Which statement correctly describes the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO)?

• A. The AAO reviews certain USCIS decisions on petitions and appeals.
• B. The AAO issues visas at consulates.
• C. The AAO handles asylum interviews.
• D. The AAO manages border enforcement.

Answer: (A)

The Administrative Appeals Office is the appellate unit within USCIS that reviews certain decisions on petitions and applications when an appeal or a motion for reconsideration is filed. It sits inside the Department of Homeland Security and serves as the next step in the adjudication process for those cases, evaluating whether the initial USCIS decision complied with current laws and policy. This role is distinct from issuing visas, which is done by consulates or USCIS in other contexts, and from asylum interviews, which are handled by asylum officers. It’s also separate from border enforcement, which is the job of other agencies like CBP and ICE. So the statement describes AAO’s function accurately: it reviews certain USCIS decisions on petitions and appeals.