Description

Petitioners and applicants for certain categories of immigration benefits may appeal a negative decision to the AAO. We conduct administrative review of those appeals to ensure consistency and accuracy in the interpretation of immigration law and policy. We generally issue “non-precedent” decisions, which apply existing law and policy to the facts of a given case. After review by the Attorney General, we may also issue “precedent” decisions to provide clear and uniform guidance to adjudicators and the public on the proper interpretation of law and policy. Under authority that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has delegated to USCIS, we exercise appellate jurisdiction over approximately 50 different immigration case types. Not every type of denied immigration benefit request may be appealed, and some appeals flle under the jurisdiction of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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