Form G-28 (Notice of Entry of Appearance)
Updated May 2026
Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, is the form by which a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative formally appears on behalf of a client before USCIS, ICE, or CBP. Once filed, the G-28 authorizes the representative to receive notices, communicate with the agency, access the case record, and act on the client’s behalf in the specific matter listed on the form.
What is Form G-28?
Form G-28 is the universal entry-of-appearance form across the Department of Homeland Security. The same form covers representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Executive Office for Immigration Review — the immigration court system administered by the Department of Justice — uses a parallel form called EOIR-28. The official form and instructions are published at uscis.gov/g-28. There is no separate filing fee — the G-28 is submitted along with the underlying petition or application.
The G-28 became significantly more important in the digital era. Without a G-28 on file, the attorney has no legal authority to access a client’s USCIS online account, no right to receive duplicate copies of notices, no ability to call USCIS on the client’s behalf, and no record of representation to support any later professional responsibility issue. Filing the G-28 promptly with the initial petition is one of the most basic steps in any immigration engagement.
Who can file Form G-28?
Authority to file is limited to specific categories defined in 8 CFR Part 292:
- Attorneys in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia. The attorney is not required to be admitted in the state where the client lives or where the USCIS office is located — U.S. immigration is federal law, and any U.S.-admitted attorney can practice before USCIS nationally.
- BIA-accredited representatives who work for a recognized non-profit organization. The Board of Immigration Appeals maintains a roster at justice.gov/eoir. Two levels exist: partial accreditation (practice before USCIS only) and full accreditation (practice before USCIS and EOIR).
- Law students and graduates under the supervision of a licensed attorney, in limited circumstances and with appearance disclosures.
- Reputable individuals appearing on a one-time basis without compensation, in extremely narrow circumstances (8 CFR 292.1(a)(3)) — rare in practice.
- Foreign attorneys appearing in matters that arise outside the U.S., per 8 CFR 292.1(a)(6) — narrow exception, generally limited to consular matters.
Notarios, "immigration consultants," paralegals, and other non-attorneys who are not BIA-accredited representatives cannot file Form G-28 and cannot legally provide immigration legal representation regardless of what they call themselves. State bar associations across the country aggressively prosecute unauthorized practice of immigration law.
What Form G-28 does
The form’s effects are practical and immediate:
- Direct communication. USCIS, ICE, and CBP can communicate directly with the attorney about the case, including by phone, email, and at interviews.
- Duplicate notices. Receipt notices, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), interview notices, and decisions are mailed to the attorney as well as the client.
- Online account access. The attorney can associate the case with their USCIS attorney portal, view case status, file responses online, and receive electronic notifications.
- FOIA and Privacy Act access. The attorney can request the client’s immigration file under FOIA without separate authorization beyond the G-28.
- Authority to act. The attorney can submit RFE responses, withdraw an application, request expedited processing, request a new biometrics appointment, and otherwise act on the client’s behalf within the scope listed on the G-28.
- Professional accountability. The attorney is formally accountable to the bar and to USCIS for the quality and ethics of representation in that matter. This is one of the most important reasons to insist on attorney representation rather than a non-attorney preparer.
When Form G-28 is filed
The G-28 is filed at the start of each separate matter. A typical engagement involves multiple G-28s, one for each form filed:
- G-28 with the initial petition (I-130, I-129F, I-140, etc.).
- Separate G-28 with the adjustment of status package (I-485, I-765, I-131).
- Separate G-28 for an I-601A waiver application.
- Separate G-28 for a citizenship application (N-400).
- EOIR-28 for any matter that ends up in immigration court.
- Separate G-28 with any post-decision motion or appeal.
A single attorney is not "the lawyer for the family" in some general sense — they are the attorney for each specific filing for which they have submitted a G-28. This is why an attorney handling a green card case may file three or four separate G-28s along the way.
What happens with no Form G-28 on file
If no G-28 is on file, the applicant is pro se. USCIS will not discuss the case with anyone other than the named beneficiary or petitioner. This matters in several ways:
- USCIS cannot speak to a spouse, parent, friend, or accountant calling on the applicant’s behalf, even with the applicant’s verbal consent.
- Notices go only to the applicant. Missed mail leads to missed RFE response windows and case denials.
- Form preparers without G-28 authority have no formal role. If a notario or "immigration consultant" has prepared forms but cannot file a G-28, that is a clear sign they are not legally authorized to represent the applicant.
- The applicant carries 100% of the responsibility for understanding instructions, deadlines, and consequences.
Revoking or substituting a Form G-28
Clients change attorneys, attorneys retire, firms merge. The G-28 can be substituted or revoked:
- Substitution by new G-28. The new attorney files a new G-28 on the same matter. The new filing automatically supersedes the prior G-28 — no separate withdrawal is required from the prior attorney, though it is professional courtesy to coordinate.
- Revocation by the client. A client who wants to fire the prior attorney without immediately hiring new counsel can write directly to USCIS, identify the case number and prior attorney, and ask USCIS to revoke the prior G-28. The case reverts to pro se. Best practice is to send the letter to the USCIS service center handling the case and keep proof of mailing.
- Withdrawal by the attorney. An attorney who wishes to withdraw mid-representation generally provides written notice to the client and to USCIS. Ethical rules require the attorney to take reasonable steps to avoid prejudice to the client (returning files, communicating outstanding deadlines).
Form G-28I and other variants
Closely related forms USCIS publishes:
- Form G-28I, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney In Matters Outside the Geographical Confines of the United States. Used by foreign attorneys appearing in matters before U.S. consular officers abroad.
- Form EOIR-27. Notice of entry of appearance as attorney before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Form EOIR-28. Notice of entry of appearance before an immigration judge.
Recent updates and best practices
- 2024 USCIS online filing expansion. Most major form types now support electronic G-28 filing through the myUSCIS attorney account. The attorney can be associated with the online filing without mailing a paper G-28.
- 2024 attorney portal improvements. The attorney portal now permits batch case management, secure messaging with USCIS, and electronic delivery of decisions and notices.
- Best practice: file G-28 immediately. If you have engaged an attorney, do not let them defer the G-28 filing. Submit it with the initial application so the attorney has full access from day one.
- Best practice: keep copies. Both the client and the attorney should retain copies of every G-28 filed across the life of the case.
- Best practice: confirm bar status. Before signing a G-28, verify the attorney’s bar status through the state bar directory. In Florida, search at floridabar.org.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form G-28 used for?
Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, is the form by which an attorney or BIA-accredited representative formally enters their appearance on behalf of a client before USCIS, ICE, or CBP. Once accepted, the G-28 authorizes the representative to receive notices, communicate with the agency, access the client's case record, and act on the client's behalf in that specific matter. A separate Form EOIR-28 serves the same purpose in proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Who can file Form G-28?
Only individuals authorized to practice before DHS may sign a G-28. That generally means: licensed U.S. attorneys in good standing of the bar of any U.S. state or territory; representatives accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to work for recognized non-profit organizations; and law students or graduates under the supervision of a licensed attorney, in narrow circumstances. Foreign attorneys cannot file Form G-28 to practice U.S. immigration law; their authority to file is limited to specific matters under 8 CFR 292.1.
What does Form G-28 actually do?
It accomplishes four things. First, it authorizes the representative to communicate directly with USCIS, ICE, or CBP about the case. Second, it directs all notices (receipt notices, RFEs, decisions) to be served on the representative as well as the client. Third, it grants the representative access to the case record through tools like USCIS online accounts and FOIA filings. Fourth, it creates a formal record on which the representative can be held to ethical and professional responsibility standards in connection with that matter.
What happens if I do not file a Form G-28?
If no G-28 is on file, you are 'pro se' — representing yourself. USCIS will communicate only with you, not with anyone helping behind the scenes. A friend, family member, or non-attorney who has 'helped' with a case but never filed a G-28 has no formal authority before USCIS and cannot legally call USCIS, access your case status, or respond to government communications on your behalf. If a non-attorney prepared your forms without filing a G-28, that is often a sign the preparer is not authorized to provide legal representation.
Can I change attorneys mid-case?
Yes. To substitute attorneys, the new attorney files a new Form G-28 on the same matter. The new filing automatically supersedes any prior G-28 for that case. The departing attorney does not need to formally withdraw — the new G-28 effectively replaces them — though as a matter of professional courtesy, attorneys typically communicate the substitution. A client who wants to revoke representation without immediately hiring new counsel can write directly to USCIS at the receiving service center asking to revoke the prior G-28.
Is there an online version of Form G-28?
Yes. Since 2024, USCIS has expanded the ability to associate a G-28 with online filings through the myUSCIS attorney portal at my.uscis.gov. For paper filings, a signed paper G-28 is still submitted with the petition or application. There is no separate filing fee for Form G-28; it travels with the underlying application or petition.
Related glossary entries
- Form I-130 — the family-petition form that a G-28 typically accompanies.
- Form I-485 — adjustment of status, requiring a separate G-28.
- Form I-601A — provisional unlawful presence waiver, requiring its own G-28.
- Form I-864 — Affidavit of Support, filed at adjustment or consular processing.
- EOIR — Executive Office for Immigration Review, where EOIR-27 and EOIR-28 are used.
- USCIS Processing Times 2026 — context for managing the cases a G-28 represents.
Go deeper
For practical guidance on choosing the attorney who will sign your G-28, see How to Choose an Immigration Attorney and Immigration Attorney vs Notario. For the broader question of whether to hire a lawyer at all, see DIY Immigration vs Attorney and Immigration Attorney Cost Guide. Visit the Immigration Glossary hub for related terms.
Talk to a Claxton Law immigration attorney
If you are working with us, your G-28 is filed with every form we submit on your behalf — giving us full access to communicate with USCIS, receive your notices, and respond to RFEs and interview requests on your timeline.