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. Regulates UK immigration advisers who are not regulated by another professional body (eg the Law Society.)
PEO- Public Enquiry Office. A immigration office in the UK which accepts immigration applications made in person. PEOs are located in Croydon (London), Solihull (Birmingham), Liverpool and Glasgow.
SEGS- Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme. The now-defunct predecessor to the International Graduates Scheme, originally for overseas graduates in science and engineering subjects.
SET(M)- The form used to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on the basis of marriage/partnership to a UK permanent resident or British citizen.
UKM- the application form used to claim British nationality through a British mother- applies to those born between 7 February 1961 and 1 January 1983.
UKVisas- a joint directorate of the UK Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Manages the UK entry clearance service and procedure at British missions abroad.
UP- Unmarried Partner. For immigration purposes, a partner of a UK permanent resident, British citizen, EEA citizen or work permit/HSMP holder who can prove two years of cohabitation in order to obtain a UK unmarried partner visa, EEA residence card, or dependent visa.
VAF- Visa Application Form. Used to apply for UK visas at a British consulate. The VAF-1 form pertains to non-settlement visas, while the VAF-2 is used for settlement visas. For US citizens applying for visas online, these forms are automatically generated by the UKVisas online application system.
WP- Work Permit. An immigration document (applied for by the sponsoring company) that allows the holder to come to the UK to work in a specific job at a specific employer for a limited time period (up to 5 years.) If a WP holder wishes to change jobs, a new work permit must be applied for by the new employer.
