Glossary
The visa & immigration glossary
Plain, accurate definitions of the visa terms, forms, and bodies your agency deals with every day — and how a purpose-built platform tracks each one.
Documents & Forms
Affidavit of SupportForm I-864
The Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) is a legally enforceable contract in which a US sponsor promises to financially support an intending immigrant, accepting liability to repay certain means-tested public benefits. Most family-based green card applicants need one; the sponsor must typically show income at or above 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.Certificate of SponsorshipCoS
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a digital record, not a paper certificate, assigned by a UK Home Office-licensed employer to a worker so they can apply for a Skilled Worker or other sponsored work visa. It carries a unique reference number confirming a genuine job that meets skill and salary rules.Confirmation of Acceptance for StudiesCAS
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic record with a unique reference number, issued by a UK student-sponsor institution once it has offered an eligible course place. Applicants need a valid CAS to apply for a UK Student visa; it lists the course, dates, fees and sponsor details.Confirmation of EnrolmentCoE
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an electronic document an Australian registered education provider issues through the government's PRISMS system after a student accepts an offer and meets enrolment conditions, usually including a deposit. Applicants must hold a valid CoE for each course to lodge a Student visa (subclass 500) application.Form DS-160
Form DS-160 is the United States' Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, completed on the Consular Electronic Application Center for temporary visas such as B-1/B-2 visitor, F-1 student and H-1B work. Submitting it produces a barcoded confirmation page the applicant brings to their consular interview; it collects biographic, travel and security information.Form DS-260
Form DS-260 is the United States' Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, submitted through the Consular Electronic Application Center by people seeking an immigrant visa (green card) from abroad. Applicants complete it after an approved I-130 or I-140 petition, when the National Visa Center invites them; it is signed under penalty of perjury.Form I-130
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is a USCIS petition a US citizen or lawful permanent resident files to establish a qualifying family relationship with a relative who wants to immigrate. Approval does not grant a green card; it confirms the relationship and fixes the priority date that sets the relative's place in line.Form I-140
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, is a USCIS petition, usually filed by a US employer and sometimes self-petitioned, asking USCIS to classify a foreign worker for an employment-based green card in the EB-1, EB-2 or EB-3 category. Approval confirms eligibility and the priority date but does not by itself grant permanent residence.Form I-20
Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, is a US document issued by an SEVP-certified school after it accepts a student and records them in SEVIS. F-1 and M-1 applicants need it to pay the SEVIS fee, apply for a visa and enter the United States.Provincial Attestation LetterPAL
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a document from a Canadian province or territory confirming an applicant holds a spot within that jurisdiction's share of Canada's capped study-permit intake. Introduced in 2024, most study-permit applicants must include a valid PAL, though rules and exemptions change; verify current requirements with IRCC.Statuses & Concepts
Biometrics
In a visa context, biometrics are unique physical identifiers, typically fingerprints and a facial photograph and sometimes a digital signature, that applicants provide so authorities can verify identity, run security and criminal background checks, and produce secure travel or residence documents. Most work, study, and long-stay visa applications require an in-person biometrics appointment.Designated Learning InstitutionDLI
A Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a school approved by a Canadian province or territory to enrol international students. A study permit generally requires a letter of acceptance from a DLI, and each institution has a DLI number beginning with the letter O. Only study at an eligible DLI counts toward most post-graduation work permit eligibility.Expression of InterestEOI
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is an online profile a prospective migrant submits to signal interest in a skilled visa before formally applying. Profiles are ranked against other candidates by points, and high-scoring ones receive an Invitation to Apply. Australia's SkillSelect and Canada's Express Entry pool both work this way; submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation.Genuine Student requirementGS
The Genuine Student requirement is a test that student-visa applicants genuinely intend to study, rather than using a course mainly to gain migration or work access. Australia replaced its Genuine Temporary Entrant test with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement in March 2024; the UK Student route applies a comparable genuine-student and credibility assessment.Labour Market Impact AssessmentLMIA
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market and that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available. A positive LMIA lets the worker apply to IRCC for a work permit.Points-Based Immigration System
A points-based immigration system awards applicants points for attributes such as age, education, work experience, language ability, and sometimes a job offer, then uses the total to decide eligibility or rank candidates. Countries including Australia, Canada, and the UK use points-based systems, though the pass mark, factors, and weighting differ significantly between them.Priority Date
A priority date is the date that fixes an applicant's place in the queue for a numerically limited US immigrant visa (green card). It is usually the date the sponsoring petition (Form I-130) or the labour certification is filed, and it determines when, according to the monthly Visa Bulletin, the applicant may move forward.Right to Work Check
A right to work check is the legally required process by which a UK employer confirms, before employment begins, that a person is allowed to work in the UK. Checks are carried out by manual document inspection, the Home Office online service, or certified identity-verification technology. A correct check gives the employer a statutory excuse against illegal-working penalties.Sponsor Licence
A sponsor licence is Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) authorisation that allows a UK organisation to employ workers from outside the UK on sponsored routes such as the Skilled Worker visa. Licensed sponsors appear on a public register, assign Certificates of Sponsorship to their workers, and must meet ongoing record-keeping and reporting duties.Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication of the US Department of State that shows which priority dates are eligible for immigrant visa (green card) processing in each preference category and country. It sets cutoff dates across two charts, Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, that govern when applicants can file or be approved.Visa Types & Travel Authorisations
Electronic Travel AuthorizationETA
An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a digital pre-screening approval that visa-exempt travellers must obtain online before boarding transport to certain countries — including Canada (eTA), the United Kingdom and Australia. It is linked to the passport, not a visa, and does not guarantee entry; border officers make the final admission decision.ESTAESTA
ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is the United States' online pre-screening system for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries travelling for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less. An approved ESTA is linked to the passport and permits multiple trips, but it is not a visa and does not guarantee admission.ETIASETIAS
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a planned online travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to most European countries, expected to launch after repeated delays — verify the current timeline. Like ESTA, it is a pre-screening approval linked to the passport, not a visa; travellers apply online and pay a fee before arrival.eVisa
An eVisa (electronic visa) is an official visa applied for and issued entirely online, then linked digitally to the traveller's passport instead of a physical sticker or stamp. Applicants complete a government form, upload documents and pay online, receiving approval by email. eVisas are issued before travel — unlike a visa on arrival.Golden Visa
A Golden Visa is a residence-by-investment programme that grants residency rights in exchange for a qualifying investment — such as a fund subscription, business, or donation. Terms vary widely by country and change frequently: Spain closed its scheme in 2025 and Portugal removed its real-estate route in 2023, so always verify current rules.Residence Permit
A residence permit is an official document or status granting a foreign national the right to live in a country for a defined period — temporarily or permanently — usually tied to work, study, family, retirement or investment. Unlike a short-stay visa, it confers ongoing legal residency and typically requires renewal; rules vary by country.Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a zone of European countries — currently 29 states, including most EU members plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein — that have abolished passport checks at their shared internal borders. Within it, non-EU visitors can typically stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period; verify the current membership and rules.Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's main work route, allowing an overseas national to live and work for a licensed employer sponsoring an eligible job. Applicants need a Certificate of Sponsorship, must meet salary and English-language requirements, and score enough points under the points-based system. Salary thresholds change regularly — verify current figures.Transit Visa
A transit visa is a short-validity visa that lets a traveller pass through a country on the way to a third destination, rather than to visit it. Whether one is needed depends on nationality, the transit country, layover length and whether you leave the international airport zone. Requirements vary widely — always verify per route.Work Permit
A work permit is official authorisation that allows a foreign national to work legally in a country, usually for a specific employer, role or period. In some systems it is a separate document from the entry visa; in others the two are combined. Terms, sponsorship rules and whether the permit is employer-tied vary by country.Fees & Bodies
Emirates ID
The Emirates ID is the national identity card issued to every UAE citizen and resident by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). A mandatory smart card carrying biometric data, it proves identity and residency, is tied to the holder's residence visa, and is required for most government, banking, and everyday services.Government Fee vs Service Fee
Government fee versus service fee is the distinction between the official charge set by a government or embassy for processing a visa — passed on to the applicant at cost — and the separate service fee an agency charges for its own work: consultation, document review, the application platform, and support. The two are billed and disclosed separately.Immigration Health SurchargeIHS
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee most people pay when applying for a UK visa or immigration permission lasting longer than six months. Paid upfront for each year of the permission, it gives the applicant access to the National Health Service (NHS) on broadly the same basis as UK residents.Iqama
An Iqama is the residence permit issued to foreign nationals living in Saudi Arabia, administered by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) under the Ministry of Interior. Tied to an employer or sponsor under the kafala system, it confirms legal residency, typically runs one to two years, and is required for most services and transactions.MRV FeeMRV
The MRV fee is the Machine Readable Visa application fee charged by the U.S. Department of State for most nonimmigrant visa applications. It is paid before the visa interview, covers processing rather than approval, and is non-refundable whether or not the visa is issued. Amounts vary by visa category and are reviewed periodically.Visa Application CentreVAC
A Visa Application Centre (VAC) is an outsourced office where applicants submit documents, pay fees, and give biometrics for a visa. Run by private contractors such as VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International on behalf of a government, a VAC handles administrative intake only — the visa decision remains with the consulate or embassy.Adviser Regulation
Immigration Advice AuthorityIAA
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is the UK statutory body that regulates immigration advisers, ensuring they are fit, competent, and act in clients' best interests. Renamed from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) on 16 January 2025, it kept the same statutory powers; providing immigration advice unregulated remains a criminal offence.OMARAOMARA
OMARA — the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority — is the Australian government body that registers and regulates Registered Migration Agents (RMAs). Sitting within the Department of Home Affairs, it maintains the public register and enforces a professional Code of Conduct. Since March 2021, Australian legal practitioners have been regulated separately, not by OMARA.Regulated Canadian Immigration ConsultantRCIC
A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is a licensed professional authorised to advise on and represent Canadian immigration and citizenship applications for a fee. RCICs are licensed and regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Canada's statutory regulator. Only RCICs, lawyers, and Quebec notaries may represent applicants for payment.Section 214(b)214(b)
Section 214(b) is the provision of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act under which most nonimmigrant visa applications are refused. It presumes every applicant intends to immigrate unless they prove otherwise, so the applicant must satisfy the consular officer that they have strong ties abroad and genuine nonimmigrant intent. It is not a permanent ban.Ready to streamline your visa business?
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