Reference

Glossary: terms used in these guides

Short answer: This glossary defines the terms used across the guides: smishing, REAL ID, notario, International Driving Permit, Training Provider Registry, identification document, means of identification, wire fraud and others, each in one or two plain sentences, with links to the guides that use them.

Last reviewed: · By Mark Dent

Accredited representative
A non-attorney authorized by the Department of Justice, through a recognized nonprofit organization, to represent people in immigration matters. See notario fraud.
CDL
Commercial driver's license, issued by a state. See CDL schools and test fraud.
CDL mill
A school or broker that sells a commercial license or passing record instead of real training.
DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles. The name differs by state: BMV, DDS, Secretary of State and so on. See the directory.
DS-11, DS-82, DS-64
State Department passport forms: DS-11 for new and in-person applications, DS-82 for renewal by mail, DS-64 for reporting a lost or stolen passport.
ELDT
Entry-level driver training, required before certain CDL tests, from a provider on the registry.
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the DOT agency that sets CDL standards and runs the Training Provider Registry.
Identification document
In 18 U.S.C. 1028(d), a document made or issued by a government that is of a type intended or commonly accepted to identify individuals. See federal law.
IC3
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, the intake point for cyber-enabled crime complaints.
IDP
International Driving Permit, issued to U.S. drivers only by AAA and AATA. See IDP guide.
Means of identification
In section 1028, any name or number that can identify a specific individual, alone or with other information.
Notario (notario publico)
A Spanish title that means a trained lawyer in many countries. In the U.S., a notary public is not a lawyer and may not give immigration advice.
Nursys
NCSBN's national nurse license and discipline database. See checking a nursing license.
Operation Nightingale
The federal investigation of fake nursing diplomas sold by South Florida schools. See fake nursing diplomas.
Phishing / smishing
Fraud by email (phishing) or text message (smishing) that imitates a trusted sender. See fake DMV texts.
REAL ID
A state license or ID that meets federal standards and carries a star. See REAL ID.
TPR
The FMCSA Training Provider Registry of approved entry-level driver training providers.
Vital records
Birth, death, marriage and divorce records held by state and territory offices. See birth certificates.
Wire fraud
A scheme to defraud using electronic communications, under 18 U.S.C. 1343, with a ceiling of 20 years.
About the author
Written by Mark Dent from federal statutes, agency pages and state government pages that were opened on the date shown. Truthdocuments sells, issues and arranges no license or document, and has no tie to any DMV, federal agency or government body. See the editorial policy or report a mistake.