USCIS’ Administrative Appeals Office Introduces Its First Practice Manual

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) introduces our first practice manual. The AAO Practice Manual describes rules, procedures and recommendations for practice before the AAO. It includes information regarding appeals, motions and certifications, and an overview of the office.

The AAO conducts administrative review of USCIS officers’ decisions regarding immigration benefit requests in order to promote consistency and accuracy in the interpretation of immigration law and policy. The AAO has appellate jurisdiction over approximately 50 different types of immigration applications and petitions.

In order to help you find relevant information quickly, the manual includes:

• A keyword search function;
• A table of contents; and
• Links to relevant Immigration and Nationality Act and Code of Federal Regulations sections.

Citations of statutes, regulations, case law, authoritative sources, and other explanatory references generally appear in footnotes rather than the body of the text.

The AAO will update the manual periodically. The AAO welcomes and encourages the public to provide comments and propose improvements. Please mail or fax any comments or suggestions to the AAO with “AAO Practice Manual” in the subject line. See Chapter 6.1 of the AAO Practice Manual for the AAO’s contact information.

The AAO Practice Manual does not replace or modify any legal authority or USCIS policy. It does not create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person.