DOJ Revises Form for Pro Bono Lawyers in Immigration Courts
Published Date: 3/5/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Justice wants to update the form that lets lawyers sign up to offer free help to people in immigration court. They’re asking for public feedback over the next 60 days to make sure the form is clear and easy to use. This update won’t cost anyone money but aims to make finding free legal help smoother and faster.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
EOIR-56 Form Revised for Clarity
EOIR is revising Form EOIR-56 with non-substantive formatting and textual changes to improve organization, clarity, and readability. The form is used by organizations, private attorneys, and pro bono referral services to apply for inclusion on the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers and applicants must renew every three years under 8 CFR 1003.61–1003.66.
Online Submission Strongly Encouraged
EOIR strongly encourages applicants to submit Form EOIR-56 electronically through the Pro Bono List Portal; applicants may still download, print, and submit by email or mail. Submitting electronically can avoid printing costs (estimated $0.10 per page) and postage (estimated $0.78 per mailed response) for mailed submissions.
Applicant Time and Cost Estimates
EOIR estimates an average of 241 respondents will complete the form annually, with an average of 30 minutes per response (total annual burden 120.5 hours). EOIR estimates the total annual public cost ranges from $0 to $9,253.48, which includes printing, postage, and an estimated $75 per hour labor cost multiplied by 120.5 hours.
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