What an accredited representative is in immigration matters
An accredited representative is a person who is not an attorney but may represent people in immigration matters through a Justice Department program called the Recognition and Accreditation Program. According to the official pages, these representatives are employees or volunteers of non-profit organizations, they may provide immigration legal services only through a Recognized Organization, and the level of their accreditation decides where they may appear.
What the official pages say
The program page of the Executive Office for Immigration Review says that federal regulations at 8 C.F.R. section 1292.1(a)(4) allow non-attorney accredited representatives "to represent aliens before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which includes the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)." The same page says the program "aims to increase the availability of competent immigration legal representation for low-income and indigent persons." It also states that "Accredited Representatives may only provide immigration legal services through Recognized Organizations" and that "Only non-profit, federally tax-exempt entities may apply to be recognized." According to the program page, accreditation of representatives "is valid for three years," and organizations apply for its renewal.
The program's frequently asked questions add that the program "began over 60 years ago" and that it allows "non-attorney employees and volunteers of qualifying non-profit organizations" to practice immigration law before the federal government. As of August 2023, the FAQ counts roughly 850 recognized organizations and 2,290 accredited representatives providing immigration legal services across the United States.
The FAQ also describes two levels of accreditation. Representatives with "partial accreditation" are marked "DHS only" next to their name on the program rosters, which means they can represent clients only before one division of the Department of Homeland Security, in matters such as immigration benefits or citizenship and naturalization. Representatives with "full accreditation" have no such mark and may also represent clients in immigration court or on immigration appeal. The rosters include the names and addresses of active Recognized Organizations and the names of their staff who are accredited representatives.
A separate Justice Department page about the electronic court filing system describes an online registration for attorneys and fully accredited representatives and says that, at this time, representatives with partial accreditation may not register.
What is not covered or depends on the situation
These official pages explain the program in general terms. They do not say whether a particular representative or organization fits a specific person's matter, and they do not compare accredited representatives with attorneys case by case. What a representative may do depends on the level of accreditation that the rosters show for that person. The FAQ notes that it is provided "as a public service" and does not "supersede statute, regulations, or case law," and it points readers to the federal regulations for more detailed information. For concerns about the conduct of a Recognized Organization or an accredited representative, the FAQ lists different contacts, depending on whether the matter was before the Department of Homeland Security or before the Executive Office for Immigration Review and whether fraud may be involved.
Where to look next
The program page and its frequently asked questions on the Justice Department site link to the current rosters of Recognized Organizations and accredited representatives, the program forms and the regulations at 8 C.F.R. sections 1292.11 to 1292.20.
About this page
The picture on this page is illustrative only: it shows a white lighthouse with a glowing lamp on a rocky point above the sea at dusk and does not depict any real organization, representative or client.
This page is general information drawn from official pages and does not assess anyone's situation, and a question about a personal situation belongs with an independent attorney.
- Justice Department (EOIR): Recognition and accreditation program
- Justice Department (EOIR): Recognition and accreditation FAQ
- Justice Department (EOIR): Attorneys and accredited representatives
VisaNow.AI is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information taken from official government pages; it does not assess anyone's case. An attorney-client relationship arises only with an independent attorney. Check the official pages for current details.
Information current as of 2026-10-26