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Agencies

Listing of government and private agencies. There are several government agencies involved in the immigration process. Immigration law is dangerously complex because not only must we understand laws, regulations, and adjudications - we also must contend with agencies' ever changing interpretations. Most diligent lawyers spend a good one to two hours a day on most days just learning what the government is saying about issues that affect us.

a c f o v b d i u n t s

Click one of the letters above to go to a page containing all terms beginning with that letter.

AILA edit term search for term: American Immigration Lawyers Association

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CRS edit term search for term: Congressional Research Service. A "think tank" that provides reports to members of Congress on a variety of topics relevant to current political events."

Detailed definition of CRS

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FDNS edit term search for term: Fraud Detection and National Security. FDNS was created to strengthen the ability of the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide the right benefit to the right person at the right time, and no benefit to the wrong person.

Detailed definition of FDNS

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Ombudsman edit term search for term: Also known as CIS Ombudsman, this office provides recommendations for resolving individual and employer problems with the USCIS. As mandated by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 § 452, CIS Ombudsman is an independent office that reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0482.shtm

Detailed definition of Ombudsman

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Visa Bulletin edit term search for term: Visa Bulletin

Detailed definition of Visa Bulletin

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BCIS edit term search for term: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (now USCIS)

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CIA edit term search for term: Central Intelligence Agency

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DHS edit term search for term: Department of Homeland Security

Detailed definition of DHS

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--AAO edit term search for term: Administrative Appeals Office

Detailed definition of AAO

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--CBP edit term search for term: Customs and Border Protection. This agency was spun off from old INS. CBP is responsible for inspecting people when they land at airports, docks and land borders.

Detailed definition of CBP

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--ICE edit term search for term: Immigration and Custom Enforcement. This agency used to be a part of old INS. When DHS was formed, enforcement personnel of US Customs Service and INS were combined to form ICE, which is now responsible for a large part of immigration enforcemnt activity.

Detailed definition of ICE

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--USCIS edit term search for term: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Earlier known as INS. USCIS is responsible for providing immigration benefits to applicants. Homepage http://wwww.uscis.gov

Detailed definition of USCIS

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----CSC edit term search for term: California Service Center

Detailed definition of CSC

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----NSC edit term search for term: Nebraska Service Center

Detailed definition of NSC

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----TSC edit term search for term: Texas Service Center

Detailed definition of TSC

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----VSC edit term search for term: Vermont Service Center

Detailed definition of VSC

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DOJ edit term search for term: Department of Justice

Detailed definition of DOJ

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--OCAHO edit term search for term: Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) is one of the three adjudicative bodies within the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). It has jurisdiction over three types of civil penalty cases: employer sanctions (INA § 274A - 8 USC § 1324a), unfair immigration-related employment practices (INA § 274B - 8 USC § 1324b), and immigration-related document fraud (INA § 274C - 8 USC § 1324c).

Detailed definition of OCAHO

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DOL edit term search for term: US Department of Labor is charged with protecting the labor market and investigation and enforcement activities related to that.
Synonyms: Labor Department, U.S. Department of Labor, US Department of Labor, USDOL
Detailed definition of DOL

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--BALCA edit term search for term: Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals is an adjudicative agency that decides in appeal PERM and wage disputes.

Detailed definition of BALCA

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--CO edit term search for term: Certifying Officer is the highest Department of Labor officer for a region. They are charged, amongst other things, with the responsibility to adjudicate PERM and LCA cases.

Detailed definition of CO

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DOS edit term search for term: Department of State (State Department) is responsible for issuing visas, which are a permission to travel to USA.

Detailed definition of DOS

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--US Consulates edit term search for term: Consulates all over the world issue visas - a permission to enter USA for a specific purpose. Consulates are a part of the State Department (DOS - Department of State).

Detailed definition of US Consulates

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FBI edit term search for term: Federal Bureau of Investigation

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INS edit term search for term: Immigration and Naturalization Service (now reconstituted into USCIS)
IRS edit term search for term: Internal Revenue Service

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OMB edit term search for term: Office of Management and Budget

Detailed definition of OMB

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SSA edit term search for term: Social Security Administration

Nonimmigrant Visas

Green Cards

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