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EvolvingLast updated Jul 13, 20264 updates

USCIS updated policy rules for legal representatives and attorneys

USCIS consolidated policy manual guidance on attorney representation, eligibility, and rules during immigration applications and interviews.

Adjustment of StatusAsylumH-1B Specialty OccupationIR1 / CR1 Spouse of a U.S. CitizenTPS Temporary Protected StatusF-1 Academic StudentEB-2 Advanced Degree / Exceptional AbilityEB-3 Skilled Workers & ProfessionalsDACAEB-1 Priority WorkersL-1 Intracompany Transferee

Who this applies to & what you could do

  • Adjustment of Status

    • Consolidates attorney and representative guidance into the main USCIS Policy Manual
    • If you are applying for adjustment of status (a green card) with help from an attorney or accredited representative, the official guidelines governing your representative are now located in the USCIS Policy Manual. This change centralizes administrative rules previously kept in internal field manuals.
    • Consolidates representation rules into the main USCIS Policy Manual
    • Consolidates interview representation rules directly into the main Policy Manual

    What you could do

    • Speak with your lawyer or accredited representative to confirm that your representation paperwork is properly filed with USCIS.
    • Check with your lawyer or accredited representative to ensure your representation forms are properly filed with your adjustment application.

  • Asylum

    • Centralizes representation instructions within the primary USCIS Policy Manual
    • If you have legal help for an asylum claim, the standards for how attorneys and accredited representatives interact with USCIS are now consolidated in the Policy Manual. This replaces previous administrative guidance from older agency reference manuals.
    • Replaces former Adjudicator's Field Manual rules on representatives with updated Policy Manual guidance
    • Standardizes representative participation rules during affirmative asylum interviews

    What you could do

    • Check with your legal representative to ensure all standard representation filings for your case are up to date.
    • Speak with your legal representative to confirm that all representative paperwork is up to date in your file.

  • H-1B Specialty Occupation

    • For H-1B petitions managed with legal counsel, agency rules regarding attorneys and accredited representatives are now located in the consolidated USCIS Policy Manual. This replaces prior instructions from internal agency manuals.
    • Standardizes legal representation guidance across agency proceedings in the Policy Manual
    • Centralizes attorney participation guidelines for specialty occupation petitions
    • Clarifies how legal representatives receive official notices from USCIS

    What you could do

    • Contact your legal representative if you have questions about how legal representation is recorded for your petition.
    • Consult with your employer or legal representative if you have questions about who is listed as your representative of record.

  • IR1 / CR1 Spouse of a U.S. Citizen

    • If you are applying for a spousal green card with the help of a legal representative, the rules governing legal counsel are now gathered in the primary USCIS Policy Manual. This centralizes guidance previously kept in separate manuals.
    • Consolidates attorney appearance rules for spousal green card interviews
    • Clarifies procedures for sending official decisions directly to legal counsel

    What you could do

    • Ask your lawyer or accredited representative to confirm that your representation paperwork is up to date.
    • Double-check with your lawyer to ensure that Form G-28 was filed properly so they receive copies of all interview notices and decisions.

  • TPS Temporary Protected Status

    • If you work with an attorney or accredited representative on your TPS (Temporary Protected Status) application, representative guidelines are now consolidated in the central USCIS Policy Manual. This updates older agency guidance.

    What you could do

    • Verify with your legal representative that all required representation forms are included with your TPS application.

  • F-1 Academic Student

    • If you hire an attorney or accredited representative for F-1 student visa filings or status changes, guidance governing legal representation is now consolidated in the USCIS Policy Manual. This consolidates rules from older agency reference materials.
    • Unifies representation guidelines across student-related USCIS filings
    • Provides clearer guidance on official notice delivery to legal counsel

    What you could do

    • Review your filing packet with your legal representative to ensure the appropriate representation forms are attached.
    • Keep copies of any representation paperwork submitted alongside your applications, and verify with your Designated School Official (DSO) if legal representation is involved in your filing.

  • EB-2 Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability

    • If an attorney or accredited representative handles your EB-2 petition, their governing agency rules are now located in the main USCIS Policy Manual. This consolidates administrative instructions previously contained in older field manuals.

    What you could do

    • Confirm with your legal representative that your representation documents are properly recorded with USCIS.

  • EB-3 Skilled Workers & Professionals

    • If you or your sponsoring employer work with legal counsel for an EB-3 petition, the standards governing representatives are now organized in the central USCIS Policy Manual. This updates prior administrative instructions.

    What you could do

    • Check with your employer or legal representative to ensure all legal representation records are complete.

  • DACA

    • If you work with a legal representative on your DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) request, the agency rules defining representative standards are now housed in the central USCIS Policy Manual. This consolidates rules previously found across separate internal manuals.

    What you could do

    • Verify with your legal counsel or accredited representative that your representation documentation is complete before submitting your filings.

  • EB-1 Priority Workers

    • For EB-1 priority worker petitions involving legal representation, administrative standards for attorneys and accredited representatives are now published in the unified USCIS Policy Manual. This updates earlier operational guidance.

    What you could do

    • Consult your immigration attorney to confirm that all representation notices associated with your petition are current.

  • L-1 Intracompany Transferee

    • Standardizes attorney representation procedures for intracompany transfer filings
    • Consolidates notice delivery guidance into the main USCIS Policy Manual

    What you could do

    • Coordinate with your employer's immigration legal team to verify that proper attorney authorization forms are attached to your petition.

Timeline — newest first

  1. Jul 13, 2026uscis.gov

    USCIS updates policy rules on legal representatives and attorneys

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its official Policy Manual guidance regarding attorneys and accredited representatives. This change, which is now in effect, consolidates existing instructions previously kept in the agency's Adjudicator’s Field Manual into its main policy reference. It centralizes the guidance that officers and legal helpers follow regarding representation before the agency.

  2. Jul 13, 2026uscis.gov

    USCIS consolidates policy guidance for legal representation and attorneys

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its central Policy Manual to consolidate guidance regarding attorneys and accredited representatives. This update moves existing standards from the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM, an internal agency guidance manual) into the main Policy Manual. This story is still developing, and further details may emerge as implementation continues.

  3. Jul 13, 2026uscis.gov

    USCIS updates policy guidance for attorneys and legal representatives

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated and consolidated its official policy guidance regarding attorneys and representatives into the USCIS Policy Manual. This guidance is now in effect and replaces previous instructions that were in the agency's Adjudicator's Field Manual. The update creates a single, consolidated reference for how legal representatives interact with the agency.

  4. Jul 13, 2026uscis.gov

    USCIS updated policy guidance for attorneys and legal representatives assisting with immigration cases

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated and consolidated its official rules on how attorneys and legal representatives can represent you during immigration proceedings. This change moves existing instructions from an older agency manual directly into the main USCIS Policy Manual. The clarified guidance is now in effect for all new and pending cases.

Summaries are AI-generated from public government sources and news coverage. This is not legal advice.