EOIR-27 SUPPORTING STATEMENT 2014 rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

1125-0005 Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative

Before the Board of Immigration Appeals (Form EOIR-27)

______________________________________________________________________________

Part A. Justification

1. Necessity of Information -

Background. The Department has detailed regulations regarding the representation of private parties before the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) and the Immigration Courts. An alien in removal proceedings may be represented by counsel who is authorized to practice before the Board and the Immigration Courts. See Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) §§ 240(b)(4)(A), 292, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1229a(b)(4)(A),1362 (2006); 8 C.F.R. §§ 1003.16(b), 1003.38(g) (2009). If an alien desires to be represented before the Board by an attorney or representative or if EOIR has ordered the provision of a qualified representative, the attorney or representative must inform the Board that s/he is entering an appearance on behalf of that alien. If an individual or party otherwise appearing before the Board desires to be represented – for example, in an appeal from a visa petition case, a carrier fine or a practitioner disciplinary proceeding – the attorney or representative must inform the Board that s/he is entering an appearance on behalf of that party. An attorney or representative must file a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Board of Immigration Appeals (Form EOIR‑27) to notify the Board of the representation. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 1003.2(g)(1), 1003.38(g). The Form EOIR-27 is also served on the relevant agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. An attorney or representative must submit one Form EOIR-27 for each client.

Information Collection. The Form EOIR-27 collects basic information about the represented party and the attorney or representative. With respect to the represented party, the party=s name, address, and identifying alien (A) number, where applicable, must be provided. The attorney or representative must also enter, as applicable, the carrier fine number the docket number for a disciplinary case, or the A number and name for beneficiaries of visa petition cases.

With respect to the attorney or representative, the form requires information – in the form of check boxes – about the type of representation, i.e., attorney, accredited representative, law student or law graduate, reputable individual, accredited foreign government official, or individual authorized to practice on December 23, 1952.

If the individual submitting the form is an attorney, the Form EOIR-27 collects information about bar membership and standing with the bar. For example, the Form EOIR-27 requires the attorney to indicate whether he or she is subject to any order of any court or administrative agency disbarring, suspending, enjoining, restraining, or otherwise restricting him or her in the practice of law. If the attorney is subject to such an order, s/he is instructed, per the attached revisions, to not check the box indicating that s/he is an attorney and, instead, to explain the details of such order on the reverse of the form.

If the individual is an accredited representative, as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(4), s/he must provide the name of the recognized organization with which s/he is accredited. The language for the accredited representatives has been revised to clarify that the representative must be accredited to appear before EOIR.

If the individual is an accredited foreign government official, the individual must indicate, per the attached revisions, which country s/he is from.

For all representatives, whether attorney or non-attorney, the Form EOIR-27 also collects information about representation status. Specifically, a practitioner must indicate whether s/he is the primary or non-primary attorney/representative and must also denote whether s/he is providing pro bono representation.

For clarity and ease of the practitioner completing the form, EOIR has made a number of additional modifications to the current Form EOIR-27:

On the first page of the form, EOIR has reorganized the layout such that the practitioner’s contact information now appears at the bottom of the form for ease of reference. Title descriptions for each information field have been added (i.e. “Name:”, “Address:”, “Telephone:”). Previously these were free fields that could be completed in no particular order and without identifying the specific information being provided, such as which contact number was for the telephone or the facsimile. Similarly, the free fields for the alien registration number, visa beneficiary information and disciplinary case information have been revised to provide title descriptions for each information field (i.e. “Alien (“A”) Number (provide A-number of the party represented or the visa beneficiary in this case),” “USCIS Visa Appeal (provide beneficiary name)”). In addition, a designated field has been added to this section for the respondent to provide the fine number in carrier fine cases. This is not a new information request as this form is currently used in carrier fine cases; the form has simply been revised to clearly indicate where the carrier fine number should be provided.

The attorney attestation section has also been revised to accommodate qualified representatives ordered by EOIR to appear on an alien’s behalf. Pursuant to its April 22, 2013 nationwide policy, EOIR will be providing qualified representatives to unrepresented immigration detainees with serious mental disorders who are deemed by an immigration judge to be mentally incompetent to represent themselves in immigration proceedings. The new Form EOIR-27 will permit representatives to indicate if they are appearing at the alien’s request or pursuant to an EOIR order for the provision of a qualified representative.

On the second page of the form, the “Appearances” information has been moved beneath the “Proof of Service” section so that it now appears alongside the other information sections. Additional information about eRegistry requirements for attorneys and accredited representatives has been added to the “Appearances” section. Font and justification formatting changes were made to the “Type of Appearance” and “Proof of Service” sections. A new check box for service on the EOIR disciplinary counsel has been added to the Proof of Service section, and the signatory has been changed from “Attorney or Representative” to “Person Serving” to clarify that service of the form may be accomplished by an individual other than the attorney or representative entering his or her appearance. Lastly, EOIR’s zip code and the revision date of the form have been updated.

Corresponding Changes to Electronic Form EOIR-27. As part of EOIR’s eRegistry, which is part of a long-term agency initiative to create an electronic case access and filing system for the Immigration Court and the Board, attorneys and accredited representatives may electronically file the Form EOIR-27.  The changes to the Form EOIR-27 proposed herein will need to be implemented in eRegistry before the revised form – both hard copy and electronic versions – can be made available for use. The development and implementation of these changes in eRegistry will take several months to complete. In the event that the proposed changes are not ready in eRegistry upon OMB approval of the revisions proposed herein, EOIR will continue to use the current Form EOIR-27 until those changes are finalized. This is necessary to prevent the use of two versions of the same form (i.e., a hard copy form different from an electronic form), avoid confusion as to which form may be used, and to avoid any conflicts the two versions may present.¹ For these reasons, EOIR seeks OMB approval of both the new Form EOIR-27 (with the revisions proposed herein) and the old form until both the hard copy and electronic versions of the new form are ready for use.

2. Needs and Uses - The Form EOIR‑27 allows attorneys and representatives to notify the Board that they are representing an alien or other party in proceedings before the Board. Upon receipt of a form that establishes an individual is an attorney in good standing or is otherwise able to represent a party before the Board, the Board designates the individual as the party=s legal representative during the proceedings before the Board. The Form EOIR-27 also allows the Board to ensure that only individuals authorized by regulation are entering appearances.

3. Use of Technology - The use of this form provides the most efficient means for collecting and processing the required data. The Form EOIR-27 is available on EOIR=s website for printing. A practitioner can type information directly into the online form and then print it for submission to EOIR, or s/he may print the blank form in its entirety and complete it by typing or printing legibly. Attorneys and accredited representatives with full accreditation may also electronically submit forms and update existing forms through eRegistry; individuals who are not licensed attorneys or accredited representatives with full accreditation do not have this option.

4. Efforts to Identify Duplication - The only method for an individual to enter his or her appearance on behalf of an alien or other party in proceedings before the Board is to complete and file the Form EOIR-27. A review of EOIR=s forms revealed no duplication of effort, and there is no other similar information currently available which can be used for this purpose.

5. Impact on Small Businesses - This collection has a minor impact on small businesses or other small entities to the extent they employ attorneys or accredited representatives who represent parties in proceedings before the Board. However, this collection does not impose undue burden on the small businesses or other entities. The form requires no filing fee, and EOIR estimates that the form takes six minutes to complete. In addition, the requested information is needed to ensure that only attorneys in good standing or otherwise qualified individuals are permitted to enter appearances and represent aliens in proceedings before EOIR.

6. Consequences of Less Frequent Collection - Failure to collect this information would preclude individuals from entering appearances on behalf of parties in proceedings before the Board.

7. Special Circumstances Influencing Collection - None of the eight special circumstances identified in OMB instruction number 7 apply to this collection.

8. Federal Register Publication and Consultation – A 60-day notice covering this collection will be published in the Federal Register. A 30-day notice covering this collection will be published in the Federal Register. Copies of these notices are attached. If comments are received, they will be considered and incorporated where appropriate.

9. Payment or Gift to Claimants - EOIR does not provide any payment or gifts to parties in immigration proceedings or their attorneys or representatives.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality - The Board retains the original form and places it in the record of proceedings, along with all other documents filed in the alien=s proceeding. EOIR staff members, attorneys, and Board Members who process, review, and adjudicate the case may access the Form EOIR 27. To the extent law permits, EOIR protects the confidentiality of the contents of the Form EOIR-27. EOIR would release information in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions - To the extent that the Form EOIR-27 includes a sensitive question by asking whether an attorney is in good standing in the bar or subject to any order of any court or administrative agency disbarring, suspending, enjoining, restraining, or otherwise restricting him or her in the practice of law), such question is necessary for EOIR to determine whether the individual is duly authorized to represent aliens before the Board. The information is used only to the extent necessary in order to make that determination. To the extent that the Form EOIR-27 includes a sensitive question by asking whether the representation is being provided on a pro bono basis, such question is necessary for EOIR to facilitate its pro bono program. Under Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum 08-01, the particular needs of pro bono representatives who appear before EOIR should be taken into consideration. OPPM 08-01: “Facilitating Pro Bono Legal Services” (March 10, 2008), available at http://www.justice.gov/eoir/efoia/ocij/oppm08/08-01.pdf.

12. Estimate of Hour Burden

a. Number of Respondents 26,544

b. Number of Responses per Respondent 1

c. Total Annual responses 26,544

d. Hours per response 6 minutes or 0.1 hour

e. Total annual hourly reporting burden 2,654

26,544 attorneys or representatives x 1 response per respondent x 0.1 hour per response = 2,654 burden hours. It is estimated that the total time to read and complete the form and gather all materials is no more than 6 minutes.

13. Estimate of Cost Burden

There are no capital or start-up costs associated with this information collection. There are also no fees associated with filing this information collection. The estimated public cost is a maximum of $165,105. This amount is reached by multiplying the burden hours (2,654) by $62.21, which represents the current median hourly wage for attorneys, as set by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. $165,105 represents the maximum estimate of cost burden. EOIR notes that this form is submitted by an immigration practitioner, who is either an attorney or other form of representative; as such, respondents are not likely to retain a practitioner to assist them in filling out the form.

For those individuals who proceed without a practitioner, there is an estimated cost of $10 per hour for completing the form (the individuals’ time and supplies) in lieu of the practitioner cost. This amount to the individual is not included as it is less than the estimated practitioner cost and would not add to the maximum estimate of $165,105.

14. Estimated Cost to the Federal Government - It is estimated that the annual government cost for printing, distributing, stocking, processing and maintaining the Form EOIR-27 is $92,842.

15. Reasons for Change in Burden – The difference in hour burden is due to an agency adjustment, specifically a decrease in the number of respondents. Previously, EOIR estimated that there were approximately 28,062 respondents annually and EOIR currently estimates 26,544 respondents annually. The number of hours per response (6 minutes) remains the same, so the difference in hour burden is due only to fluctuations in the number of respondents.

16. Plans for Publication - EOIR does not intend to employ the use of statistics or the publication thereof for this collection of information.

17. Exceptions to the Certification Statement - EOIR does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.

Section B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

PAPERWORK CERTIFICATION

In submitting this request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval, I certify that the requirements of the Privacy Act and OMB directives have been complied with, including paperwork regulations, any applicable statistical standards or directives, and any other information policy directives promulgated under 5 C.F.R. § 1320.

_____________________ __________________

Helaine Perlman Date

Senior Counsel for Immigration

Executive Office for Immigration Review

1 For example, the revised form requests information not captured on the current form, including the designation of a qualified representative and country for foreign accredited representatives.

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