Ft. Lauderdale Immigration Administrative Appeals Office
Immigration Appeals Attorney
The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) adjudicates appeals that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security delegates to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The AAO resolves immigration issues of individual applications and petitions by providing decisions that are fair and legally supported.
At Guerra Sáenz, PL, we work closely with clients at each step of the immigration process utilizing our vast experience involving the many aspects of immigration law. We handle cases that deal with employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, deportation defense, criminal immigration matters, green cards, and appeals. We are able to resolve a variety of issues for our clients by means of thorough case preparation, understanding of immigration laws, courtroom experience, and practicing a high level of professional legal services. The goal of our Fort Lauderdale immigration lawyer is to help the client to achieve the best possible case result, ranging from simple immigration issues to complex appeals matters.
Purpose of the Immigration Administrative Appeals Office
The AAO works hard to make sure that they carefully review each case and that the decisions adjudicated are fair, impartial, and legally supported and that it renders decisions in a timely manner. They ensure that they are consistent and accurate in interpretations of the immigration regulations, policies, and laws. The AAO maintains current knowledge of applicable case law, regulations, statutes and policies. In support of the appeals process and provide clarification for adjudication issues, the Administrative Appeals Office recommends publication of precedent decisions. Other United States Citizenship and Immigration Services decisions are not bound by non-precedent decisions.
AAO decisions are either non-precedent or precedent. If you would like to read non-precedent decisions, they are available through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Freedom of Information Act (FOLA) Central Office, the immigration bar, and in private immigration law publications.
Precedent decisions are necessary in instances when "novel issue of law on fact and when it is necessary to provide clear and uniform guidance concerning the proper implementation and administration of the statute and regulations were application regulations are unclear or silent." Each decision requires review and approval by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Precedent decisions are published and bound in volumes entitled Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws of the United States.
AAO Branches
The most common cases for review involve petitions and applications that are Form I-821 Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-129 Petition for Immigration Worker (H-1B) and Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. Your case will be reviewed carefully, fairly, and expeditiously by employees of the AAO.
Eighty-eight employees comprise the AAO workforce and the AAO is divided into 9 branches. Under the Chief and Deputy Chief are branches 1-7 that deal with the different application and petition denials. Following that are the branches 8 and 9 that deal with detection and deterrence of immigration fraud and the support for the manager and employees of the AAO. Matters under appeal fall in the different branches:
- Branch 1 – I-129 H. L, O, P & Q, and N-470 Petitions
- Branch 2 – Applications for Temporary Protected Status
- Branch 3 – I-129F, I-131, I-212, I-340, U Petitions, adoption applications and more
- Branch 4 – I-360 Amerasian and Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, I-612 waiver and more
- Branch 5 – Petitions for aliens of extraordinary ability, special immigrant or non-immigrant religious workers, investors, professors, researchers, and bond breaches
- Branch 6 – Employment based 2nd and 3rd preference visas for professionals, skilled and unskilled workers, and healthcare workers
- Branch 7 – denials based on the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act.
Attorney Representation in Your Appeals Case
You do not have to face the appeals process alone. We are experienced in all matters concerning immigration issues. An attorney by your side at each step of the appeals process and presenting reasons why you should receive a decision in your favor are important to help you receive a successful conclusion in your appeals case.
Legal help with your immigration case before the Administrative Appeals Office can make a difference in the outcome. Contact Guerra Sáenz, PL for more information today!
