Guide to Form G-28I (Notice of Entry of Appearance)

The US government allows foreign attorneys to take part in the legal proceedings, should they be required, and eligible for the case. As with other immigration-related activities, there’s a set of procedures for it, which begins with filing the appropriate forms. Form G-28I is one such form. In this article, we’ll explain what the Form G-28I is and under what circumstance foreign attorneys should file it.

What is Form G-28I?

From G-28I, officially known as the Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney in Matters Outside the Geographical Confines of the United States, is an attorney representation form. It is among the two such forms of its category, the other being Form G-28.

The form is used by a foreign attorney to request the Department of Homeland Securities (DHS) and its offices to allow himself to provide legal support in the case that is taking place outside the geographical confinement of the United States. The primary purpose of G-28I is to certify that the foreign-based attorney is eligible and possess the required level of education and experience on the matter to handle the case.

The form is recognized and approved by the DHS along with USCIS, CBP (Custom and Border Protection), and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). So it can be used at multiple places.

Form G-28 vs. G-28I

Because of their startling similarity, Form G-28 and G-28I are considered the same and single form, or one being a supplement of the other. But both are different forms used in different situations.

Form G-28 is officially known as the Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative.

So as per the definition, G-28 is filed by any non-citizen looking forward to submitting an immigration-related application and wants an attorney to accompany him or her in the legal proceedings. Form G-28I, on the other hand, seeks permission to allow a foreign-based attorney for a particular case taking place outside of the boundaries of the United States.

So, the citizenship of the attorney and the geographical location are the main differences you need to understand when deciding between Form G-28 and G-28I.

Who Needs Form G-28I?

Form G-28I is used by an attorney of a foreign country who wishes to represent a client in DHS cases proceeding outside of the geographical regions of the US.

There’s a particular circumstance under which the Form G-28I can be filed. As per the 8 CFR 292.1 rule, attorneys outside the United States are allowed to represent a person in matters filed in the DHS office that is located outside of the geographical boundaries of the US. This form cannot be used for matters within the borders of the United States.

The form also establishes the eligibility of the attorney. He or she should be licensed to practice law and should be in good standing in a court where he or she resides.

If an attorney has to appear before the DHS office for a brief period (like appearing for an interview) but is not actively dealing with the case, he also needs to file the G-28I to make himself eligible. This is often done at the request of an attorney who has filed the G-28I for the same case.

Simply filling the G-28I does not allow the attorney to make himself appear in person at the DHS office for proceedings and represent the client. They must be approved by a DHS official with whom the sole discretion of allowing or disallowing resides.

Documents Required for Form G-28I

Documents requested for Form G-28I will vary from case to case. The main document asked by the DHS officials has to do with your eligibility. You might be asked to provide copies of your license under which you’re practicing law and your country-issued ID cards.

Depending upon the severity of the case, you’ll be asked to produce more documents. After you’ve filed G-28I, the DHS officials will notify you on this matter. But for filing G-28I, there are not many documents required except the copies of your license.

How to Complete Form G-28I

G-28I is a four-page document that the attorney needs to complete on his own. DHS directs the attorney to use black ink and print legibly. The form is divided into six different parts. Here’s a brief overview of each part, and the questions asked:

Part 1: Information About Attorney

• 1 – USCIS Online Account Number (if you have previously filed an application/petition via the USCIS Lockbox facility, then you must have received a number. Provide the number.)

• 2 – Name of the attorney (first, middle, and last)
• 3 – Address of attorney (Street name, city, province, ZIP code, country)
• 4 – 7- Contact information of attorney (daytime telephone number, email address, fax number)

Part 2: Eligibility Information for Attorney

• 1.a – Licensing Authority
• 1.b – Licensing Number
• 1.c – Whether or not you are/were barred or suspended from legal practice
• 1.d – Name of the law firm you’re working currently
• 2 – If you’re associated with an attorney and will be appearing for a brief period of time, provide the name of attorney of record

Part 3: Notice of Appearance as Attorney Admitted to Practice Outside the United States

• 1-3 – Select the right boxes matching your case situation, whether you need to appear before USCIS, CBF, or ICE
• 4 – Receipt number of the application/petition pending with the USCIS
• 5 – Client type that indicates your appearance for the client
• 6-7 – Personal Information of the client
• 8 – USCIS online account number of client
• 9 – A-number of client
• 10-12 – Contact information of the client
• 13 – Full mailing address of the client

Part 4: Client’s Consent to Representation and Signature

If the client has signed at required places, this confirms his/her consent to representation and release of information that can be accessed and used by the attorney.

• 1 – Select the right option regarding receipt of USCIS notices, where the notices about the case will be sent.
• 2 – Signature of the client or authorized signatory for an entity.

Part 5: Signature of Attorney

• 1 – Signature of the attorney

Part 6: Additional Information

If you have anything else to inform the DHS official about the case, but there wasn’t space provided for it, then use this section. You can attach additional sheets, but remember to print your name at the top of each sheet.

Where to Submit Form G-28I?

Form G-28I must be filed by the attorney in-person at a DHS office nearest to them, or as directed. Each attorney willing to make an appearance for the case must file a separate form and complete accordingly.

Form G-28I Cost

There is no filing cost associated with G-28I, and it is free of cost.

Conclusion

The Form G-28I isn’t to be filed for matters within the United States. When filing, the most important thing to take care of is the correctness of information provided and legibility.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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