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BIA Practice Manual

BIA Practice Manual
Chapter 12 - Forms

12.2 - Obtaining Blank Forms

(a) Identifying EOIR Forms — Many forms used by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) do not appear in the regulations.  Form names and numbers can be obtained from the clerks of most immigration courts and the Clerk’s Office of the Board.  See Appendix A (Directory).  All of the forms most commonly used by the public are identified in this manual.  See Appendix D (Forms).

(b) Obtaining Forms — Appendix D (Forms) contains a list of frequently requested forms and information on where to obtain them.  In general, EOIR forms are available from the following sources:

  • the EOIR website
  • the local immigration court
  • the Clerk’s Office, Board of Immigration Appeals
  • certain Government Printing Office (GPO) Bookstores

Parties should be sure to use the most recent version of each form, which will be available from the sources listed here.

(c) Photocopied Forms — Photocopies of blank EOIR forms may be used, provided that they are an accurate duplication of the government issued form and are printed on the correct size and stock of paper.  See 8 C.F.R. §§ 299.4(a), 1299.1.  The filing party is responsible for the accuracy and legibility of the form. If colored paper is used, it should comply with subsection (e) below.  The paper used to photocopy the form should also comply with Chapter 3.3(c)(4) (Paper size and quality).  The most recent version of the form must be used and is available from the sources listed in subsection (b), above.

(d) Computer-Generated Forms — Computer-generated versions of EOIR forms may be used, provided that they are an accurate duplication of the government-issued form and are printed on the correct size and stock of paper.  See 8 C.F.R. §§ 299.4(a), 1299.1.  The filing party is responsible for the accuracy and legibility of the form. If colored paper is used, it should comply with subsection (e) below.  The paper used to photocopy the form should also comply with Chapter 3.3(c)(4) (Paper size and quality).  The most recent version of the form must be used and is available from the sources listed in subsection (b), above.  The electronic submission of the Form EOIR-27 may only be made, at this time, by registered attorneys and fully accredited representatives.  See Chapter 2.1(b) (Entering an Appearance as Practitioner of Record); 3.1(a)(6) (Electronic filing through ECAS).

(e) Form Colors — The Board no longer requires forms to be filed on paper of a specific color.  All forms may now be filed on white paper.  Any submission that is not a form must be on white paper.

The use of colored paper is still welcome, but only in the following instances:

  • Blue - EOIR-26 (Notice of Appeal/Immigration Judge Decision)
  • Tan - EOIR-26A  (Fee Waiver Request)
  • Yellow - EOIR-27  (Notice of Appearance)
  • Pink - EOIR-29  (Notice of Appeal/DHS decision)
  • Pink - EOIR-33/BIA  (Change of Address)

(f) Non-Form Filings — Where a filing is not form-based (e.g., a motion or a request), the Board strongly recommends the use of a cover page.  See Appendix E (Cover Pages).