BIA-recognized immigration help in New Jersey — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in New Jersey 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 New Jersey
29 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for New Jersey. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden Center for Law and Social Justice | Atlantic City | 9 N. Georgia Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, Bloomfield | (856) 583-2950 | 07/03/25 | Active |
| Camden Center for Law and Social Justice | Atlantic City | 312 North Pearl Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302, Camden | (856) 583-2950 | 07/03/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen | Atlantic City | — | 03/05/25 | Active | |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen | Atlantic City | 700 Sayre Avenue, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, Plainfield | (732) 324-8200 | 03/05/25 | Active |
| Church World Service New York | Atlantic City | 591 Summit Avenue, Suite 300, Jersey City, NJ 07306 | (201) 659-0467 | 02/27/25 | Active |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Atlantic City | — | 02/23/96 | Active | |
| Word of Hope Inc. | Bloomfield | 299 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 201, Ofc 1, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, Bridgeton | (973) 283-5776 | 02/27/26 | Active |
| Camden Center for Law and Social Justice | Camden | 126 N. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Camden, NJ 08102, Camden Center for Law and Social Justice, State Street - Camden Extension Office, 509 State Street, Camden, NJ 08102, Cinnaminson | (856) 583-2950 | 07/03/25 | Active |
| Dream Alive Foundation of New Jersey | Cinnaminson | 101 Route 130 S, Adams Building Suite 106, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077, Clifton | (856) 314-8435 | 03/14/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Hope-Clifton NJ | Clifton | 45 Hazel Street, Clifton, NJ 07011, East Orange | (973) 928-4103 | 12/30/13 | Active |
| Vanessa’s Social Services and Multi-Services Inc. | East Orange | 134 Evergreen Place, Suite 504, East Orange, NJ 07018, Elizabeth | (862) 252-9232 | 02/11/25 | Active |
| Jefferson Park Ministries | Elizabeth | 70 W Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 | (908) 469-9508 | 09/17/12 | Active |
| Pro America Immigration Services, Corp | Elizabeth | 520 Westfield Avenue, Suite 207, Elizabeth, NJ 07208, Hackensack | (908) 469-4121 | 03/23/18 | Active |
| Alianza Hispana USA | Hackensack | 23 Fair Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, Hamilton | — | 02/13/25 | Active |
| Hope 4Immigrants a NJ Nonprofit Corporation | Hamilton | 3048 S. Broad Street, Suite B, Hamilton, NJ 08610, Highland Park | — | 08/11/25 | Active |
| Classis New Brunswick Community Development Corporation - DIRE Legal Services | Highland Park | 238 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904, Irvington, Christ Alive Christian Fellowship International Ministry Inc. (CACFIM) 09/15/17 02/13/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (201) 591-5348 | 07/08/21 | Active |
| Jersey City Division of Immigrant Affairs at the Department of Health and Human | Jersey City | 394 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306, Kendall Park | (201) 547-4328 | 08/21/20 | Active |
| National Association of New Americans, Inc. D/B/A NANA | Kendall Park | 1 Beekman Road, Suite 5, Kendall Park, NJ 08824, Mt. Holly | (315) 215-1500 | 01/28/25 | Active |
| Servicios Latinos de Burlington County, Inc. | Mt. Holly | 795 Woodlane Road, Box 10, 2nd Floor, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, New Brunswick | (609) 518-7171 | 03/11/15 | Active |
| Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County | New Brunswick | 219C Blackhorse Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08902 | (732) 777-1940 | 03/07/25 | Active |
| Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB) | New Brunswick | 754 Route 18N, Suite 202, New Brunswick, NJ 08816, Newark | (732) 828-4510 | 11/16/12 | Active |
| American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program | Newark | 89 Market Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark 06/22/76 09/19/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (973) 643-1924 | 08/11/25 | Active |
| Juntos Por Venezuela - EEUU A NJ Nonprofit Corporation | North Bergen | 7704 Kennedy Boulevard, Store 2, North Bergen, NJ 07047, Orange | (646) 727-5553 | 02/27/25 | Active |
| LANBI Center for Humanities and Civics, Inc. | Orange | 35-47 Cleveland Street, Orange, NJ 07050, Paterson | (908) 625-3121 | 09/04/24 | Active |
| IACO Immigration and American Citizenship Organization | Paterson | 301 Main Street, Suite 401, Paterson, NJ 07505, Perth Amboy | (973) 472-4648 | 02/28/06 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen | Perth Amboy | 319 Maple Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, Phillipsburg | (732) 324-8200 | 03/05/25 | Active |
| El Centro Hispanoamericano | Plainfield | 525 E. Front Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060, Trenton | (908) 753-8730 | 09/10/25 | Active |
| El Centro de Recursos para familias of Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton | Trenton | 327 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08608, Latin American Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. 07/24/13 02/20/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (609) 394-2056 | 03/16/11 | Active |
| Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey | Trenton | 189 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08601, Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey | (609) 393-4900 | 05/16/90 | 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 New Jersey — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of New Jersey
- Legal aid in New Jersey — 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).