BIA-recognized immigration help in Massachusetts — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
46 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Massachusetts. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Allston | 640 Washington Street, Suite 203, Brighton, MA 02135, Brockton | (617) 903-3640 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Allston | 110 Claybourne Street, Dorchester, MA 02124, East Boston | (617) 288-2700 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Allston | 30 Bickford Street, Lower Level, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 | (617) 522-4250 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Allston | 11 Dartmouth Street, Suite 104, Malden, MA 02148 | (781) 321-2501 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Allston | 535 River Street, Mattapan, MA 02136 | (617) 298-2045 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| Ascentria Community Services, Inc. | Allston | 425 Union Street, Floor D, Suite 33, West Springfield, MA 01089, Westford | (413) 562-6015 | 09/11/12 | Active |
| Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) | Allston | 170 High Street, Waltham, MA 02453 | (617) 492-8306 | 05/29/25 | Active |
| Brazilian Worker Center | Allston | 14 Harvard Ave., 2nd Floor, Allston, MA 02134, Amherst, Center for New Americans 01/24/14 02/25/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (617) 783-8001 | 05/05/25 | Active |
| Global Empowerment Services, Inc. (GEMS) | Allston | 356 Broad Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Framingham | (978) 479-3678 | 05/30/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Family Services Institute | Allston | 14-18 Mountain Avenue, Malden, MA 02148, Mattapan | (617) 322-1348 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| International Institute of New England | Allston | 101 Jackson Street, Suite 2, Lowell, MA 01852, New American Association of Massachusetts, Inc. 09/01/16 03/12/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (978) 459-9031 | 01/10/25 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Boston | 554 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, Casa Myrna Vazquez, Inc. 11/20/23 11/20/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (617) 267-7400 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| International Institute of New England | Boston | 2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116 | (617) 695-9990 | 01/10/25 | Active |
| Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition | Boston | 69 Canal Street #3, Boston, MA 02114 | (617) 350-5480 | 07/25/12 | Active |
| Project Citizenship | Boston | 11 Beacon Street, Suite 1210, Boston, MA 02108, Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center 08/25/23 08/25/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (617) 694-5949 | 06/16/15 | Active |
| Social Transformation Center/ALPHA Immigrant Center | Boston | 62 Northampton Street, Suite H101, Boston, MA 02118, Social Transformation Center/ALPHA Immigrant Center, White Street - Boston Extension Office, 70 White Street, Boston, MA 02128 | (617) 522-6383 | 12/23/13 | Active |
| The Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts | Boston | 138 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111, Brighton | (617) 482-5800 | 01/08/21 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection - New England | Brockton | 38 Mystic St., Brockton, MA 02302 | (508) 583-0219 | 02/03/26 | Active |
| Immigrant Family Services Institute | Burlington | 863 Crescent Street, Brockton, MA 02302, Burlington, Chris Foundation, Inc. 02/27/24 02/27/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (508) 638-4787 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) | Cambridge | 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 | (617) 492-8306 | 05/29/25 | Active |
| De Novo | Cambridge | 47 Thorndike Street, Suite SB-LL-1, Cambridge, MA 02050 | (617) 661-1010 | 08/28/12 | Active |
| Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) | Cambridge | 1046 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, Open Door Immigration Services 06/09/17 12/09/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (617) 864-7600 | 08/18/15 | Active |
| HarborCOV | Chelsea | 148 Shawmut Street, Chelsea, MA 02150, Dorchester | (617) 884-9799 | 12/27/07 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | East Boston | 21 Meridian Street, East Boston, MA 02128, East Boston Community Council 04/14/99 07/31/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (617) 567-8857 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River | Fall River | 1600 Bay Street, Fall River, MA 02724, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River | (508) 674-4681 | 03/16/98 | Active |
| Metrowest Legal Services, Inc. | Framingham | 1671 Worcester Road, Suite 203, Framingham, MA 01701, Greenfield, Center for New Americans 01/24/14 02/25/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (508) 620-1830 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands, Inc. | Hyannis | 372 North Street, Hyannis, MA 02601, Jamaica Plain | (508) 771-1727 | 04/30/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection at Awaken City Church | Jamaica Plain | 184 Hyde Park Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, Lawrence | (617) 535-3139 | 12/16/24 | Active |
| Lawrence Family Development, Inc. d/b/a Lawrence Prospera | Lawrence | 404 Haverhill Street, Lawrence, MA 01841, Merrimack Valley Immigrant and Education Center 11/17/17 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (978) 224-8808 | 07/10/13 | Active |
| Centerboard, Inc. | Lynn | 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901, New American Association of Massachusetts, Inc. 09/01/16 03/12/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (781) 598-9417 | 01/13/26 | Active |
| Immigrant Family Services Institute | Mattapan | 1626 Blue Hills Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126, New Bedford | (617) 332-1348 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| Community Economic Development Center of SE MA (CEDC) | New Bedford | 235 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02746 | (508) 979-4684 | 03/24/15 | Active |
| Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Inc. | New Bedford | 58 Crapo Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, North Dartmouth | (508) 996-8113 | 06/23/14 | Active |
| University of Massachusetts - School of Law at Dartmouth Immigration Law Clinic | North Dartmouth | 333 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, Northampton, Center for New Americans 01/24/14 02/25/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (508) 985-1174 | 11/09/05 | Active |
| Safe Passage Inc. | Northampton | 76 Carlon Drive, Northampton, MA 01060, Pittsfield | (413) 586-1125 | 02/25/20 | Active |
| Berkshire Immigrant Center | Pittsfield | 141 North Street, Suite 303, Pittsfield, MA 01201, Roxbury | (413) 445-4881 | 02/07/14 | Active |
| ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC | Roxbury | 714 Parker Street, Roxbury, MA 02120, South Boston | (617) 445-6000 | 05/02/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston | South Boston | 275 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, Springfield | (617) 464-8100 | 03/19/07 | Active |
| Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts | Springfield | 15 Lenox Street, Springfield, MA 01108, Waltham | (413) 737-2601 | 07/10/12 | Active |
| Action for Good Governance (AGG) | Waltham | 24 Crescent Street, Suite 401C, Waltham, MA 02453 | (617) 955-3552 | 02/26/26 | Active |
| The Right To Immigration Institute, Inc. | Waltham | 14B Felton Street, Waltham, MA 02453, West Springfield | (781) 891-6689 | 02/02/18 | Active |
| The Diaspora Circle Inc. | Westford | 234 Littleton Road, Suite Unit 1B, Westford, MA 01886, Worcester | (978) 295-1483 | 03/13/25 | Active |
| African Community Education Program (ACE) Inc. | Worcester | 51 Gage Street, Worcester, MA 01605 | (508) 459-2284 | 07/05/21 | Active |
| Ascentria Community Services, Inc. | Worcester | 11 Shattuck Street, Worcester, MA 01605 | (774) 243-3021 | 09/11/12 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Worcester County | Worcester | 10 Hammond Street, Worcester, MA 01610 | (508) 798-0191 | 09/02/25 | Active |
| Global Empowerment Services, Inc. (GEMS) | Worcester | 48 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609, Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center 08/25/23 08/25/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (978) 479-3678 | 05/30/24 | 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 Massachusetts — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Massachusetts
- Legal aid in Massachusetts — 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).