"Due to the horrific attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in New York City, federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area were closed on September 11, 2001.

The Clerk's Office for the Board of Immigration Appeals reopened for business at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 12, 2001, and is fully operational.

The Board of Immigration Appeals understands that this event has created hardship or delays for those who wish to file documents before the Board.

If you are submitting a time-sensitive document (e .g., notice of appeal, motion, brief) during the aftermath of the terrorist attack, please attach a one page letter of explanation of your extraordinary circumstances. The Board will review and consider all such submissions.

In addition, the Board will apply a temporary "grace period," regardless of whether it was requested or not, and regardless of whether documentation was supplied, to all time-sensitive filings which:

1. were due from Monday, September 10, 2001 to Friday, September 28, 2001, and;

2. were received before the end of September 2001.

Please note that the Board does not accept faxes or other electronic transmissions without prior authorization."