Accredited Representatives in the United States
Accredited Representatives in relation to Immigration Courts
(information based on the DoJ Manual) An Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) is a person who is approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Board, the Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security. He or she must be a person of good moral character who works for a specific nonprofit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization which has been recognized by the Board to represent aliens. Accreditation is valid for a period of up to three years and can be renewed. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. §§ 1292.1(a)(4), 1292.2(d). Before representing an individual before the Immigration Court, an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must:
- register with the EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) eRegistry, and
- file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28).
See Entering an appearance, Qualifications, Appearances, Applicability of attorney rules.
Qualifying organizations
The Board of Immigration Appeals officially recognizes certain nonprofit religious, charitable, social service, and similar organizations as legal service providers. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(a),and Legal Service Providers. To be recognized by the Board, an organization must affirmatively apply for that recognition. Such an organization must establish to the satisfaction of the Board that its fees are only nominal, that it does not assess excessive membership dues for persons given assistance, and that it has at its disposal adequate knowledge, information, and experience in immigration law and procedure. The qualifications and procedures for organizations seeking Board recognition are set forth in the regulations. 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(a), (b). Questions regarding recognition may be directed to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory.
Qualifying representatives
The Board of Immigration Appeals accredits persons of good moral character as representatives of qualifying organizations. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(d). Representatives of the recognized organizations are not automatically accredited by the Board. Rather, the recognized organization must affirmatively apply for accreditation on each representative’s behalf. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(d). No individual may apply on his or her own behalf. In addition, an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must register with EOIR’s eRegistry in order to practice before the Immigration Courts. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications, and Applicability of attorney rules. Accreditation is not transferrable from one representative to another, and no individual retains accreditation upon his or her separation from the recognized organization.
Immigration specialists
Accredited Representatives should not be confused with non-lawyer immigration specialists, visa consultants, and “notarios.” See Immigration Specialists. Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board)s must be expressly accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals and must be employed by a nonprofit institution specifically recognized by the Board.
Verification
To verify that an individual has been accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals, the public can either:
- consult the listing , or
- contact the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals (see EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory)
.
Applicability of attorney rules
Except in those instances set forth in the regulations and this American legal encyclopedia, Accredited Representatives are to observe the same rules and procedures as attorneys. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Attorneys.
Signatures
Only the Accredited Representative who is the representative of record may sign submissions to the Immigration Court. An Accredited Representative, even in the same organization, may not sign or file documents on behalf of another Accredited Representative. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Signatures.
Representative misconduct
Accredited Representatives (people approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must comply with certain standards of professional conduct. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1003.101 et seq.
Request to be removed from list of Accredited Representatives
An Accredited Representative who no longer wishes to represent aliens should write to the Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals and request to be removed from the list. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory.
Accredited Representatives in relation to Immigration Courts
(information based on the DoJ Manual) An Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) is a person who is approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Board, the Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security. He or she must be a person of good moral character who works for a specific nonprofit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization which has been recognized by the Board to represent aliens. Accreditation is valid for a period of up to three years and can be renewed. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. §§ 1292.1(a)(4), 1292.2(d). Before representing an individual before the Immigration Court, an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must:
- register with the EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) eRegistry, and
- file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28).
See Entering an appearance, Qualifications, Appearances, Applicability of attorney rules.
Qualifying organizations
The Board of Immigration Appeals officially recognizes certain nonprofit religious, charitable, social service, and similar organizations as legal service providers. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(a),and Legal Service Providers. To be recognized by the Board, an organization must affirmatively apply for that recognition. Such an organization must establish to the satisfaction of the Board that its fees are only nominal, that it does not assess excessive membership dues for persons given assistance, and that it has at its disposal adequate knowledge, information, and experience in immigration law and procedure. The qualifications and procedures for organizations seeking Board recognition are set forth in the regulations. 8 C.F.R. § 12
92.2(a), (b). Questions regarding recognition may be directed to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory.
Qualifying representatives
The Board of Immigration Appeals accredits persons of good moral character as representatives of qualifying organizations. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(d). Representatives of the recognized organizations are not automatically accredited by the Board. Rather, the recognized organization must affirmatively apply for accreditation on each representative’s behalf. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.2(d). No individual may apply on his or her own behalf. In addition, an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must register with EOIR’s eRegistry in order to practice before the Immigration Courts. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications, and Applicability of attorney rules. Accreditation is not transferrable from one representative to another, and no individual retains accreditation upon his or her separation from the recognized organization.
Immigration specialists
Accredited Representatives should not be confused with non-lawyer immigration specialists, visa consultants, and “notarios.” See Immigration Specialists. Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board)s must be expressly accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals and must be employed by a nonprofit institution specifically recognized by the Board.
Verification
To verify that an individual has been accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals, the public can either:
- consult the listing , or
- contact the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals (see EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory)
.
Applicability of attorney rules
Except in those instances set forth in the regulations and this American legal encyclopedia, Accredited Representatives are to observe the same rules and procedures as attorneys. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Attorneys.
Signatures
Only the Accredited Representative who is the representative of record may sign submissions to the Immigration Court. An Accredited Representative, even in the same organization, may not sign or file documents on behalf of another Accredited Representative. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Signatures.
Representative misconduct
Accredited Representatives (people approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board) must comply with certain standards of professional conduct. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1003.101 et seq.
Request to be removed from list of Accredited Representatives
An Accredited Representative who no longer wishes to represent aliens should write to the Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals and request to be removed from the list. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) Directory.