Common Acronyms & Terms at ISSO
This website, as well as U.S. government websites, use many acronyms, which might be confusing to students and scholars at times. Here is a list of the most common ones in use, to help you better navigate these pages.
| Acronym | Name | Meaning |
| BU | Boston University | A private research university in Boston, Massachusetts |
| CBP | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Operates U.S. ports of entry and departure |
| DHS | U.S. Department of Homeland Security | An agency of the U.S. government that houses, among other entities, the three immigration-related departments of USCIS, ICE, AND CBP |
| DOL | U.S. Department of Labor | An agency of the U.S. government that oversees issues related to employment in the U.S. |
| DOS | U.S. Department of State | An agency of the U.S. government that oversees U.S. embassies and consulates abroad and adjudicates applications for visas to the U.S. |
| DSO | Designated School Official | A member of the school administration officially designated to provide recommendations to students enrolled at the school regarding maintenance of nonimmigrant status and to support timely and complete record-keeping and reporting to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. |
| EAD | Employment Authorization Document | A way to prove that you are authorized to work in the United States for a specific time period |
| GCA | Graduate College Admissions | An admissions tracking system used by BU departments |
| ICE | US Immigration and Customs Enforcement | Oversees SEVIS and is charged with enforcement of immigration-related infractions |
| ISP | BU International Student Program | A required Orientation program for all international students to learn critical information about navigating life at BU |
| ISSO | BU International Students & Scholars Office | Our office! We provide professional expertise on immigration and employment and help ensure student, scholar, and institutional compliance with federal regulations |
| SEVIS | Student and Exchange Visitor Information System | A DHS database used by schools to issue immigration documents and monitor exchange visitors and their dependents in the U.S. |
| SEVP | Student and Exchange Visitor Program | A U.S. government program that manages international students and exchange visitors through SEVIS |
| SSN | Social Security Number | A unique identification number that allows the United States government to monitor your taxable wages earned as an employee in the U.S. |
| USCIS | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | Approves immigration benefits, including employment authorization |
Common Terms & Definitions
Scholar: A broad term to describe a foreign national who is engaged in academic teaching or research at BU. A scholar may be a paid BU employee or may be in an uncompensated Visiting Researcher position. For ISSO purposes, both graded staff and temporary employees who are considered to be scholars. Thus, on our website, the term scholar and employee may be used interchangeably.
Appointment/Activity/Employment: ISSO uses these terms interchangeably to explain the expected BU title, start and end dates, compensation (if applicable) and any other pertinent details associated with a particular foreign national in your department. Academic research and teaching positions that are conferred by the dean of your school are typically referred to as “appointments.” While staff and temporary employees are not technically “appointed,” ISSO does use this terminology when requesting confirmation about any job offer at BU. We may also use the word ‘activity’ to describe or request information about an uncompensated scholar.
Employment Authorization: The length of time that a foreign national is eligible to be employed in the United States. Employment authorizations are often limited or restricted and may or may not match the length of the scholar’s immigration status. Employment authorization for foreign nationals must be reverified periodically. Some prospective employees may already have employment authorization incident to status so they may or may not require immigration sponsorship to support their activities in the host department.
Immigration Sponsorship: A term used when BU assists a foreign national to obtain a particular immigration classification to support their appointment/activity in your department. BU policy generally limits immigration sponsorship to teaching and research positions as well as qualifying staff positions. More details about immigration sponsorship policy and procedures is available or you can contact ISSO if you have any questions.