Seeking Fee Waivers Before EOIR  

Practitioners before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) are dealing with competing pressures when deciding whether to seek a fee waiver for a client in removal proceedings. The recently passed congressional legislation dramatically increases fees for post-decision motions and appeals, making such motions and appeals impossible for many noncitizens to afford. For example, the fee for an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is now $1,010 (up from $110), while a motion to reconsider or reopen before the BIA or Immigration Judge (IJ) is now $1,045 (up from $145).