The relevant agencies most commonly encountered in immigration cases.

EOIR - Executive Office of Immigration Review

BIA - Board of Immigration Appeals

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

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.