General policyPOLICY UPDATE
Attorneys and Representatives
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding attorneys and representatives, consolidating and updating guidance that was previously contained in the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM).
Effective date and application
This guidance, contained in Volume 1 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately
Key changes
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding attorneys and representatives, consolidating and updating guidance that was previously contained in the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM).
- Explains expectations for the professional conduct of practitioners, grounds for discipline, and procedures for reporting criminal, unethical, or unprofessional conduct or frivolous behavior (such as immigration fraud) by practitioners or organizations.
- Clarifies who may serve as representatives and who may provide other assistance and related responsibilities, requirements, and limitations.
- Provides information on benefit requestors’ responsibilities if they choose to have representation.
- Explains requirements for establishing, changing, and withdrawing representation.
Related Policy Manual sections
- 1 USCIS-PM D.1 - Chapter 1 - Purpose and BackgroundUSCIS
- 1 USCIS-PM D.2 - Chapter 2 - RepresentationUSCIS
- 1 USCIS-PM D.3 - Chapter 3 - Other RepresentativesUSCIS
- 1 USCIS-PM D.4 - Chapter 4 - Establishing and Changing RepresentationUSCIS
- 1 USCIS-PM D.5 - Chapter 5 - Professional Conduct and Reporting MisconductUSCIS
