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SL: Hello. I’m Steve Lang, Program Director of the Office of Legal Access Programs at the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR. You may have heard that EOIR recently published a final rule related to its Recognition and Accreditation Program. In this video, we’re going to explain the steps an organization already recognized by EOIR needs to take to maintain its status with EOIR. PG: Hello. I’m Peggy Gleason and I’ll be asking Steve questions we know you will have about the new rule, and he’ll be providing detailed information about the steps to apply for recognition for those organizations that are used to the former process. Let’s get started. Both of us have already mentioned the new rule, but what IS the new rule? SL: The rule is titled, “Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives,” and it’s well-named. This rule governs the process by which eligible organizations can receive recognition from EOIR and non-attorneys who want to represent individuals in immigration cases can receive the necessary accreditation to do so. PG: So, what does the new rule do? SL: The new rule, which is effective on January 17, 2017, moves responsibility for the Recognition and Accreditation program to the Office of Legal Access Programs within EOIR, and makes a series of changes to the eligibility and recordkeeping requirements for applicants. PG: Since the focus of today’s video is how an organization recognized under the former process can retain its recognition, can you explain when an organization needs to renew its recognition under the new rule? SL: Sure. To retain recognition an organization must renew its recognition based on how long it’s been recognized and whether or not it has an accredited representative as of the effective date of the new rule. So – If the organization doesn’t have an accredited representative as of January 17, 2017, then it has 1 year to apply for renewal; If the organization otherwise has been recognized for more than 10 years as of the effective date, then it has 2 years to apply for renewal; or If the organization otherwise has been recognized for less than 10 years, that is, some time after January 17, 2007, then it has 3 years to apply for renewal. PG: How does the new rule change the requirements for an organization’s eligibility for recognition? SL: The final rule amends the requirements to be eligible for and maintain recognition. Under the old rule, an organization had to demonstrate that it was a “non-profit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization established in the United States.” Furthermore, an organization had to demonstrate that it was charging only nominal fees and assessing no excessive membership dues to the individuals it served. Under the new rule, to be recognized, an organization is required to: 1) First, demonstrate federal tax-exempt status; 2) Second, declare that it serves primarily low-income and indigent clients...