The Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) is headed by a Chief Administrative Hearing Officer who is responsible for the general supervision and management of Administrative Law Judges who preside at hearings which are mandated by provisions of law enacted in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA (PDF)) and the Immigration Act of 1990 (PDF). These acts, among others, amended the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA).
Administrative Law Judges hear cases and adjudicate issues arising under the provisions of the INA relating to: (1) knowingly hiring, recruiting, or referring for a fee unauthorized aliens, or the continued employment of unauthorized aliens, failure to comply with employment eligibility verification requirements, and requiring indemnity bonds from employees in violation of section 274A of the INA (employer sanctions); (2) immigration-related unfair employment practices in violation of section 274B of the INA; and (3) immigration-related document fraud in violation of 274C of the INA. Complaints are brought by the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices in the Department of Justice, or private individuals or entities as prescribed by statute.
Hearings are conducted under applicable laws and regulations, as well as the general requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. Employer sanctions and document fraud cases are subject to administrative review by the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer and/or the Attorney General. All final agency decisions are subject to review in the federal circuit courts of appeal.
Meet the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer
Effective July 27, 2015, all mail addressed to OCAHO should be addressed using the 22041 zip code. The street address of 5107 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Va., will remain the same, but the zip code will change from 20530 to 22041. This announcement supersedes the Oct. 1, 2013, change, and restores the EOIR Headquarters zip code that was used prior to that date.
The new mailing address for all mail and filings addressed to OCAHO is:
Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2519
Falls Church, VA 22041
Mail addressed with the zip code 20530 on or after July 27, 2015, may result in delayed delivery to OCAHO. Therefore, please change all templates accordingly. Thank you.
Additional Information:
The Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), is conducting a voluntary pilot program to test an electronic filing system in cases filed with OCAHO under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a and § 1324b. See http://go.usa.gov/8wEP. The pilot program was originally in effect until November 26, 2014, and was subsequently extended until May 29, 2015. Due to the overall success of the electronic filing pilot program, the pilot program has now been extended indefinitely while OCAHO works toward implementation of a permanent e-filing system. OCAHO has made periodic adjustments and improvements to its electronic filing pilot procedures in response to feedback from parties and stakeholders, and welcomes further input.
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Cumulative Topical Index (PDF) (last 09/2015)
How to File an Unlawful Employment Complaint
How to file an Unfair Immigration-related Employment Practices Complaint
Factsheet (PDF)