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10. Glossary of Terms


10. Glossary of Terms

Term or Acronym
Definition
ARO Alternate Responsible Officer. A person designated by a Department of State
authorized exchange visitor program sponsor to support the Responsible
Officer and maintain SEVIS data.
Authorized overseas study Overseas study authorized by a Primary/Designated School Official
that contributes to completion of your program of study. This includes
graduate research and formal classes or programs.
Continuing exchange visitor For purposes of nonimmigrant status, a continuing exchange visitor is one
who maintains status in a single program.
Continuing student For purposes of nonimmigrant status, a continuing student is one
who has not completed, or terminated, a program of study and has
maintained status. Continuing students may, under certain circumstances,
transfer schools while continuing to maintain status. F-1 and F-3 students
may also change their level of study while continuing to maintain status.
DHS Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov
DOS Department of State www.state.gov
DSO Designated School Official. The person designated by a SEVP approved
school to support the Principal Designated School Official and maintain
SEVIS records.
Exchange visitor program sponsor The sponsor of a Department of State approved exchange visitor program. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/
F-1 Nonimmigrant status conferred on students attending SEVP
approved academic institutions and language training programs
who meet the requirements outlined in 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1).
F-2 Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or minor child
of an F-1 or F-3 student.
F-3 Border commuter students in academic institutions and language
training programs (the 8 CFR provisions for commuter
students are under development).
Form DS-2019 Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange
Visitor (J-1) Status, created by DOS approved exchange
visitor program.
Form I-20 Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant
Student Status, created by SEVP approved schools.
ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement www.ice.gov
J-1 Nonimmigrant status conferred on exchange visitors
participating in DOS approved exchange visitor
programs who meet the requirements outlined in
8 CFR 214.2(j)(1)
J-2 Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or
minor child of an J-2 student
M-1 Nonimmigrant status conferred on students attending
SEVP approved vocational or other nonacademic
institutions who meet the requirements outlined in
8 CFR 214.2(m)(1)
M-2 Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or
minor child of an M-1 student
M-3 Border commuter students in vocational training
programs or other nonacademic institutions (the
8 CFR provisions for commuter students are under development)
P/DSO Either a PDSO or a DSO.
Passport An official document from a person’s country of citizenship
that attests to their identify and status as a citizen.
PDF Adobe Acrobat standard file format
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
PDSO Primary Designated School Official. The person designated
by a SEVP approved school to have primary responsibility
for students in that program and maintaining SEVIS records.
POE Port-of-Entry. The term port of entry means a port or place
designated by DHS at which a person may apply for
admission into the United States, including international
airports, seaports and land ports of entry.
Receipt for SEVIS I-901 fee The I-797 or Internet generated receipt given to student
or exchange visitor upon payment of the SEVIS I-901 fee.
RO Responsible Officer. The person designated by a
Department of State authorized exchange visitor program
sponsor to have primary responsibility for exchange visitors
in that program and maintaining SEVIS records.
School A SEVP approved academic or vocational institution
or language training school.
SEVIS Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System www.ice.gov/sevis
SEVIS ID number The unique identifying number assigned to a student or
exchange visitor within SEVIS that appears on the
Form I-20 or DS-2019.
SEVP Student and Exchange Visitor Program www.ice.gov/sevis
USCIS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service www.uscis.gov
Visa If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases
you’ll need a visa to apply to enter the United States.

A visa doesn’t permit entry to the United States. A visa
simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer at an American
embassy or consulate reviewed your application and determined
that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
Consular affairs are the responsibility of the DOS.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as
the POE. Only the immigration officer has the authority
to permit you to enter the United States. (For more
information on what to expect at the POE see
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/news/newsreleases/
articles/POEFactSheetUpdate_063004.pdf
)

There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant
and nonimmigrant.

Immigrant visas are for people who intend to live permanently
in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for people with
permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be
in the U.S. on a temporary basis – for tourism, business,
temporary work, study, or medical treatment. For additional
information see the DOS website at
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/whatis/index.html

Visa exempt Citizens of Canada or Bermuda or residents of certain
other islands described in 8 CFR 212.1a, do not need a
visa. These applicants for F-1, F-3, M-1, M-3 or J-1
nonimmigrant status may apply at the Port-of-Entry.

10.A. Screens Shot from the FMJFee Website

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