In which scenario would the BIA typically be the appellate body?

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) serves as the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying immigration laws within the United States. It specifically focuses on certain types of appeals concerning immigration matters.

When considering the types of petitions and applications listed, the denial of a Special Immigrant Petition typically falls under the jurisdiction of the BIA because these petitions relate to specific categories of individuals, often involving complex legal interpretations concerning an individual’s status or eligibility for a particular immigration benefit.

In contrast, while asylum application rejections and family-based petition appeals may also be important matters, they often involve different processes, and certain decisions at earlier stages may not always be appealed directly to the BIA in the same manner. Employment-based petition denials also represent a different area primarily overseen by other administrative agencies before reaching the BIA.

Thus, the BIA's role is most clearly positioned in the context of appealing the denial of a Special Immigrant Petition, where its authority and expertise in immigration law can significantly impact the outcome of a case.