Agencies & Their Links
AGENCIES EOIR – Immigration Court BIA – Appeals of Immigration Court Decisions AAO – Appeals of USCIS Decisions OPLA/OCC – Attorneys Representing the Government before EOIR OIL – Attorneys Representing the Government Before Circuit Courts (& sometimes the BIA) USCIS – Government Agency Granting Immigration Benefits USCIS AO – Affirmative Asylum Offices The relevant agencies most commonly encountered in immigration cases. EOIR – Executive Office of Immigration Review EOIR Practice Manual EOIR Resources for Attorneys EOIR Forms EOIR Appendixes Containing Sample Documents Appendix E – Cover Pages Appendix F – Cert. of Service Appendix G – Cert. of Translation Appendix H – Hotlines Appendix I – Citations Appendix J – Filing Motions Appendix K – Ex. Pleading Appendix L – Ex. Oral Pleading Appendix M – Ex. Crm. History Appendix N – Ex. Table of Contents BIA – Board of Immigration Appeals Board of Immigration Appeals Precedent Decisions Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual BIA Headnote Interim Decision Chart AAO – Administrative Appeals Office The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) conducts administrative review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers’ decisions regarding immigration benefit requests DHS/AAO/INS Decisions AAO Practice Manual OPLA / OCC – Office of Principal Legal Advisor or Office of Chief Counsel OPLA is under ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and it is the office that handles the prosecution of removal proceedings before the EOIR. USCIS – U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. USCIS Forms Asylum Offices – USCIS Asylum Offices Responsible for: Conducting protection screenings; Adjudicating asylum and refugee applications; and Adjudicating other immigration benefits both domestically and internationally.