Free immigration legal help in Massachusetts — BIA-recognized 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).
BIA-recognized immigration help in Massachusetts
46 locations/organizations on record in Massachusetts. Always verify directly before visiting.
- Brazilian Worker Center
Allston - ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC
Allston - International Institute of New England
Allston - Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
Allston - Project Citizenship
Allston - Social Transformation Center/ALPHA Immigrant Center
Allston - The Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Allston - ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC
Allston - Immigrant Connection - New England
Allston - Immigrant Family Services Institute
Allston - Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC)
Allston - De Novo
Allston - Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS)
Allston - HarborCOV
Allston - ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC
Allston - ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC
Allston - Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River
Allston - Global Empowerment Services, Inc. (GEMS)
Allston - Metrowest Legal Services, Inc.
Allston - Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands, Inc.
Allston - ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway NSC
Allston - Immigrant Connection at Awaken City Church
Allston - Lawrence Family Development, Inc. d/b/a Lawrence Prospera
Allston - International Institute of New England
Allston - Centerboard, Inc.
Allston
…and 21 more.
Frequently asked questions
What is BIA recognition?
How is a BIA-recognized organization different from an immigration attorney?
How do I know if a Massachusetts organization is currently BIA-recognized?
Is BIA-recognized legal help really free in Massachusetts?
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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.