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
63 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Illinois. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Immigrant Neighbors | Aurora | 117 N. Cass Avenue, Westmont, IL 60559 | (224) 443-0113 | 11/13/15 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Aurora | 1400 S. Austin Blvd, Cicero, IL 60804 | (708) 429-4031 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Aurora | 1170 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 | (312) 427-7078 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Aurora | 1115 N. 23rd Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160, Moline | (312) 427-7078 | 05/09/25 | Active |
| Chinese Mutual Aid Association | Aurora | 164 Division Street, Suite 305, Elgin, IL 60120, Hanover Park | (224) 227-7499 | 10/29/08 | Active |
| Family Focus Aurora | Aurora | 1444 N Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505 | (630) 256-7017 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| Family Focus Aurora | Aurora | 4878 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 | (773) 276-0940 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| Family Focus Aurora | Aurora | 1500 S. 59th Court, 2nd Floor, Cicero, IL 60804, Des Plaines | (708) 652-0900 | 02/23/11 | Active |
| HANA Center | Aurora | 664 N. Milwaukee Avenue, # 213, Prospect Heights, IL 60070, Rockford | (847) 520-1999 | 11/16/11 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Aurora | 2900 N Main Street, 1st Floor, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089, Carol Stream | (847) 393-7488 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Aurora | 5008 N Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 | (773) 478-8851 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy | Aurora | 701 Lee Street, Suite 700, Des Plaines, IL 60016, Elgin | (847) 824-0382 | 12/05/24 | Active |
| Mano a Mano Family Resource Center | Aurora | 1801 Sheridan Road, Suite 101, North Chicago, IL 60064, Palatine | (224) 538-7270 | 08/19/13 | Active |
| Partners for Our Communities | Aurora | 1585 Rand Road, Palatine, IL 60074, Prospect Heights | (847) 776-9500 | 04/04/25 | Active |
| The Immigration Project, Inc. | Aurora | 409 Devonshire Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 | (217) 693-4920 | 09/29/17 | Active |
| Vietnamese Association of Illinois | Aurora | 640 East Saint Charles Road, Suite 203, Carol Stream, IL 60188 | (630) 580-9438 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| World Relief | Aurora | 6925 West Cermak Road, Berwyn, IL 60406, Bolingbrook | (847) 596-7491 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| World Relief | Aurora | — | 09/25/24 | Active | |
| World Relief | Aurora | — | 09/25/24 | Active | |
| World Relief | Aurora | 1852 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265, Mt. Prospect | (309) 764-2279 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project | Bolingbrook | 101 Royce Road, Suite 12, Bolingbrook, IL 60440, Buffalo Grove | (630) 296-6755 | 02/07/25 | Active |
| YMCA of the University of Illinois | Champaign | 1001 South Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820, Chicago | (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, Ascend Justice | (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, Chinese American Service League 04/28/95 05/24/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (312) 722-6642 | 09/10/25 | Active |
| Chinese Mutual Aid Association | Chicago | 1016 W. Argyle Street, Chicago, IL 60640, Community Help Center Muslim Women Resource Center 05/28/13 12/20/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (773) 784-2900 | 10/29/08 | Active |
| Erie Neighborhood House | Chicago | 1634 W Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60612, Erie Neighborhood House, 4225 W. 25th Street Extension Office, 4225 W. 25th Street, Chicago, IL 60623 | (773) 542-7617 | 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 |
| 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 |
| Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) | Chicago | 228 South Wabash, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60604, Indo-American Center 08/25/23 08/25/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (312) 332-7360 | 11/24/15 | Active |
| 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, National Immigrant Justice Center 11/21/80 07/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (773) 384-4370 | 04/06/16 | Active |
| Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors | Chicago | 77 West Washington Street, Suite 814, Chicago, IL 60602, Polish American Association 01/25/95 10/04/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (773) 909-1672 | 01/16/25 | Active |
| 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 |
| 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 Diocese of Rockford | Elgin | 33 N. Geneva Street, Elgin, IL 60120, Centro de Informacion 05/15/97 07/23/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (815) 399-1709 | 03/19/93 | Active |
| Partners for Our Communities | Hanover Park | 1515 Lake Street, Hanover Park, IL 60133, Hickory Hills | — | 04/04/25 | Active |
| International Humanitarian Relief | Hickory Hills | 7667 W. 95th Street, Suite 105, Hickory Hills, IL 60457, Highland Park | (708) 945-0798 | 07/17/20 | Active |
| North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic | Highland Park | 3500 Western Avenue, Suite 2A, Highland Park, IL 60035, Joliet, Spanish Community Center 05/23/16 12/23/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (847) 737-4042 | 04/11/16 | Active |
| Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA) | Lincolnwood | 7301 Lincoln Ave, Suite 202, Lincolnwood, IL 60712, Lombard | (773) 409-4597 | 02/19/13 | Active |
| Pregen, Inc. | Lombard | 55 W 22nd Street, Suite 230, Lombard, IL 60148, Macomb | (630) 915-7720 | 08/29/24 | Active |
| Western Illinois DREAMers | Macomb | 204 W Jefferson Street, Macomb, IL 61455, Melrose Park | (303) 877-7426 | 07/18/24 | Active |
| AKWAABA QC | Moline | 1531 47TH Avenue, Suite 2, Moline, IL 61265 | (309) 716-7437 | 11/05/25 | Active |
| Hanul Family Alliance | Mt. Prospect | 1166 S. Elmhurst Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056, Normal | (847) 439-5195 | 07/27/11 | Active |
| The Immigration Project, Inc. | Normal | 211 Landmark Drive, Suite D4, Normal, IL 61761, North Chicago | (309) 829-8703 | 09/29/17 | 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, Round Lake Park | (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, Skokie, Jewish Child & Family Services 06/03/88 08/14/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (847) 201-1521 | 08/19/13 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Waukegan | 300 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 | — | 05/09/25 | Active |
| The Hispanic American Community Education & Services / HACES | Waukegan | 820 West Greenwood Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60087, West Dundee | (847) 244-0300 | 04/18/11 | Active |
| Alianza HispanoAmericana NFP, Inc. | West Dundee | 600 Spring Hill Ring Road, Suite 107, West Dundee, IL 60118, Westmont | (847) 428-3682 | 03/09/18 | 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: 2026-05-27. 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 granted for 3 years initially; renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,256 recognized organizations operate 1,420 offices nationwide, with 5,800+ accredited representatives across Full Accreditation (court representation) and Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
BIA-recognized organizations cannot charge attorney-level fees but may charge “nominal fees” — typically defined by EOIR as covering only direct costs (printing, postage, document preparation). Most organizations charge $0-$200 for full representation in routine cases (USCIS filings, defensive asylum hearings). Compare to private immigration attorney fees: $1,500-$5,000 for asylum cases, $2,500-$8,000 for cancellation of removal, $1,500-$3,000 for adjustment of status.
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.
IMMI Help Line: 1-866-787-6111 (Immigrant Justice Network, free Spanish/English) Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).