This system runs on acronyms nobody explains. Here is what they mean.
RFE — Request for Evidence
A notice from USCIS asking for additional documentation before it decides a case. An RFE is not a denial.
NOID — Notice of Intent to Deny
A notice that USCIS is preparing to deny a case and is giving an opportunity to respond first.
AOS — Adjustment of Status
Applying for permanent residence from inside the United States using Form I-485.
EAD — Employment Authorization Document
A card issued on Form I-765 permitting its holder to work in the United States.
Advance Parole
A travel document allowing certain people with pending applications to re-enter after travelling abroad.
Priority date
The date establishing a place in line for an immigrant visa.
Cap-exempt
Under INA 214(g)(5), petitions from higher education institutions, affiliated nonprofits and research organizations are not counted against the annual H-1B cap.
Cap-gap
An extension of F-1 status bridging the period until an H-1B start date.
OPT — Optional Practical Training
Temporary employment authorization for F-1 students in a field related to their major.
D/S — Duration of Status
An admission period tied to programme length rather than a fixed date. A final rule replaces D/S with a fixed period for F, J and I effective 15 September 2026.
LCA — Labor Condition Application
A Department of Labor filing attesting to wage and working-condition obligations. It records intent to hire, not approval.
PERM
The permanent labor certification process, usually the first step in EB-2 and EB-3 employment green cards.
I-94
The record showing lawful admission and the date until which a person may stay. The I-94 date, not the visa expiry date, governs how long someone may remain.
Notario fraud
Unauthorised practice of immigration law, often by people trading on the different meaning of "notario" in Latin America.
These definitions describe what terms mean. They do not tell you what to do in your own
case.