8 C.F.R. § 1003.38 : Aliens and Nationality — EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE — GENERAL PROVISIONS — EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW — IMMIGRATION COURT - RULES OF PROCEDURE — Appeals

(a) Decisions of Immigration Judges may be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals as authorized by 8 CFR 3.1(b).

(b) The Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge (Form EOIR-26) shall be filed directly with the Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 calendar days after the stating of an immigration judge's oral decision or the mailing or electronic notification of an immigration judge's written decision. If the final date for filing falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, this appeal time shall be extended to the next business day. A Notice of Appeal (Form EOIR-26) may not be filed by any party who has waived appeal.

(c) The date of filing of the Notice of Appeal (Form EOIR-26) shall be the date the Notice is received by the Board.

(d) A Notice of Appeal (Form EOIR-26) must be accompanied by the appropriate fee or by an Appeal Fee Waiver Request (Form EOIR-26A). If the fee is not paid or the Appeal Fee Waiver Request (Form EOIR-26A) is not filed within the specified time period indicated in paragraph (b) of this section, the appeal will not be deemed properly filed and the decision of the Immigration Judge shall be final to the same extent as though no appeal had been taken.

(e) Within five working days of any change of address, an alien must provide written notice of the change of address on Form EOIR-33 to the Board. Where a party is represented, the representative should also provide to the Board written notice of any change in the representative's business mailing address.

(f) Briefs may be filed by both parties pursuant to 8 CFR 3.3(c).

(g) In proceedings before the Board on behalf of a respondent, a practitioner must enter an appearance using Form EOIR-27 or Form EOIR-60.

(1) Entering an appearance using Form EOIR-27. In proceedings before the Board, in order to become the practitioner of record, which authorizes and requires the practitioner to appear before the Board on behalf of the respondent, file all documents on behalf of the respondent, and accept service of process of all documents filed in the proceedings, a practitioner must enter an appearance using Form EOIR-27.

(i) Filing Form EOIR-27. The practitioner must file a copy of the Form EOIR-27 with the Board and serve a copy on DHS as required by 8 CFR 1003.32. The practitioner must file and serve a Form EOIR-27 even if the practitioner has previously filed a separate Notice of Entry of Appearance with DHS for appearances before DHS or a Form EOIR-28 with the immigration court, or has previously entered a limited appearance using a Form EOIR-60 in connection with document assistance under paragraph (g)(2) of this section.

(ii) Effect of filing Form EOIR-27. A practitioner who enters an appearance using Form EOIR-27 is the practitioner of record and must appear before the Board on behalf of the respondent, file all documents on behalf of the respondent, and accept service of process of all documents filed in the proceedings, consistent with 8 CFR 1292.5. Filing a Form EOIR-27 provides the practitioner with access to the record of proceedings during the course of proceedings. A respondent shall be considered represented for the proceedings in which a Form EOIR-27 has been filed.

(iii) Withdrawal or substitution. A practitioner who enters an appearance on behalf of a respondent before the Board by filing a Form EOIR-27 remains the practitioner of record unless the Board permits withdrawal or substitution during proceedings only upon written motion submitted without fee.

(2) Entering a limited appearance for document assistance using Form EOIR-60. A practitioner who provides assistance to a pro se respondent with the drafting, completion, or filling in of blank spaces of a motion, brief, form, or other specific document or set of documents intended to be filed with the Board, regardless of whether such assistance is considered "practice" or "preparation" as defined in § 1001.1, must disclose such limited assistance to the Board using Form EOIR-60, unless pursuant to paragraph (g)(1) the practitioner has filed a Form EOIR-27 to become the practitioner of record.

(i) Filing Form EOIR-60. A Form EOIR-60 must not be filed as a standalone document. The single Form EOIR-60 must be filed with the Board at the same time as the document or set of documents with which the practitioner assisted. Any subsequent filing of a document or set of documents with which a practitioner assisted must be accompanied by a new Form EOIR-60.

(ii) Effect of Filing Form EOIR-60. A practitioner who enters a limited appearance using Form EOIR-60 is not the practitioner of record, is not required to appear before the Board, and is not required to submit a motion to withdraw or substitute. The submission of a Form EOIR-60 does not create additional ongoing obligations between the practitioner, the respondent, and EOIR. An appearance through Form EOIR-60 does not provide the practitioner with access to the record of proceedings. A respondent who received assistance pursuant to this paragraph is not represented, remains pro se, and is subject to service of process of all documents filed in the proceedings, consistent with 8 CFR 1292.5.

(3) Completing an appearance form, proof of qualification, disclosure requirements, and identification. The practitioner must properly complete and sign any Form EOIR-27 or Form EOIR-60, as required by the form instructions. A practitioner's personal appearance or signature on the Form EOIR-27 or Form EOIR-60 constitutes a representation that the person is authorized and qualified to appear as a practitioner in accordance with 8 CFR 1292.1. Further proof that the practitioner meets the qualifications of a practitioner as defined in 8 CFR 1292.1 may be required. The completion of a Form EOIR-27 or Form EOIR-60 in connection with an application or form that requires disclosure of the preparer does not relieve a practitioner from complying with the particular disclosure requirements of the application or form.

Notwithstanding the filing of a Form EOIR-27 or Form EOIR-60, the practitioner must identify themselves by name, accompanied by their signature, on any document filed or intended to be filed with the Board pursuant to an appearance under paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of this section.

8 C.F.R. §1003.38

52 FR 2936, 1/29/1987. Redesignated at 57 FR 11571, 4/6/1992, as amended at 60 FR 34089, 6/30/1995; 61 FR 18908, 4/29/1996; 86 FR 70708, 2/11/2022; 87 FR 56258, 11/14/2022