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Free immigration legal help in Michigan — BIA-recognized organizations

Directory of 26 BIA-recognized non-profits in Michigan authorized by DOJ to provide low-cost or free immigration legal representation.

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Free immigration legal help in Michigan — BIA-recognized organizations

This page lists every non-profit in Michigan 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 Michigan

26 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Michigan. These non-profits are authorized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration legal representation at low or no cost.

OrganizationCityAddressPhoneRecognizedStatus
Adrian Dominican Sisters Immigration AssistanceAdrian1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI 49221, Ann Arbor(517) 266-344802/07/24Active
Immigrant Assistance Center of West MichiganAdrian100 Pine Street, Suite 105, Zeeland, MI 49464(616) 317-706304/25/24Active
Immigration Law & Justice MichiganAdrian20000 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025, Dearborn(248) 267-895911/12/19Active
Immigration Law & Justice MichiganAdrian212 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007(269) 743-250111/12/19Active
Immigration Law & Justice MichiganAdrian222 Cass Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, Troy(231) 620-110011/12/19Active
Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterAdrian7700 Second Avenue, Suite 603, Detroit, MI 48202(734) 239-686306/27/13Active
Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterAdrian1500 East Beltline Avenue SE, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49506(616) 827-408006/27/13Active
Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterAdrian15 S. Washington Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, Zeeland(269) 492-719606/27/13Active
Michigan UnitedAdrian4405 Wesson Street, Detroit, MI 482102416, Fraser(877) 504-777401/02/14Active
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County (JFSWC)Ann Arbor2245 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, Beverly Hills(734) 769-020908/04/14Active
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social ServicesDearborn2651 Saulino Court, Dearborn, MI 48120, Detroit(313) 842-701008/20/87Active
Community Health and Social Services, Inc. (CHASS)Detroit5635 W. Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48209, Freedom House Detroit 03/24/23 03/24/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(313) 849-392010/23/12Active
International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc.Detroit111 East Kirby Street, Detroit, MI 48202(313) 871-860005/21/25Active
Macomb Immigrant Service Center (MISC)Fraser16646 15 Mile Road, Fraser, MI 48026, Grand Rapids(586) 484-903803/16/11Active
Diocese of Grand Rapids Immigration Legal ServicesGrand Rapids123 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503(615) 551-474612/20/24Active
Immigration Law & Justice MichiganGrand Rapids207 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503(616) 301-746111/12/19Active
Monarch Immigration Legal ServicesGrand Rapids574 S. Division Avenue, Suite 2A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Samaritas 03/19/92 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(616) 855-056302/20/15Active
Immigrant Assistance Center of West MichiganGrandville4301 Canal Avenue, Suite 201, Grandville, MI 49418, Hart(616) 259-028904/25/24Active
Immigrant Connection at Hart Wesleyan ChurchHart3757 W Polk Road, Hart, MI 49420, Holland(231) 873-083212/20/24Active
Lighthouse Immigrant AdvocatesHolland412 W 24th Street, Holland, MI 49423, Kalamazoo(616) 298-898411/04/24Active
Catholic Charities Diocese of KalamazooKalamazoo1819 Gull Road Kalamazoo, MI 49048, Kalamazoo, MI 49048(269) 381-980011/14/24Active
Farmworker Legal ServicesKalamazoo350 East Michigan Avenue, Suite 310, Kalamazoo, MI 49007(269) 492-719012/06/24Active
Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterKalamazoo350 E. Michigan Avenue, Suite 315, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, YWCA of Kalamazoo Michigan 08/30/23 08/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(734) 239-686306/27/13Active
Immigrant Connection at Kentwood Community ChurchKentwood1200 60th St SE, Kentwood, MI 49508, Lansing(616) 455-174012/06/24Active
Michigan Immigrant Rights CenterPontiac15851 Old U.S. 27, Suite 73, Lansing, MI 48906, Pontiac, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan 09/12/23 09/12/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(734) 239-686306/27/13Active
Chaldean American Ladies of CharityTroy2033 Austin Drive, Troy, MI 48083, Samaritas 03/19/92 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(248) 528-013006/24/25Active

How to verify and contact a BIA-recognized organization

  1. Confirm current status at the EOIR roster — recognition can be withdrawn, and the roster is updated quarterly.
  2. Call ahead to check service availability — many orgs have waitlists, especially for asylum and removal-defense cases.
  3. Ask about fees before signing a representation agreement. Free or sliding-fee is standard.
  4. Bring all USCIS notices + photo ID to your intake appointment.
  5. 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.

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 Michigan

26 locations/organizations on record in Michigan. Always verify directly before visiting.

  • Adrian Dominican Sisters Immigration Assistance
    Adrian
  • Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County (JFSWC)
    Adrian
  • Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
    Adrian
  • Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services
    Adrian
  • Community Health and Social Services, Inc. (CHASS)
    Adrian
  • International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc.
    Adrian
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
    Adrian
  • Michigan United
    Adrian
  • Macomb Immigrant Service Center (MISC)
    Adrian
  • Diocese of Grand Rapids Immigration Legal Services
    Adrian
  • Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
    Adrian
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
    Adrian
  • Monarch Immigration Legal Services
    Adrian
  • Immigrant Assistance Center of West Michigan
    Adrian
  • Immigrant Connection at Hart Wesleyan Church
    Adrian
  • Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
    Adrian
  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo
    Adrian
  • Farmworker Legal Services
    Adrian
  • Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
    Adrian
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
    Adrian
  • Immigrant Connection at Kentwood Community Church
    Adrian
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
    Adrian
  • Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
    Adrian
  • Chaldean American Ladies of Charity
    Adrian
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
    Adrian

…and 1 more.

Frequently asked questions

What is BIA recognition?
BIA recognition is authorization from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Board of Immigration Appeals for a non-profit organization to provide immigration legal representation. Once recognized, the organization can have BIA-accredited representatives (non-attorneys) provide legal services for free or for nominal fees. BIA-recognized organizations are listed publicly in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster, updated quarterly.
How is a BIA-recognized organization different from an immigration attorney?
Attorneys are licensed by state bars and can practice all areas of law. BIA-recognized organizations are non-profits whose accredited representatives (Full or Partial Accreditation) can practice ONLY immigration law before USCIS, EOIR (immigration courts), and the BIA. Recognized orgs are typically much cheaper or free. Full Accreditation allows representation in immigration court hearings; Partial only allows USCIS filings.
How do I know if a Michigan organization is currently BIA-recognized?
Search the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports. Confirm the organization name AND check the ‘Status’ column for ‘Active’ (vs. Pending Renewal, Provisional, or Expired). The roster is updated quarterly; this page lists the orgs as of the most recent published roster.
Is BIA-recognized legal help really free in Michigan?
Many BIA-recognized organizations offer truly free representation for low-income clients; others charge a sliding-fee scale (e.g., $50-$500) based on income. Federal law allows recognized non-profits to charge ’nominal fees’ but prohibits standard attorney-level billing. Always confirm fees BEFORE signing a representation agreement.

Major federal procedures

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Finances for immigrants

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.