The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) serves as the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying immigration laws. It consists of 23 Appellate Immigration Judges, including a Chief Appellate Immigration Judge and one or two Deputy Chief Appellate Immigration Judges.

The BIA generally conducts a "paper review" of cases to decide appeals. In rare instances, it may hear oral arguments for appealed cases, primarily at its headquarters in Falls Church, VA.

The BIA has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals from certain decisions made by Immigration Judges and district directors of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in various proceedings where one party is the U.S. Government and the other party is a foreign national, citizen, or business firm.

Yes, BIA decisions are binding on all DHS officers and Immigration Judges, unless modified or overruled by the Attorney General or a federal court.