Free immigration legal help in New Jersey — BIA-recognized 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).
BIA-recognized immigration help in New Jersey
29 locations/organizations on record in New Jersey. Always verify directly before visiting.
- Camden Center for Law and Social Justice
Atlantic City - Word of Hope Inc.
Atlantic City - Camden Center for Law and Social Justice
Atlantic City - Camden Center for Law and Social Justice
Atlantic City - Dream Alive Foundation of New Jersey
Atlantic City - Immigrant Hope-Clifton NJ
Atlantic City - Vanessa's Social Services and Multi-Services Inc.
Atlantic City - International Rescue Committee, Inc.
Atlantic City - Jefferson Park Ministries
Atlantic City - Pro America Immigration Services, Corp
Atlantic City - Alianza Hispana USA
Atlantic City - Hope 4Immigrants a NJ Nonprofit Corporation
Atlantic City - Classis New Brunswick Community Development Corporation - DIRE Legal Services
Atlantic City - Church World Service New York
Atlantic City - Jersey City Division of Immigrant Affairs at the Department of Health and Human
Atlantic City - National Association of New Americans, Inc. D/B/A NANA
Atlantic City - Servicios Latinos de Burlington County, Inc.
Atlantic City - Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen
Atlantic City - Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County
Atlantic City - Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB)
Atlantic City - American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program
Atlantic City - Juntos Por Venezuela - EEUU A NJ Nonprofit Corporation
Atlantic City - LANBI Center for Humanities and Civics, Inc.
Atlantic City - IACO Immigration and American Citizenship Organization
Atlantic City - Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen
Atlantic City
…and 4 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 New Jersey organization is currently BIA-recognized?
Is BIA-recognized legal help really free in New Jersey?
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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.