Notice of Appeal to the Office of Administrative Appeals (AAO)

OMB No. 1615-0095; Expires 10/31/08

Form I-290B, Notice
of Appeal or Motion

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use separate
sheets of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper and
indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

When Should I Use Form I-290B?

General Instructions

Form I-290B is used to file an appeal or motion on any
decision under the immigration laws in any type of proceeding
over which the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) does not
have appellate jurisdiction. The appeal or motion must be
filed with USCIS in accordance with the regulations at
8 C.F.R. § 103.3 and § 103.5.
The form must be filed within 30 calendar days after service
of the decision. If the decision is mailed, the form must be
filed within 33 days. If the appeal relates to a revocation of an
immigrant petition approval, the appeal must be filed within
15 calendar days after service of the decision, 18 days if the
decision was mailed. The date of service is normally the date
of the decision.

Step 1. Fill Out Form I-290B
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "None."

DRAFT

Late filed appeals and motions will be rejected.

This form is divided into Parts 1 through 4. The following
information should help you fill out the form.
Part 1. Information About You (Individual/Business/
Organization filing appeal or motion.)

The form may be used in the following circumstances:
1. To file an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office
(AAO);
2. To file a motion to reconsider a decision of USCIS (either
the AAO or a field office);
3. To file a motion to reopen a decision of USCIS (either the
AAO or a field office); or
4. To file a motion to reopen a decision of USCIS (either the
AAO or a field office) under the Northwest Immigrant
Rights Project (NWIRP) Settlement with a completed
NWIRP Class Member Worksheet attached in accordance
with the instructions.
When a decision on a petition is appealed or a request for a
motion is made, the petitioner, an authorized official of a
petitioning employer, or the petitioner's attorney or
representative must sign this form. (In the case of selfpetitioners and applicants for certain waivers, the selfpetitioner or waiver applicant must sign the form.)

Who May Not File Form I-290B?
If you are the beneficiary of a visa petition or the beneficiary's
attorney or representative, you may not file an appeal or
motion.

1. Family Name (Last name) - Give your legal name. If
you have two last names, include both and use a hyphen
(-) between the names, if appropriate.
2. Name of Business or Organization - Give the
complete name, without abbreviations.
3. Mailing Address - Give your complete mailing
address.
4. Daytime Phone Number - Give a phone number with
area code where you can be reached during the day.
5. Fax Number - Give a fax number with area code.
6. E-mail Address - If you have an E-mail address please
provide it.
If you are acting as an attorney or representative - check the
box provided and complete the rest of Part 1 as follows:
1. Family Name (Last name) - Give your legal name. If
you have two last names, include both and use a hyphen
(-) between the names, if appropriate.
2. Business/Organization/School Name - Give the
complete name, without abbreviations, if the party for
whom you are filing is other than an individual.

Form I-290B (Rev. 10/30/08) Y

3. A # - This is your client's USCIS (INS) file number. It
begins with an "A" and can be found on a Permanent
Resident Card or on correspondence that has been
received from the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) or USCIS. If they do not have an A #, leave this
blank.

You may submit a brief and evidence with this form.
Or you may send these materials to the AAO within 30
days of the date you sign this form. You must send any
materials you submit after filing the appeal to:
USCIS Administrative Appeals Office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Room 3000
Washington, DC 20529

Part 2 - Information About the Appeal or Motion
You must clearly indicate if you are filing an appeal or a
motion. The adverse decision will indicate whether you
may file an appeal or a motion. The requirements for
motions to reopen and motions to reconsider are located at
8 C.F.R. § 103.5.

If you need more than 30 days, you must explain why
in a separate letter attached to this form. The AAO
may grant more time only for good cause.

2. Oral Argument

Part 3 - Basis for the Appeal or Motion
Your appeal or motion will be dismissed if you do not
complete this part. If additional space is needed, attach a
separate sheet(s) of paper.
Part 4 - Signature of Person Filing the Appeal/Motion or
His or Her Authorized Representative

You may request oral argument before the AAO in
Washington, D.C. in a separate letter attached to this
form. The letter must explain specifically why an oral
argument is necessary, i.e., why your argument cannot
be adequately addressed in writing.

DRAFT

You or your legal representative must sign and submit
Form I-290B. Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance
as Attorney or Representative, must be attached if signed
by a legal representative.

Step 2. General Requirements
Your appeal or motion must include the following items.

If your request is granted, the AAO will contact you
about setting the date and time. The U.S. Government
does not furnish interpreters for oral argument.

Motions
Although a petitioner may be permitted additional time to
submit a brief and/or evidence to support an appeal, no
such provision applies to motions. Any additional
evidence must be submitted concurrent with the motion.

Your signed and completed Form I-290B
NOTE: If you wish, you may be represented at no expense to
the U.S. Government by an attorney or other duly authorized
representative. Your attorney or representative must submit
Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or
Representative, with the appeal or motion. If the appeal or
motion is filed by an attorney or representative without a
properly executed Form G-28, it will be dismissed or rejected.

Translations
Any document containing a foreign language submitted to
the Service shall be accompanied by a full English
language translation which the translator has certified as
complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification
that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign
language into English.

Appeals
1. Brief
You do not need to submit a brief in support of your
appeal, but you may submit one if you so choose. You
may also submit additional evidence.

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for a Form I-290B is $585.
NOTE: The fee will be the same when an appeal or motion is
taken from the denial of a petition with one or multiple
beneficiaries, provided that they are all covered by the same
petition, and therefore, the same decision.
The fee will not be refunded, regardless of the action taken in
your case.

Form I-290B (Rev. 10/30/08) Y Page 2

Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-290B fee:
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States
and must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam, make it payable to Treasurer,
Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, make it
payable to Commissioner of Finance of the
Virgin Islands.
C. If you live outside the United States, Guam, or the
U.S. Virgin Islands, contact the nearest U.S.
consulate or embassy for instructions on the
method of payment.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."

Where to File?
You must file your appeal or motion with the USCIS office
that made the unfavorable decision within 30 calendar days
after service of the decision (33 days if your decision was
mailed). If you are appealing the revocation of an immigrant
petition approval, you must file the appeal within 15 days of
the revocation decision (18 days if the decision was mailed.)
The date of service is normally the date of the decision.
Do not send your appeal directly to the Administrative
Appeals Office (AAO). Submit an original appeal or motion
only. Additional copies are not required.
If you are filing a motion to reopen a decision of USCIS
(either the AAO or field office) under the NWIRP Settlement,
mail the motion to:
For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries, use the following
address:

DRAFT

Notice to Those Making Payment by Check

If you send us a check, it will be converted into an electronic
funds transfer (EFT). This means we will copy your check
and use the account information on it to electronically debit
your account for the amount of the check. The debit from
your account will usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on
your regular account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.
How to Check If the Fees Are Correct
The form fee on this form is current as of the edition date
appearing in the lower right corner of this page. However,
because USCIS fees change periodically, you can verify if the
fees are correct by following one of the steps below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select "Immigration
Forms" check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form package, if
you called us to request the form; or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.

USCIS
P.O. Box 804727
Chicago, IL 60680-4108

For private courier (non-USPS) deliveries, use the following
address:
USCIS
Attn: NWIRP
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Address Changes
While your appeal is pending, if you change your address,
send a written notice of your change of address to the
Administrative Appeals Office (AAO). Include the type of
case that was denied and any available tracking number
(receipt number and/or A-Number). Mail the notice to:
USCIS Administrative Appeals Office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Room 3000
Washington, DC 20529
If you change your address after you file a motion, where you
send your notice depends on where your motion is pending. If
your motion has been forwarded to the AAO, send a written
notice of your change of address to the above address. If your
motion has remained with the office where you submitted it,
send the notice to that office. Include the type of case that was
denied and any available tracking number (receipt number
and/or A-Number).

Form I-290B (Rev. 10/30/08) Y Page 3

Privacy Act Notice

Processing Information
An appeal or motion that is not signed or is not accompanied
by the proper fee will be dismissed or rejected with a notice
that the appeal is deficient. If completed timely, you may
correct the deficiency and resubmit the appeal. However, an
appeal or motion is not considered properly filed until it is
accepted by USCIS.
Once the appeal or motion is accepted, it will be reviewed. If
you do not have any standing to file the appeal or motion, or
the decision is not appealable or filed timely, the appeal or
motion will be dismissed or rejected without further review.

We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-290B.

Paperwork Reduction Act

Decision. You will be notified in writing of any action taken
on your appeal or motion.

USCIS Forms and Information

An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 90 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions and
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0009. Do not mail your application to this
address.

DRAFT

To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at 1-800870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and information on
immigration laws, regulations, and procedures by telephoning
our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or
visiting our Internet website at www.uscis.gov.

As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this Form I-290B, we
will deny the Form I-290B and may deny any other
immigration benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Form I-290B (Rev. 10/30/08) Y Page 4