Form EOIR-29 Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals fro

OMB No. 1125-0010

U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Board of Immigration Appeals

Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration
Appeals from a Decision of a USCIS Officer

WHERE TO FILE THIS APPEAL:
Do not file this directly with the Board of Immigration Appeals.
This notice of appeal must be filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
within 30 calendar days after service of the decision of the USCIS Officer. Please read the complete instructions on the back of this form.

In the Matter of (Name and “A” Number of the Beneficiary):

1.

Fee Stamp (Official Use Only)

I hereby appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from the decision of the
dated
(Title of USCIS Officer)

, in the
(Date of USCIS Decision)

above entitled case.
2.

Specify reasons for this appeal and continue on separate sheets if necessary. Please refer to
Instruction #2 for further guidance. Warning: If the factual or legal basis for the appeal is not
sufficiently described, the appeal may be summarily dismissed.

3.

Do you desire oral argument before the Board of Immigration Appeals?

4.

Do you intend to file a separate written brief or statement after filing this Notice of Appeal?
❑ Yes
❑ No

Date

❑ Yes

❑ No

Signature of Appellant (or Attorney or Representative)

(Print or Type Name)

Address (Number, Street)

Address (City, State, Zip Code)
Form EOIR-29
Revised April 2009

INSTRUCTIONS
1.

Filing. You must file this Notice of Appeal with the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS). If the decision was handed to you by a USCIS Officer, you must file this Notice of
Appeal within 30 calendar days. If the decision was mailed to
you by the USCIS, this Notice of Appeal must be received
within 30 calendar days from the date the decision was mailed
to you. Follow the instructions included with the USCIS decision. Do not send this Notice of Appeal directly to the Board
of Immigration Appeals (Board).

4.

Counsel. An appellant may be represented, at no expense
to the Government, by an attorney or other duly authorized
representative. Only the petitioner may appeal the denial of
a visa petition by USCIS. An attorney or authorized representative must file a separate notice of appearance on behalf
of the petitioner (Form EOIR-27) with this Notice of Appeal.
In presenting and prosecuting this appeal, the USCIS may be
represented by appropriate counsel.

5.

If you are appealing a decision by a USCIS officer denying
a visa petition (I-130 application), please note the following:
List the name and “A” number of the beneficiary at the top
of Form EOIR-29. The beneficiary is not allowed to sign
Form EOIR-29. Only the petitioner is allowed to sign Form
EOIR-29.

Briefs. When a brief is filed, it shall be submitted to the
USCIS office having administrative control over the Record
of Proceedings in this matter within the time designated by
the USCIS. A copy shall be served on the opposing party.
The USCIS, or the Board, for good cause, may extend the
time of filing a brief or reply brief. The Board, in its discretion, may authorize the filing of briefs directly with the
Board. Reply briefs are allowed by leave of the Board.

2. Review. Most appeals are reviewed by a single Board
Member. If you assert that your appeal warrants review
by a three-Board Member panel, you may identify the
specific factual or legal basis for your contention.

6. Oral Argument. The Board will consider every case on the
record submitted, whether or not oral representations are
made. Oral argument may be requested. If approved, you
will be notified.

Cases will be reviewed by a three-member panel only if the
case presents one of these circumstances:
- The need to establish a precedent construing the meaning
of laws, regulations, or procedures;
- The need to review a decision by the USCIS that is not
in conformity with the law or with applicable precedents;
- The need to resolve a case or controversy of major
national import;
- The need to reverse the decision of the USCIS, other than
a reversal under 8 C.F.R § 1003.1(e)(5).
3.

Fees. A fee of one hundred and ten U.S. dollars ($110.00)
must be paid for filing this appeal. It cannot be refunded
regardless of the action taken on the appeal. All fees must
be submitted in the exact amount. Do not mail cash. Payment by check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other institution located in the United States and be payable
in United States currency. If appellant resides in Guam, the
check or money order must be payable to the “Treasurer of
Guam.” If appellant resides in the Virgin Islands, the check
or money order must be payable to the “Commissioner of
Finance of the Virgin Islands.” All other appellants must make
the check or money order payable to the “Department of
Homeland Security.” When a check is drawn on the account
of a person other than the appellant, the name of the appellant
must be entered on the face of the check. If the appeal is
submitted from outside the United States, remittance may be
made by bank international money order or foreign draft
drawn on a financial institution in the United States and
payable to the “Department of Homeland Security” in
United States currency. Personal checks are accepted subject to
collectibility. An uncollectible check will render the appeal
invalid.

7.

Summary Dismissal of Appeal. The Board may summarily
dismiss any appeal or portion of any appeal in which:
(1) The appellant fails to specify the reasons for the appeal;
(2) The only reason specified by the appellant for his/her
appeal involves a finding of fact or conclusion of law which
was conceded by him/her at a prior proceeding; (3) The
appeal is from an order that granted the appellant the relief
that had been requested; (4) The appeal is filed for an
improper purpose, such as unnecessary delay, or lacks an
arguable basis in fact or law, unless the Board determines
that it is supported by a good faith argument for extension,
modification, or reversal of existing law; (5) The appellant
indicates on Form EOIR-29 that he/she will file a separate
brief or statement in support of the appeal and, thereafter,
does not file such brief or statement, or reasonably explain
his/her failure to do so, within the time set for filing; (6) The
appeal does not fall within the Board’s jurisdiction; (7) The
appeal is untimely or barred by an affirmative waiver of the
right to appeal that is clear on the record; or (8) The appeal
fails to meet essential statutory or regulatory requirements or
is expressly excluded by statute or regulation.

For further guidance please see the Board of Immigration
Appeals Practice Manual and Questions and Answers, which
are available on the EOIR website at www.usdoj.gov/eoir.
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a person is not required to respond to
a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
We try to create forms and instructions that are accurate, can be easily
understood, and which impose the least possible burden on you to provide
us with information. The estimated average time to complete this form is
thirty (30) minutes. If you have comments regarding the accuracy of this
estimate, or suggestions for making this form simpler, you can write to the
Executive Office for Immigration Review, Office of the General Counsel,
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2600, Falls Church, Virginia 22041.
Form EOIR-29
Revised April 2009