Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual
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Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual This Practice Manual has been assembled as a public service to parties before the Board of Immigration Appeals. This manual is strictly informational in nature. This manual is not intended, in any way, to substitute for a careful study of the pertinent laws and regulations. Readers are advised to review Chapter 1.1 before consulting any information contained herein. The Practice Manual is updated periodically. To assist readers, tables showing the update history of the Practice Manual are available in the section titled Table of Changes. The Board of Immigration Appeals David H. Wetmore, Chief Appellate Immigration Judge Charles Adkins-Blanch, Deputy Chief Appellate Immigration Judge Members: William A. Cassidy V. Stuart Couch Michael J. Creppy Deborah K. Goodwin Stephanie E. Gorman Edward R. Grant Anne J. Greer Keith E. Hunsucker Edward F. Kelly Ellen Liebowitz Garry D. Malphrus Ana Landazabal Mann Philip J. Montante Jr. Hugh G. Mullane Blair T. O’Connor Aaron R. Petty Kevin W. Riley Earle B. Wilson www.justice.gov/eoir Last Revised: June 10, 2020 Practice Manual Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 The Board of Immigration Appeals Chapter 2 Appearances before the Board Chapter 3 Filing with the Board Chapter 4 Appeals of Immigration Judge Decisions Chapter 5 Motions before the Board Chapter 6 Stays and Expedite Requests Chapter 7 Bond Chapter 8 Oral Argument Chapter 9 Visa Petitions Chapter 10 Fines Chapter 11 Discipline Chapter 12 Forms Chapter 13 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Chapter 14 Other Information Appendices Word Index Citation Index Table of Changes www.justice.gov/eoir Last Revised: June 10, 2020 Table of Contents Board of Immigration Appeals This page intentionally left blank. www.justice.gov/eoir Last Revised: June 10, 2020 Practice Manual Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 The Board of Immigration Appeals ......................................................................................1 1.1 Scope of the Practice Manual .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Function of the Board .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Composition of the Board ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Jurisdiction and Authority ........................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Public Access .......................................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Inquiries ................................................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 2 Appearances before the Board ......................................................................................... 17 2.1 Representation Generally ...................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Unrepresented Aliens (“Pro se” Appearances) ..................................................................... 18 2.3 Attorneys ............................................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Accredited Representatives ................................................................................................... 25 2.5 Law Students and Law Graduates .......................................................................................... 27 2.6 Paralegals ............................................................................................................................... 28 2.7 Immigration Specialists .......................................................................................................... 28 2.8 Family Members .................................................................................................................... 28 2.9 Others .................................................................................................................................... 28 2.10 Amicus Curiae ........................................................................................................................ 30 Chapter 3 Filing with the Board ........................................................................................................ 31 3.1 Delivery and Receipt .............................................................................................................. 31 3.2 Service .................................................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Documents ............................................................................................................................. 37 3.4 Filing Fees .............................................................................................................................. 44 3.5 Briefs ...................................................................................................................................... 47 3.6 Expedite Requests ................................................................................................................. 47 Chapter 4 Appeals of Immigration Judge Decisions ........................................................................... 49 4.1 Types of Appeals .................................................................................................................... 49 4.2 Process ................................................................................................................................... 49 www.justice.gov/eoir i Last Revised: June 10, 2020 Table of Contents Board of Immigration Appeals 4.3 Parties .................................................................................................................................... 52 4.4 Filing an Appeal ...................................................................................................................... 54 4.5 Appeal Deadlines ................................................................................................................... 56 4.6 Appeal Briefs .......................................................................................................................... 57 4.7 Briefing Deadlines .................................................................................................................. 64 4.8 Evidence on Appeal ............................................................................................................... 67 4.9 New Authorities Subsequent to Appeal ................................................................................ 67 4.10 Combining and Separating Appeals ....................................................................................... 68 4.11 Withdrawing an Appeal ......................................................................................................... 68 4.12 Non-Opposition to Appeal ..................................................................................................... 69 4.13 Effect of Departure ................................................................................................................ 70 4.14 Interlocutory Appeals ............................................................................................................ 70 4.15 Summary Affirmance ............................................................................................................. 71 4.16 Summary Dismissal ................................................................................................................ 72 4.17 Frivolous Appeals ................................................................................................................... 73 4.18 Certification by an Immigration Judge ................................................................................... 73 4.19 Federal Court Remands ......................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 5 Motions before the Board ................................................................................................ 75 5.1 Who May File ......................................................................................................................... 75 5.2 Filing a Motion ....................................................................................................................... 76 5.3 Motion Limits ......................................................................................................................... 79 5.4 Motion Briefs ......................................................................................................................... 80 5.5 Transcript Requests ............................................................................................................... 80 5.6 Motions to Reopen ................................................................................................................ 80 5.7 Motions to Reconsider .......................................................................................................... 83 5.8 Motions to Remand ............................................................................................................... 84 5.9 Other Motions ......................................................................................................................