Form 1125-0013 Request by Organization for Accreditation of Non-Attorne

U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review

OMB# 1125-0013
Request by Organization for Accreditation
of Non-Attorney Representative

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read carefully before completing and filing Optional Form EOIR-31A)
A. When to submit an Optional Form EOIR-31A:
•

Organizations are encouraged to use this form (Optional Form EOIR-31A) when applying for initial or renewal of
accreditation for a representative to provide immigration legal services on behalf of its clients before the EOIR (i.e.,
the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)) and the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), or before DHS only.

•

An organization may apply for accreditation of a representative either at the same time that it applies for recognition
using the Form EOIR-31 or after it has been granted recognition.

•

A separate application for accreditation should be used for each proposed representative.

B. Where to submit an Optional Form EOIR-31A:
R&A Coordinator
Board of Immigration Appeals
Office of the Chief Clerk
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2000
Falls Church, VA 20530

C. How to apply for accreditation of a representative:
Read all of these instructions. These itemized instructions correspond to the numbers on the Optional Form EOIR-31A.
•

Item #1 - Provide the organization’s complete name, including any names under which it is doing business, and
contact information. Also, provide other names previously used by the organization to apply for recognition or
accreditation. The organization must provide a street address. A post office box number is not acceptable.

•

Item #1 - Only an organization simultaneously applying for recognition, or an organization that has already received
recognition, may request accreditation for an individual. Check the appropriate box. If currently recognized, provide
the date of recognition.

•

Item #2 - Provide the name of the proposed representative and any other names this individual is known by or has
ever been known by.

•

Item #2 - List past and present accreditations for this individual, if applicable. Include the name of the recognized
organization(s) for which accreditation was approved and the last date of approval. Attach additional sheets, if
necessary.

•

Item #3 - Check one type of accreditation (partial or full) sought for this individual. Partial accreditation authorizes a
representative to appear on behalf of clients before DHS only. Full accreditation authorizes a representative to
appear on behalf of clients before DHS, the immigration courts, and the BIA. Accreditation is valid for a period of 3
years from the date of approval and may be renewed.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (continued)

Optional Form EOIR-31A
August 2014

•

Item #4 - Check the appropriate box if seeking to renew either full or partial accreditation at the same organization.
Current accreditation will remain valid pending the BIA’s decision on renewal of accreditation, provided the request
for renewal is received by the BIA at least 60 days prior to the 3-year expiration date. Provide the date of last
approval of accreditation, and attach a copy of the last approval order. Renewal of accreditation also requires
documentation demonstrating continuing good moral character and immigration legal training since the date of last
approval of accreditation.

•

Item #4 - If seeking to change accreditation from partial to full or full to partial at the time of renewal, please be sure
to indicate the new type of accreditation sought in Item #3. In Item #4 indicate the last type of accreditation
approved. If a proposed representative does not qualify for a change to full accreditation, the Board may approve the
application for renewal of partial accreditation.

•

Item #5 - Provide documentation, such as character reference letters from professionals in the community and
background checks, to show this individual possesses good moral character.

•

Item #5 - Provide documentation demonstrating this individual possesses a broad knowledge of immigration and
nationality law, practice, and procedure. Include a resume and legal training information. Information regarding
formal training courses should include (at a minimum) the title of the training, the provider’s name, date(s) and
duration of the training, the topics covered, and whether the training was attended in person or through other means.
Provide certificates of completion and the results of any formal tests taken during training, if available.

•

Item #5 - Eligibility for partial accreditation requires at least one formal training course designed to give new
practitioners a solid overview of the fundamentals of immigration law and procedure. Additional training courses in
specific topics of immigration law and/or practical experience is highly recommended.

•

Item #5 - Eligibility for full accreditation requires – in addition to the requirements to establish eligibility for partial
accreditation – training courses, education, and/or experience showing oral and written trial and appellate advocacy
skills. If the full accreditation eligibility requirements are not met, full accreditation will not be approved, but the
Board may grant partial accreditation.

D. Who must verify the contents of the form:
•

Item #6 - An official of the applicant organization, who is authorized to act on behalf of the organization, such as the
President or Executive Director, must sign and affirm that the form and its attachments are true, correct, and
complete. An individual may not apply for accreditation for himself or herself, unless the individual is also an officer
of the applicant organization.

•

Item #6 - The proposed representative also must attest to his or her good moral character and to the truthfulness and
accuracy of the contents of the form and its attachments.

E. Who must be sent a copy of the form and its attachments:
•

Item #7 - The organization must send an exact copy of the form and its attachments to two DHS offices: the District
Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Chief Counsel for Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE).

•

Item #7 - Complete and sign the “proof of service.” The proof of service is the organization’s formal guarantee that
copies of this form and its attachments have been sent to the appropriate DHS offices. Every filing – whether the
recognition or accreditation application, additional supporting documents, or other submission to the BIA – must
clearly contain a proof of service to the District Director of USCIS and the Chief Counsel of ICE in the jurisdiction
where the organization is located. To identify the appropriate DHS offices, the organization should consult the
USCIS and ICE websites or a DHS office.
For more information about applying for accreditation, visit the EOIR website at: http://www.justice.gov/eoir/ra.htm.

Optional Form EOIR-31A
August 2014

OMB# 1125-0013
Request by Organization for Accreditation
of Non-Attorney Representative

U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review

1. Organization seeking accreditation of representative
Name of organization___________________________________________________________________________________________
DBA _______________________________________Name(s) previously applied under______________________________________
Number and Street_____________________________________________________________________________Suite ____________
City_____________________________________________________________State___________________ Zip Code_____________
Telephone______________________Fax______________________Email________________________________________________
Website______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Check one:
Organization is not recognized and a Request for Recognition of a Non-Profit Religious, Charitable, Social Service, or
Similar Organization (Form EOIR-31) accompanies this request.
Organization is already recognized.

Date of recognition ___________________________________ (Month/Day/Year)

2. Name of proposed representative
First______________________________Middle__________________________ Last_______________________________________
Other names used______________________________________________________________________________________________
This individual has been previously accredited.

Yes

No

If “yes,” provide the name(s) of the other recognized

organization(s) for which this individual serves or has served as an accredited representative:
Name of other organization(s)____________________________________________________________________________________
Date(s) of last approval of accreditation______________________________________________(Attach additional sheets if necessary)

3. Type of accreditation sought (check one)
Full (practice before BIA, immigration courts, and DHS)

or

Partial (practice before DHS only)

or

Partial (practice before DHS only)

4. Renewal of accreditation (check if applicable)
Full (practice before BIA, immigration courts, and DHS)

Date of last approval of accreditation __________________________ (Month/Day/Year)
(Attach copy of last order approving accreditation, if available)
Optional Form EOIR-31A
August 2014

5. Qualifications for accreditation
1.

Good moral character. Attach character reference letters and other supporting documentation.

2.

Broad knowledge of immigration and nationality law and procedure.

Attach a resume and documentation demonstrating

knowledge and experience in immigration law, practice, and procedure. List relevant trainings completed, including an overview
of fundamentals of immigration law and procedure, and include certificates of completion, if any.
3.

Full accreditation also requires documentation demonstrating the applicant possesses the essential skills for effective litigation.
Attach documents showing relevant education, training, and experience.

Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I have
examined this form, including accompanying
attachments, and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, it is true, correct, and complete.

________________________________________
Signature of officer of organization

________________________________________
Print name of officer of organization

_________________________________________________
Date

Proposed representative

Officer of organization

6. Attestations (complete both)
Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I am of good moral
character, and I have reviewed this form regarding my
qualifications for accreditation, including accompanying
attachments, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it
is true, correct, and complete.

___________________________________________
Signature of proposed representative

___________________________________________
Print name of proposed representative

____________________________________________________
Date

DHS ICE

DHS USCIS

7. Proof of service (complete both)
I, _________________________________________________(print name) mailed or delivered a copy of this Optional Form
EOIR-31A and its attachments to the District Director for USCIS of DHS on______________________________(Date)
at __________________________________________________________________________________(Number and Street)
__________________________________________________________________________________(City, State, Zip Code)
________________________________________________(Signature)

I, _________________________________________________(print name) mailed or delivered a copy of this Optional Form
EOIR-31A and its attachments to the Chief Counsel for ICE of DHS on__________________________________(Date)
at __________________________________________________________________________________(Number and Street)
__________________________________________________________________________________(City, State, Zip Code)
_______________________________________________(Signature)

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. We try to create forms and instructions that are accurate, can be easily understood, and which impose the least possible burden on you to
provide us with information. The estimated average time to review the form, gather necessary materials, and assemble the attachments is 2 hours. If
you have comments regarding the accuracy of this estimate, or suggestions for making this form simpler, you can write to the Executive Office for
Immigration Review, Office of the General Counsel, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2600, Falls Church, Virginia 20530.

Optional Form EOIR-31A
August 2014