Form G-28: How to Fill Out the Notice of Entry of Appearance

Form G-28 is the Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative. It tells the Department of Homeland Security that a lawyer or accredited representative is acting for you in an immigration matter, so USCIS, ICE, or CBP can send notices to them and talk to them about your case. The form is filed with your application, not instead of it, and both you and your representative must sign it by hand.

If you are an applicant, your representative usually prepares most of the form. Still, you will see it, sign it, and sometimes fill in parts of it yourself, so it helps to know what each section asks. This guide walks through the form part by part, based on the USCIS page for Form G-28 and the 09/17/18 edition, which USCIS still lists as current as of this writing (checked October 2026).

What Form G-28 Does

A G-28 creates a formal link between your case and one representative. Once it is accepted, DHS can send your notices to the representative and, if you choose, to you as well. Without it, an agency treats the filing as if no representative were involved, even if a lawyer prepared every page.

USCIS states that an improperly completed G-28 will not be accepted, and the benefit request will be processed as though no G-28 was submitted. That is the main reason to slow down on this form: a missing signature or a mismatched name can mean notices never reach your lawyer.

• Cost: There is no filing fee for the G-28 itself. USCIS points to its fee schedule (Form G-1055) for fees on the related application.
• Who files it: The attorney or accredited representative submits it with your application, petition, motion, or appeal.
• Which agencies: Part 3 lets the representative pick USCIS, ICE, or CBP. Matters handled outside the United States use a different form, Form G-28I.

Do You Need One

You do not need a G-28 to file an immigration form on your own. It matters only when someone represents you. Typical cases include a family petition such as Form I-130, a green card application, or removing conditions on residence with Form I-751.

Only certain people can sign as your representative. These are attorneys in good standing, accredited representatives of a recognized nonprofit organization, and in some cases law students or law graduates working under direct supervision. A paralegal, notary, or friend cannot file a G-28 for you. If someone offers to represent you and is not in one of those groups, ask for proof before you sign anything.

One G-28 covers one matter. If you hire a representative for a second filing later, expect to complete a new G-28 for it. If you change representatives, the new person files a fresh G-28 for the pending case.

Step by Step: Filling Out the PDF

You can use the Form G-28 template in PDF Editify, which opens the form in your browser so there is nothing to install. The flow is short: open the form, type into the fields, then save it for signing.

1. Open the form. Start from the template, or upload your own copy at our fill PDF tool. Check the edition date in the footer. Do not mix pages from different editions, because USCIS says every page must come from the same one.
2. Part 1: Information about the attorney or accredited representative. This is the representative's name, address, phone, email, and bar or accreditation details. If you are the client, you normally leave this to them.
3. Part 2: Eligibility information. The representative states whether they are an attorney in good standing, an accredited representative, an associate of an attorney, or a law student or graduate. They also list any bar number and the licensing authority.
4. Part 3: Notice of appearance. Pick the agency, then describe the matter, for example the form number and the receipt number if you already have one. Enter the client's name exactly as it appears on the related application. Add the client's address and contact details. Also tick the box that says whether notices should go to the representative, and whether you want copies of notices sent to you.
5. Part 4: Client's consent to representation and signature. This is the client's section. You confirm that you consent to the representation and to the sharing of your case information with your representative. You sign and date here.
6. Part 5: Signature of attorney or accredited representative. The representative signs and dates.
7. Part 6: Additional information. Use this only if a field ran out of room. Write the page, part, and item number you are continuing.

Tips that prevent rejections

• Use the client's name exactly as it appears on the application. Do not shorten it or change the order.
• Do not put the representative's address in the client address fields. This is a common mix-up.
• Leave no required field blank. Write "N/A" or "None" where USCIS asks for that instead of skipping it.
• Do not use highlighters, correction fluid, or gray out any part of the form, as USCIS advises.

Our filling tool lets you click a field and type, so the text lines up cleanly and is easy to correct before anything is printed. If you are working from a scan, you can add text on top of the page the same way.

Signatures and What to Attach

This is the step that trips people up. USCIS says you and your legal representative must sign, and a stamped or typed name is not accepted in place of a handwritten signature. It also says a photocopy, fax, or scan of the original ink signature is valid for filing.

That means the practical workflow is:

1. Fill out the form on screen so every typed field is clean and legible.
2. Print it, and sign in Part 4 (client) and Part 5 (representative) in black or blue ink.
3. Scan the signed pages. A scan of an original ink signature is acceptable under USCIS guidance.
4. If you need to add a date or a correction afterward, annotate the scan in the PDF editor before you merge the pages into one file.

PDF Editify also has a sign PDF tool for other forms that accept electronic signatures, but for G-28 follow the USCIS rule about ink signatures and confirm with your representative before you rely on anything else. If you are curious about when electronic signatures are valid in general, see our guide to the ESIGN Act.

What goes in the package

• The signed G-28 on top or alongside the related application, as your representative directs.
• The main form and fee, if any, for that application.
• Any supporting documents the application's own instructions require.

Initial G-28 forms go in with the application, either online through a USCIS account or by mail. A later G-28 for a pending case can be filed online for certain forms through the representative's account. By mail, it goes to the office where the case is pending or to the return address on the last notice you received.

After You File

Once DHS accepts the G-28, notices on that matter go to your representative's address, and you may receive copies if you asked for them in Part 3. Keep your own copy of the signed form and a note of the receipt number so you can confirm which filing it belongs to.

If your representative stops working on your case, ask them to file a notice of withdrawal or have the new representative file a new G-28. Do not assume a change of address or a new lawyer automatically updates the old record.

Watch for notices of rejection. If the G-28 was incomplete, USCIS may handle the case as if you had no representative, and your lawyer may not hear about it. Ask them to confirm the G-28 was accepted.

Fill, Review, and Print Without a Subscription

Immigration paperwork is a one-time job for most people, and a monthly subscription for a PDF tool rarely makes sense for it. PDF Editify's One Week Plan costs $3 one time, expires on its own, and has nothing to cancel. That is enough to fill the G-28, your application forms, and any scanned corrections. Compare that with the $10 per month Standard plan, or look at the full pricing page for yearly and lifetime options. You can open the editor and try it before you pay, and exporting requires a plan.

For more forms from the same category, browse the US government forms library.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules and forms change, so check the official USCIS page for the current edition and ask a licensed attorney or accredited representative about your case.