# Immigration legal help in the United States

Only a licensed lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative working for a DOJ-recognized organization may give you immigration legal advice. The DOJ publishes two free registers this site draws from.

Updated 2026-10-20. Country: United States. Also on the [web page](https://immigrationhelp.fyi/guides/immigration-legal-help-in-the-united-states).

Only two kinds of people may give you immigration legal advice in the United States. The first is a lawyer licensed in a US state. The second is a DOJ-accredited representative who works for a DOJ-recognized organization. A notario or immigration consultant cannot represent you.

The US Department of Justice runs the EOIR Recognition and Accreditation Program. This program recognizes non-profit organizations to give immigration legal services through attorneys or accredited representatives. It also accredits people to represent individuals in immigration matters while they work for a recognized organization. The DOJ publishes these in the Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives Roster by State and City. The roster this site uses was updated on 2026-10-18 and retrieved on 2026-10-20. The roster says each organization must keep its own contact information current.

EOIR also publishes a separate List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers. The list covers each immigration court. It names providers that commit to pro bono hours before the immigration courts. EOIR publishes it every quarter, in January, April, July and October. This site uses the October 2026 list, retrieved on 2026-10-20. From that list, this site lists only the non-profit organizations marked with an asterisk. The list itself says it is not for soliciting paid legal services.

Both registers are US federal government works. They are in the public domain, so anyone may copy and distribute them. The source note on each listing names the register its facts came from and when the site checked it.

Notarios and immigration consultants cause much confusion. In Latin America a notario publico is a legal professional. In the United States a notary public is only a witness. Fraud operators use the title notario to look like lawyers. This site never lists notarios or unlicensed consultants.

The immigration fraud warning checklist on this site asks five questions. They ask whether the person is a licensed lawyer or accredited representative, and whether the person promises a result. They also ask about requests for cash only, blank forms and claims of a secret government connection. One warning sign gives the warning result. No checklist result proves that a person is honest.

If you suspect fraud, the checklist names where to report it. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, to your state attorney general and to USCIS through its fraud-reporting page.

This site makes the public registers easier to search. A listing is not a recommendation. Use the filters on this site to narrow providers by provider type, fee level and languages. Browse the recognized organizations category for DOJ-recognized non-profits. Browse the pro bono providers category for organizations from the EOIR pro bono list. If you need help in a language other than English, ask the provider before you visit.

This guide is not legal advice. For advice about your own case, ask a qualified professional: a licensed lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative.

## Sources

- [US DOJ EOIR Recognition & Accreditation roster](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognized-organizations-and-accredited-representatives-roster-state-and-city)
- [US DOJ EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers)

## Questions

### What is a notario?

In Latin America a notario publico is a legal professional, but in the United States a notary public is only a witness. A US notario or immigration consultant is not a lawyer and cannot represent you or give legal advice.

### Where can I check whether a provider is authorized?

Check the DOJ EOIR Recognition and Accreditation roster on justice.gov for recognized organizations and accredited representatives. Check the EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for help near your immigration court. Ask a state bar association whether a person is a licensed lawyer.

### Does this site give legal advice?

No. ImmigrationHelp is a directory, not a law firm. Nothing on it is legal advice. A listing is not a recommendation. Ask a qualified professional about your case.

> **Not legal advice.** ImmigrationHelp is a directory, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. A listing is not a recommendation. Every provider listed is authorized by the US Department of Justice as shown in the source named on each listing; confirm details with the provider before you share information or pay. Beware of immigration fraud: a 'notario' or immigration consultant is not a lawyer and cannot represent you. To report a mistake, write to hello@immigrationhelp.fyi.