BIA-recognized immigration help in Connecticut — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Connecticut currently authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice (Board of Immigration Appeals / BIA) to provide immigration legal representation. Source: EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster, updated quarterly.
BIA-recognized organizations are the cheapest legitimate immigration legal help available — many provide representation free or for sliding-fee based on income. Their accredited representatives (Full Accreditation can appear in court; Partial Accreditation handles USCIS filings only) practice ONLY immigration law.
BIA-recognized organizations in Connecticut
17 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Connecticut, as of the roster published April 20, 2026. These non-profits are authorized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration legal representation at low or no cost.
| Organization | City | Address | Phone | Recognized | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. | Bridgeport | 1406 State Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605 | (203) 372-4301 | 06/27/07 | Active |
| Center for Immigrant Development, Inc. | Bridgeport | Bridgeport Main Public Library, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 | (203) 724-9403 | 07/27/10 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants | Bridgeport | 410 Colorado Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605 | (203) 336-0141 | 04/25/24 | Active |
| Universal Presbyterian Church of God (UPCG) | East Hartford | 135 Burnside Avenue, First Floor, Suite B3A & B3D, East Hartford, CT 06108 | (860) 986-8550 | 05/01/20 | Active |
| Every Child Matters (ECM Immigration Legal Services) | Glastonbury | 2389 Main Street, Suite 105, Glastonbury, CT 06033 | (860) 323-3600 | 06/10/25 | Active |
| Center for Latino Progress - CPRF | Hartford | 95 Park Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106 | (860) 247-3227 | 10/11/12 | Active |
| Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants | Hartford | 75 Charter Oak Avenue, Suite 2-180, Hartford, CT 06106 | (860) 692-3085 | 04/25/24 | Active |
| Hartford Public Library | Hartford | 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103 | (860) 695-6334 | 08/23/13 | Active |
| Raices Latinas Inc. | Meriden | 250 Pomeroy Ave., Suite 201C, Meriden, CT 06450 | (203) 673-9974 | 05/29/25 | Active |
| Apostle Immigrant Services, Corp. | New Haven | 115 Blatchley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06513 | (203) 752-9068 | 01/31/12 | Active |
| Immigration Advocacy & Support Center | New London | 8 Washington Street, New London, CT 06320 | (860) 629-7758 | 02/21/20 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. | Norwalk | 120 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 | (203) 750-9711 | 06/27/07 | Active |
| Building One Community, Corp. | Stamford | 417 Shippan Ave, Stamford, CT 06902 | (203) 674-8585 | 12/22/16 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. | Stamford | 174 Richmond Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 | (203) 964-8228 | 06/27/07 | Active |
| Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants | Stamford | 34 Woodland Ave, Stamford, CT 06902 | (203) 965-7190 | 04/25/24 | Active |
| Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants | Waterbury | 233 Mill Street, 3rd Floor, Waterbury, CT 06706 | (203) 496-8677 | 04/25/24 | Active |
| Dreamers2gether Inc. | Waterbury | 14 N Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 | (202) 313-1951 | 07/29/25 | Active |
How to verify and contact a BIA-recognized organization
- Confirm current status at the EOIR roster — recognition can be withdrawn, and the roster is updated quarterly.
- Call ahead to check service availability — many orgs have waitlists, especially for asylum and removal-defense cases.
- Ask about fees before signing a representation agreement. Free or sliding-fee is standard.
- Bring all USCIS notices + photo ID to your intake appointment.
- Beware of “notarios” — only BIA-recognized organizations OR licensed attorneys can give legal advice. A “notario público” in the U.S. is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot legally represent you.
Related procedural information
- Immigration court in Connecticut — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Connecticut
- Legal aid in Connecticut — broader civil legal aid (housing, family, public benefits)
- Find an immigration attorney — AILA directory + private bar
- Avoid notario fraud — what to watch for
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections
Last verified: 2026-09-01. Source: U.S. Department of Justice EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster. General procedural information — not legal advice. Always verify organization status and ask about fees before signing a representation agreement.
BIA recognition program context (2025-2026)
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Recognition & Accreditation Program is governed by 8 CFR 1292.11-1292.16. Recognition is valid for six years, except that an organization recognized for the first time receives conditional recognition valid for two years (8 CFR 1292.11(f)); the three-year term is the validity period of an individual representative’s accreditation, not the organization’s recognition (8 CFR 1292.12(d)). Renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,452 recognized organizations operate 1,564 offices nationwide, staffed by representatives holding Full Accreditation (court representation) or Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
To be recognized, an organization must be a non-profit that provides immigration legal services primarily to low-income and indigent clients, and if it charges fees it must have a written policy for accommodating clients unable to pay; EOIR reviews its fee schedule, fee-waiver policy and annual budget as part of recognition (8 CFR 1292.11(a)(1) and (b)). Each organization sets its own fees, and neither EOIR nor any other national source publishes what recognized non-profits — or private immigration attorneys — actually charge. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and compare quotes before you commit.
EOIR publishes the Recognition & Accreditation Roster quarterly at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports. Verify an organization’s CURRENT status (Active vs Pending Renewal vs Provisional vs Withdrawn) before signing a representation agreement. Organizations whose recognition was withdrawn by EOIR (typically for fraud or compliance issues) cannot practice immigration law.
For attorney directories: AILA Find-A-Lawyer at ailalawyer.com (paid membership, vetted), Legal Services Corporation grantees at lsc.gov (income-limited legal aid), American Bar Association lawyer referral at americanbar.org/groups/legal_services. Avoid “notario” fraud: in the US, a “notary public” is NOT a notario in the Latin American sense and cannot give legal advice. Report notario fraud to your state attorney general AND USCIS at uscis.gov/avoid-scams.
EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).