BIA-recognized immigration help in Illinois — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Illinois 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 Illinois
75 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Illinois, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Focus Aurora | Aurora | 1444 N Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505 | (630) 256-7017 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| World Relief | Aurora | 73 S. LaSalle Street, Aurora, IL 60505 | (630) 264-3171 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| Chicago Workers Collaborative | Berwyn | 6925 West Cermak Road, Berwyn, IL 60406 | (847) 596-7491 | 04/04/24 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project | Bolingbrook | 101 Royce Road, Suite 12, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 | (630) 296-6755 | 02/07/25 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Buffalo Grove | 2900 N Main Street, 1st Floor, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 | (847) 393-7488 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| Vietnamese Association of Illinois | Carol Stream | 640 East Saint Charles Road, Suite 203, Carol Stream, IL 60188 | (630) 580-9438 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| World Relief | Carol Stream | 191 S. Gary Avenue, Suite 130, Carol Stream, IL 60188 | (630) 462-7566 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| The Immigration Project, Inc. | Champaign | 409 Devonshire Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 | (217) 693-4920 | 09/29/17 | Active |
| YMCA of the University of Illinois | Champaign | 1001 South Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820 | (217) 337-1500 | 06/04/19 | Active |
| Afghan Village NFP | Chicago | 6235 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659 | (773) 796-1333 | 06/20/24 | Active |
| Ascend Justice | Chicago | 177 N. State Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601 | (312) 971-5932 | 06/01/18 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Chicago | 721 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60654 | (312) 427-7078 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Centro Romero | Chicago | 6216 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60660 | (773) 508-5300 | 04/02/25 | Active |
| Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation | Chicago | 33 N. Dearborn Street, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60602 | (313) 332-1624 | 10/28/24 | Active |
| Children’s Legal Center | Chicago | 1100 W Cermak Road, Suite 422, Chicago, IL 60608 | (312) 722-6642 | 09/10/25 | Active |
| Chinese American Service League | Chicago | 2141 S. Tan Court, Chicago, IL 60616 | (312) 791-0418 | 04/28/95 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Chinese Mutual Aid Association | Chicago | 1016 W. Argyle Street, Chicago, IL 60640 | (773) 784-2900 | 10/29/08 | Active |
| Community Help Center Muslim Women Resource Center | Chicago | 2828 W. Devon Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659 | (773) 764-1686 | 05/28/13 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Erie Neighborhood House | Chicago | 1634 W Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60612 | (312) 666-3430 | 06/03/11 | Active |
| Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, Inc. | Chicago | 5800 North Lincoln Avenue, Unit A/B, Chicago, IL 60659 | (773) 508-0303 | 04/15/25 | Active |
| Family Focus Aurora | Chicago | 4878 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 | (773) 276-0940 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| Frida Kahlo Community Organization | Chicago | 5133 S. Kedzie Avenue, 1st Floor, Chicago, IL 60632 | (312) 421-7599 | 08/24/10 | Active |
| HANA Center | Chicago | 4300 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 | (773) 583-5501 | 11/16/11 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Chicago | 5008 N Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 | (773) 478-8851 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) | Chicago | 228 South Wabash, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60604 | (312) 332-7360 | 11/24/15 | Active |
| Indo-American Center | Chicago | 6328 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 | (773) 973-4444 | 08/25/23 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Instituto del Progreso Latino | Chicago | 2570 S. Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608 | (773) 890-0055 | 08/24/07 | Active |
| Irish Community Services | Chicago | 4626 N. Knox Avenue, Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60630 | — | 12/13/24 | Active |
| Latinos Progresando | Chicago | 2724 W. Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60608 | (773) 542-7011 | 11/19/04 | Active |
| Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy | Chicago | 70 East Lake Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60601 | (312) 408-1210 | 12/05/24 | Active |
| Logan Square Neighborhood Association | Chicago | 2840 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 | (773) 384-4370 | 04/06/16 | Active |
| National Immigrant Justice Center | Chicago | 111 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60604 | (312) 660-1370 | 11/21/80 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors | Chicago | 77 West Washington Street, Suite 814, Chicago, IL 60602 | (773) 909-1672 | 01/16/25 | Active |
| Polish American Association | Chicago | 3834 N. Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641 | (773) 282-1324 | 01/25/95 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Raise the Floor Alliance | Chicago | 1 N LaSalle Street, Suite 1275, Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 795-9115 | 05/05/25 | Active |
| RefugeeOne | Chicago | 6008 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659 | (773) 989-5647 | 09/29/25 | Active |
| Syrian Community Network | Chicago | 5439 N. Broadway, Suite #2, Chicago, IL 60640 | (773) 654-3096 | 08/12/19 | Active |
| The Resurrection Project | Chicago | 1805 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608 | (312) 666-3062 | 09/08/14 | Active |
| United African Organization | Chicago | 6042 S Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 | (312) 949-9980 | 11/14/14 | Active |
| Vietnamese Association of Illinois | Chicago | 5110 North Broadway Street, Chicago, IL 60640 | (773) 728-3700 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| World Relief | Chicago | 3507 W. Lawrence Avenue, Suite 208, Chicago, IL 60625 | (773) 583-9191 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Cicero | 1400 S. Austin Blvd, Cicero, IL 60804 | (708) 429-4031 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Family Focus Aurora | Cicero | 1500 S. 59th Court, 2nd Floor, Cicero, IL 60804 | (708) 652-0900 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| Alliance for Immigrant Neighbors | Des Plaines | P.O. Box 2581, Des Plaines, IL 60017 | (224) 443-0113 | 11/13/15 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Des Plaines | 1170 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 | (312) 427-7078 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy | Des Plaines | 701 Lee Street, Suite 700, Des Plaines, IL 60016 | (847) 824-0382 | 12/05/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford | Elgin | 33 N. Geneva Street, Elgin, IL 60120 | (815) 399-1709 | 03/19/93 | Active |
| Centro de Informacion | Elgin | 1885 Lin Lor Lane, Elgin, IL 60123 | (847) 695-9050 | 05/15/97 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Chicago Workers Collaborative | Elgin | 783 Highland Avenue, Elgin, IL 60123 | — | 04/04/24 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Chinese Mutual Aid Association | Elgin | 164 Division Street, Suite 305, Elgin, IL 60120 | (224) 227-7499 | 10/29/08 | Active |
| Partners for Our Communities | Hanover Park | 1515 Lake Street, Hanover Park, IL 60133 | — | 04/04/25 | Active |
| International Humanitarian Relief | Hickory Hills | 7667 W. 95th Street, Suite 105, Hickory Hills, IL 60457 | (708) 945-0798 | 07/17/20 | Active |
| North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic | Highland Park | 3500 Western Avenue, Suite 2A, Highland Park, IL 60035 | (847) 737-4042 | 04/11/16 | Active |
| Spanish Community Center | Joliet | 309 N. Eastern Avenue, Joliet, IL 60432 | (815) 727-3683 | 05/23/16 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Spanish Community Center | Kankakee | 187 S. Schuyler Ave., Suite 320, Kankakee, IL 60901 | (815) 955-5470 | 05/23/16 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA) | Lincolnwood | 7301 Lincoln Ave, Suite 202, Lincolnwood, IL 60712 | (773) 409-4597 | 02/19/13 | Active |
| Pregen, Inc. | Lombard | 55 W 22nd Street, Suite 230, Lombard, IL 60148 | (630) 915-7720 | 08/29/24 | Active |
| Western Illinois DREAMers | Macomb | 204 W Jefferson Street, Macomb, IL 61455 | (303) 877-7426 | 07/18/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Melrose Park | 1115 N. 23rd Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160 | (312) 427-7078 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| AKWAABA QC | Moline | 1531 47TH Avenue, Suite 2, Moline, IL 61265 | (309) 716-7437 | 11/05/25 | Active |
| World Relief | Moline | 1852 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265 | (309) 764-2279 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Mt. Prospect | 1166 S. Elmhurst Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056 | (847) 439-5195 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| The Immigration Project, Inc. | Normal | 211 Landmark Drive, Suite D4, Normal, IL 61761 | (309) 829-8703 | 09/29/17 | Active |
| Mano a Mano Family Resource Center | North Chicago | 1801 Sheridan Road, Suite 101, North Chicago, IL 60064 | (224) 538-7270 | 08/19/13 | Active |
| Partners for Our Communities | Palatine | 1585 Rand Road, Palatine, IL 60074 | (847) 776-9500 | 04/04/25 | Active |
| HANA Center | Prospect Heights | 664 N. Milwaukee Avenue, # 213, Prospect Heights, IL 60070 | (847) 520-1999 | 11/16/11 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford | Rockford | 1536 S Main Street, Rockford, IL 61102 | (815) 399-1709 | 03/19/93 | Active |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | 99 E. State Street, Rockford, IL 61104 | (815) 921-2272 | 11/09/11 | Active |
| Mano a Mano Family Resource Center | Round Lake Park | 6 E. Main Street, Round Lake Park, IL 60073 | (847) 201-1521 | 08/19/13 | Active |
| Jewish Child & Family Services | Skokie | 5150 Golf Road, Skokie, IL 60077 | (312) 357-4666 | 06/03/88 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Waukegan | The Community Center, 914 8th Street, Waukegan, IL 60085 | (847) 782-4225 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Chicago Workers Collaborative | Waukegan | 300 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 | — | 04/04/24 | Active (pending renewal) |
| The Hispanic American Community Education & Services / HACES | Waukegan | 820 West Greenwood Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60087 | (847) 244-0300 | 04/18/11 | Active |
| Alianza HispanoAmericana NFP, Inc. | West Dundee | 600 Spring Hill Ring Road, Suite 107, West Dundee, IL 60118 | (847) 428-3682 | 03/09/18 | Active |
| Alliance for Immigrant Neighbors | Westmont | 117 N. Cass Avenue, Westmont, IL 60559 | (224) 443-0113 | 11/13/15 | 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 Illinois — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Illinois
- Legal aid in Illinois — 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).