Form G-28 is how an attorney or accredited representative formally enters an immigration case. Once filed, USCIS sends copies of notices to the representative and lets them communicate on your behalf. Only eligible people can file it — a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative — and it must name the exact case it covers.
What Form G-28 Is
Form G-28, "Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative," tells DHS and its agencies — USCIS, ICE, CBP — that a specific representative is now acting on your behalf for a specific matter. After it's on file, that representative receives copies of USCIS correspondence and can speak to the agency about your case.
It doesn't transfer decision-making power over your life; it authorizes professional representation before immigration authorities, scoped to the case you name.
Who Can File a G-28?
Only two categories of people may appear on a G-28:
- An attorney licensed and in good standing to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
- An accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized nonprofit organization, accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
A friend, a notary, or an unaccredited "immigration consultant" cannot file a valid G-28. Naming someone ineligible is the most serious error on the form.
How to Fill Form G-28
- Part 1–2 — Representative eligibility. The attorney or accredited representative states their basis to appear (bar number and state, or accreditation details).
- Part 3 — The client and the case. The applicant's or petitioner's name and the specific matter (the form and receipt number the appearance covers).
- Consent and signatures. The client consents to representation and to the release of information; both the client and the representative sign and date.
The G-28 is filed together with the underlying application it relates to — for example, on top of an I-765 or an I-485 packet.
How is Form G-28 different from IRS Form 2848?
They're the same idea in two different systems. Form 2848 authorizes a representative before the IRS for tax matters; Form G-28 authorizes a representative before DHS/USCIS for immigration matters. Both are case-specific, both require the representative to be professionally eligible, and both are rejected if the matter they cover isn't described precisely.
Is there a fee for Form G-28?
No. Filing Form G-28 with USCIS carries no fee. Your attorney or accredited organization may charge for representation, but the appearance form itself is free.