Will USCIS reject my G-28?

Puts an attorney or DOJ-accredited representative on the record for a specific matter before USCIS, ICE, or CBP, and records the client’s consent to that representation and to the release of their records. USCIS returns rejected packages unprocessed — and G-28 has no USCIS fee of its own, so a rejection costs you the delay on everything it was filed with. Answer 12 quick yes/no questions about your completed G-28 and see where your rejection risk is.

All 12 checks in the Form G-28 rejection quiz

Every question maps to a documented USCIS filing problem for Form G-28 — pulled from the form's own instructions and USCIS guidance: the current 09/17/18 edition requirement, each signature block, blank-field rules, date format and consistency, the exact filing fee, and the specific problems those instructions name for G-28. Here is the full list; open any one to see what USCIS does about it.

1. Did you confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page of your G-28 is 09/17/18 — the current edition on uscis.gov?

   Form edition risk

   USCIS accepts more than one edition of Form G-28 right now — 09/17/18 and 05/23/18. Any other edition is an automatic rejection. The date is printed at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the SAME edition even though two are acceptable. USCIS accepts BOTH the 09/17/18 and the 05/23/18 editions of Form G-28, despite the 05/31/2021 expiration date printed on the form. USCIS has said a new edition is coming but has not published a date or a cutoff.

2. Has the client (or the entity’s authorized signatory) signed and dated Part 4 by hand — not typed, not stamped?

   Signature risk

   Part 4 — Client (or the entity’s authorized signatory): The client’s signature is what consents to representation and to release of their records. Sign in black or blue ink and date it. USCIS will not accept a stamped or typewritten name — but it does accept a photocopy, fax, or scan of the original handwritten ink signature. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper filing. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not; an electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

3. Has the attorney or accredited representative signed and dated Part 5 by hand — not typed, not stamped?

   Signature risk

   Part 5 — Attorney or accredited representative: Sign and date in black ink. Same rule: no stamped or typewritten name; a photocopy, fax, or scan of the original ink signature is valid. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper filing. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not; an electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

4. If it applies to your filing, has the law student or law graduate (only if part 2 item 4.a. is selected) signed and dated Part 5 by hand? (Answer Yes if this doesn't apply to you.)

   Signature risk

   Part 5 — Law student or law graduate (only if Part 2 Item 4.a. is selected): The law student or law graduate signs the same G-28 that the supervising attorney or accredited representative signed. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper filing. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not; an electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing.

5. Is Part 1 (Items 2.a – 2.c., 3.a – 3.h., 4) — The representative’s full name, address, and daytime telephone number — fully completed?

   Blank / incomplete fields risk

   Form G-28, Part 1, Items 2.a – 2.c., 3.a – 3.h., 4: The representative’s full name, address, and daytime telephone number.

6. Do the dates on your form match your supporting documents exactly — especially part 4 item 2.b. and part 5 item 1.b. and part 2 item 2.c.?

   Date & consistency risk

   The date fields that most often cause problems on G-28: Part 4 Item 2.b. and Part 5 Item 1.b. — the two signature dates — Both signatures are required; a blank date next to a present signature is the defect USCIS says it sees most often on this form. Part 2 Item 2.c. — date of accreditation — Only an accredited representative fills this in, and it must be the DOJ accreditation date, not the date the form is signed.

7. Have you confirmed your exact G-28 filing fee ($0 for the general category) against the current USCIS G-1055 schedule for YOUR filing category?

   Filing fee risk

   G-28 costs $0 — No filing fee. Form G-28 is filed together with the application, petition, motion, or appeal it relates to — it is never filed on its own. Taken from USCIS Form G-1055, fee-schedule edition 10/07/26. Paying a fee that is not owed, or attaching this to a package whose own fee is wrong, still gets the package returned.

8. Have you ruled out this known G-28 filing problem: “Part 2 Item Numbers 1.a. – 1.d. (attorney) or 2.a. – 2.c. (accredited representative) left incomplete — the instructions state USCIS will reject the form”?

   Eligibility & category risk

   Named in the Form G-28 instructions or USCIS's published guidance — some problems like this get a package rejected, others a Request for Evidence.

9. Have you ruled out this known G-28 filing problem: “The client’s name not written exactly as it appears on the related immigration form”?

   Eligibility & category risk

   Named in the Form G-28 instructions or USCIS's published guidance — some problems like this get a package rejected, others a Request for Evidence.

10. Have you ruled out this known G-28 filing problem: “More than one agency box selected in Part 3, or the USCIS box selected with no form numbers or matter listed in Item 1.b”?

    Eligibility & category risk

    Named in the Form G-28 instructions or USCIS's published guidance — some problems like this get a package rejected, others a Request for Evidence.

11. Have you answered every question on the form, writing "N/A" or "None" instead of leaving any required field blank?

    Blank / incomplete fields risk

    Leaving a required field blank instead of writing "N/A" or "None" is one of the most common reasons USCIS returns a package unprocessed.

12. Is every date on your G-28 written in mm/dd/yyyy format?

    Date & consistency risk

    USCIS expects dates on Form G-28 in mm/dd/yyyy format. A day-first date (common outside the U.S.) reads as a different date to an intake officer.

Your answers stay in your browser. The result names the risk areas flagged by your answers — to see the specific problems on your actual form, upload it to FormGuard: the issue count is free, and $39 unlocks the full line-by-line report on your completed G-28. (A scanned PDF longer than 3 pages skips the free preview and goes straight to the paid report.)

Form G-28 rejection — frequently asked questions

Will USCIS reject my G-28 for a missing signature?

Yes — and it can be worse than a rejection. An unsigned G-28, or one signed with a typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output such as DocuSign, is not validly signed; only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — counts on a paper filing, and an electronic signature counts only when captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. Under the DHS signature rule effective 07/10/2026, an invalid signature on a paper filing can be denied outright: USCIS keeps the filing fee and there is no opportunity to cure. G-28 has 4 signature blocks to verify before you file.

Will USCIS reject my G-28 if I use an old edition?

USCIS accepts more than one edition of G-28 right now — 09/17/18 and 05/23/18. Any other edition is an automatic rejection. The date is printed at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the SAME edition even though two are acceptable. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

Does USCIS refund the filing fee if my G-28 is rejected?

Generally no. USCIS returns the package unprocessed and keeps no place in line, and because G-28 is filed alongside other forms, they come back with it — you fix the error and refile the whole package, losing weeks or months. That is why checking before you file matters.

How accurate is this G-28 rejection quiz?

The quiz flags which RISK AREAS need attention based on your own answers about the most common USCIS filing problems for G-28 — it cannot see your actual form. For a line-by-line review of your completed G-28 against these requirements, upload it to FormGuard: it reads the form itself and shows you the issue count free, and $39 unlocks the full report. A scanned PDF longer than 3 pages skips the free preview and goes straight to the paid report.

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