Reputable Individual in the United States
Reputable Individual in relation to Immigration Courts
(information based on the DoJ Manual)
Reputable individuals
Upon request, an Immigration Judge has the discretion to allow a reputable individual to appear on behalf of an alien, if the Immigration Judge is satisfied that the individual is capable of providing competent representation to the alien. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(3). To qualify as a reputable individual, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- be a person of good moral character
- appear on an individual basis, at the request of the Alien (person who is not a citizen or national of the United States)
- receive no direct or indirect remuneration for his or her assistance
- file a declaration that he or she is not being remunerated for his or her assistance
- have a preexisting relationship with the Alien (e.g., relative, neighbor, clergy), except in those situations where representation would otherwise not be available, and
- be officially recognized by the Immigration Court.
Any individual who receives any sort of compensation or makes immigration appearances on a regular basis (such as a non-lawyer “immigration specialist,” “visa consultant,” or “notario”) does not qualify as a “reputable individual” as defined in the regulations. A reputable individual does not register with the Executive Office for Immigration Review eRegistry and cannot electronically file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications. To appear before the Immigration Court, a reputable individual must file a paper Form EOIR-28. The reputable individual should be careful to use the most current version of the Form EOIR-28, which is available on the EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) website . The reputable individual should check the box on the Form EOIR-28 indicating that he or she is a reputable individual as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(3). Identification Numbers (“EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) ID numbers”) are not issued to reputable individuals, and therefore need not be provided on the Form EOIR-28. A person asking to be recognized as a reputable individual should file a statement attesting to each of the criteria set forth above. This statement should accompany the Form EOIR-28.
Fellow inmates
The regulations do not provide for representation by fellow inmates or other detained persons. Fellow inmates do not qualify under any of the categories of representatives enumerated in the regulations.
Accredited officials of foreign governments
An accredited official who is in the United States may appear before the Immigration Court in his or her official capacity with the alien’s consent. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(5). An accredited official does not register with the Executive Office for Immigration Review eRegistry and cannot electronically file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications. To appear before the Immigration Court, an accredited official must file a paper Form EOIR-28. The accredited official should be careful to use the most current version of the Form EOIR-28, which is available on the Executive Office for Immigration Review website . An accredited official should check the box on the Form EOIR-28 indicating that he or she is an accredited foreign government official as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(5). Identification Numbers (“EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) ID numbers”) are not issued to accredited officials, and therefore need not be provided on the Form EOIR-28. The individual must also submit evidence verifying his or her status as an accredited official of a foreign government.
Former employees of the Department of Justice
Former employees of the Department of Justice may be restricted in their ability to appear before the Immigration Court. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(c).
Foreign student advisors
Foreign student advisors, including “Designated School Officials,” are not authorized to appear before the Immigration Court, unless the advisor is an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Accredited Representative.
Reputable Individual in relation to Immigration Courts
(information based on the DoJ Manual)
Reputable individuals
Upon request, an Immigration Judge has the discretion to allow a reputable individual to appear on behalf of an alien, if the Immigration Judge is satisfied that the individual is capable of providing competent representation to the alien. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(3). To qualify as a reputable individual, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- be a person of good moral character
- appear on an individual basis, at the request of the Alien (person who is not a citizen or national of the United States)
- receive no direct or indirect remuneration for his or her assistance
- file a declaration that he or she is not being remunerated for his or her assistance
- have a preexisting relationship with the Alien (e.g., relative, neighbor, clergy), except in those situations where representation would otherwise not be available, and
- be officially recognized by the Immigration Court.
Any individual who receives any sort of compensation or makes immigration appearances on a regular basis (such as a non-lawyer “immigration specialist,” “visa consultant,” or “notario”) does not qualify as a “reputable individual” as defined in the regulations. A reputable individual does not register with the Executive Office for Immigration Review eRegistry and cannot electronically file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications. To appear before the Immigration Court, a reputable individual must file a paper Form EOIR-28. The reputable individual should be careful to use the most current version of the Form EOIR-28, which is available on the EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) website . The reputable individual should check the box on the Form EOIR-28 indicating that he or she is a reputable individual as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(3). Identification Numbers (“EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) ID numbers”) are not issued to reputable individuals, and therefore need not be provided on the Form EOIR-28. A person asking to be recognized as a reputable individual should file a statement attesting to each of the criteria set forth above. This statement should accompany the Form EOIR-28.
Fellow inmates
The regulations do not provide for representation by fellow inmates or other detained persons. Fellow inmates do not qualify under any of the categories of representatives enumerated in the regulations.
Accredited officials of foreign governments
An accredited official who is in the United States may appear before the Immigration Court in his or her official capacity with the alien’s consent. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(5). An accredited official does not register with the Executive Office for Immigration Review eRegistry and cannot ele
ctronically file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court (Form EOIR-28). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Qualifications. To appear before the Immigration Court, an accredited official must file a paper Form EOIR-28. The accredited official should be careful to use the most current version of the Form EOIR-28, which is available on the Executive Office for Immigration Review website . An accredited official should check the box on the Form EOIR-28 indicating that he or she is an accredited foreign government official as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(5). Identification Numbers (“EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) ID numbers”) are not issued to accredited officials, and therefore need not be provided on the Form EOIR-28. The individual must also submit evidence verifying his or her status as an accredited official of a foreign government.
Former employees of the Department of Justice
Former employees of the Department of Justice may be restricted in their ability to appear before the Immigration Court. See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(c).
Foreign student advisors
Foreign student advisors, including “Designated School Officials,” are not authorized to appear before the Immigration Court, unless the advisor is an Accredited Representative (person approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent aliens before the Immigration Courts and the Board). See (in this American law platform, in relation to immigration courts and judges) Accredited Representative.