Free immigration legal help in New York — BIA-recognized organizations
This page lists every non-profit in New York 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 York
137 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for New York. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Communities Together | 127 West 127th Street, Suite 221, New York, NY 10027 | (347) 746-2281 | 02/21/20 | Active | |
| Catholic Migration Services | 47-01 Queens Boulevard, Suite 203, Sunnyside, NY 11104 | (347) 472-3500 | 06/26/25 | Active | |
| Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) | 1359 Broadway, Suite 810, New York, NY 10018 | (212) 967-4100 | 09/09/25 | Active | |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | 1 Park Place, Suite 202, Peekskill, NY 10566, Pittsford | (914) 402-2192 | 04/24/24 | Active | |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | 1 Civic Center Plaza, 5th Floor, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, Queens Village | (845) 471-0058 | 04/24/24 | Active | |
| Make the Road New York | 161 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10302 | (718) 727-1222 | 06/21/16 | Active | |
| Make the Road New York | 46 Waller Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 | (914) 948-0311 | 06/21/16 | Active | |
| My Sisters’ Place | 487 South Broadway, 2nd Floor, Yonkers, NY 10705, Neighbors Link Corp. d/b/a Neighbors Link Northern Westchester 03/02/16 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (914) 358-0333 | 08/09/24 | Active | |
| NALEO Educational Fund | 14 Wall Street, Suite 5E, New York, NY 10005 | (212) 546-2536 | 04/17/23 | Active | |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | 23-25 Spring Street, Suite 201, Ossining, NY 10562, Peekskill | (914) 666-3410 | 11/27/24 | Active | |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | — | 11/27/24 | Active | ||
| The New York Immigration Coalition | — | 11/27/24 | Active | ||
| CUNY Citizenship Now! | Albany | 1150 Carroll Street, Room 226, Brooklyn, NY 11225 | (646) 664-9400 | 08/26/10 | Active |
| CUNY Citizenship Now! | Albany | 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11451 | (646) 664-9400 | 08/26/10 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany | Albany | 40 North Main Avenue, Albany, NY 12203 | (518) 453-6650 | 11/01/01 | Active |
| Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) NY | Albany | 2000 Brentwood Road, Suite 200, Brentwood, NY 11717 | (613) 273-8721 | 05/24/16 | Active |
| Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) | Albany | 4101 8th Avenue, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232 | (718) 492-0409 | 10/09/24 | Active |
| Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. | Albany | 45 Ellicott Street, Suite 1, Batavia, NY 14020, Bellerose | (585) 524-1230 | 02/06/08 | Active |
| Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. | Albany | 59 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Binghamton, NY 13901, Brentwood | (607) 235-3202 | 06/02/09 | Active |
| Legal Services NYC | Albany | 29 Albany Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11216, Brooklyn, NY 11216 | (718) 347-5500 | 06/03/24 | Active |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | Albany | 550 Aaron Court, Kingston, NY 12401 | (845) 331-9373 | 04/24/24 | Active |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | Albany | 502 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, NY 10954 | (845) 476-3831 | 04/24/24 | Active |
| Literacy Solutions NY, Inc. | Albany | 63 New Main Street, Haverstraw, NY 10927, Hawthorne | (845) 499-5464 | 02/13/19 | Active |
| Make the Road New York | Albany | 1090 Suffolk Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717 | (631) 231-2220 | 06/21/16 | Active |
| Make the Road New York | Albany | 104-19 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, NY 11368, Dover Plains | (718) 565-8500 | 06/21/16 | Active |
| Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York | Albany | 41 State Street, Suite M112, Albany, NY 12207 | (518) 445-6050 | 05/01/20 | Active |
| Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York | Albany | 14 Lafayette Square, Suite 510, Buffalo, NY 14203 | (716) 844-8266 | 05/01/20 | Active |
| Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, Inc. | Albany | 715 Morris Street, Albany, NY 12208 | (518) 621-1041 | 05/26/21 | Active |
| Safe Horizon | Albany | 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451, Sanctuary for Families 02/06/02 06/17/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (718) 590-2371 | 03/25/93 | Active |
| Safe Horizon | Albany | 151-20 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432, Kingston | (718) 262-0202 | 03/25/93 | Active |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | Albany | — | 11/27/24 | Active | |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | Albany | — | 11/27/24 | Active | |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | Albany | — | 11/27/24 | Active | |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Albany | 99 Pine Street, Suite 101, Albany, NY 12207, Amityville | (518) 459-1790 | 04/06/07 | Active |
| Worker Justice Center of New York | Albany | 245 Saw Mill River Road, Suite 106, Hawthorne, NY 10532, Hempstead | (800) 724-7020 | 09/17/24 | Active |
| Worker Justice Center of New York | Albany | 9 Main Street, Kingston, NY 12401, Lackawanna | (845) 331-6615 | 09/17/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Long Island | Amityville | 143 Schleigel Blvd, Amityville, NY 11701, Astoria | (631) 789-5210 | 07/30/25 | Active |
| Center for the Integration & Advancement of New Americans | Astoria | 36-12 34th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Astoria, NY 11106 | — | 06/02/25 | Active |
| HANAC, Inc. | Astoria | 23-16 30th Avenue, Annex Building, Astoria, NY 11102, The Ansob Center for Refugees 10/08/10 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (212) 840-8005 | 02/19/25 | Active |
| Siddhartha Foundation Inc. | Bellerose | 250-14A Hillside Avenue, Ground Floor, Bellerose, NY 11426, Binghamton | (929) 922-0499 | 08/25/25 | Active |
| American Civic Association | Binghamton | 131 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905 | (607) 723-9419 | 05/27/25 | Active |
| Sisters of St. Joseph - Long Island Immigration Clinic | Brentwood | 164 Third Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717, Bronx | — | 09/11/23 | Active |
| BronxWorks | Bronx | 1130 Grand Concourse, Suite 3AL, Bronx, NY 10456, BronxWorks, East Tremont Avenue - Bronx Extension Office, 60 East Tremont Avenue, First Floor, Bronx, NY 10453, BronxWorks, Townsend Avenue - Bronx Extension Office, 1477 Townsend Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452, BronxWorks, Trinity Avenue - Bronx Extension Office, 890 Trinity Avenue, Basement Level, Bronx, NY 10456 | (718) 508-3089 | 11/18/19 | Active |
| DLA Immigration Aid Inc. | Bronx | 2825 Third Avenue, Suite 301, Bronx, NY 10455 | (347) 688-1519 | 02/14/25 | Active |
| Legal Services NYC-Bronx | Bronx | 349 East 149th Street, 10th Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 | (718) 928-3700 | 11/20/13 | Active |
| Mercy Center, Inc. | Bronx | 377 East 145th Street, Bronx, NY 10454, Mercy Center, Inc., East 149th Street Extension office, 332 East 149th Street, 8th Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 | (718) 942-9815 | 05/17/24 | Active |
| South Bronx United, Inc. | Bronx | 814 River Ave, Ste 2-3, Bronx, NY 10451, South Bronx United, Inc. | (718) 404-9281 | 03/13/15 | Active |
| The Bronx Defenders | Bronx | 360 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 | (718) 838-7878 | 02/13/24 | Active |
| Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Inc. | Bronx | 1384 Stratford Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472, Brooklyn | (718) 328-5622 | 05/07/21 | Active |
| Arab American Association of New York, Inc. | Brooklyn | 7111 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 | (718) 745-3523 | 08/26/14 | Active |
| Black Alliance for Just Immigration | Brooklyn | 1368 Fulton Street, Suite 311, Brooklyn, NY 11216 | (347) 464-5422 | 08/19/25 | Active |
| Brooklyn Chinese-American Association | Brooklyn | 5002 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220, Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, 5211 8th Avenue - Brooklyn Extension Office, 5211 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220 | (718) 765-1110 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| Brooklyn Defender Services | Brooklyn | 177 Livingston Street, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services – 180 Livingston Street Extension Office, 180 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services – Adams Street Extension Office, 335 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services - Community Extension Office, 566 Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services – Livingston Street 5th Floor Extension Office, 177 Livingston Street, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services – Montague Street Extension Office, 195 Montague Street, Basement 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services – Pierrepont Street Extension Office, 156 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | (718) 254-0700 | 02/28/13 | Active |
| Camba, Inc. | Brooklyn | 20 Snyder Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226 | (718) 940-6311 | 03/31/25 | Active |
| Catholic Migration Services | Brooklyn | 191 Joralemon Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | (718) 236-3000 | 06/26/25 | Active |
| Central American Legal Assistance | Brooklyn | 240 Hooper Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | (718) 486-6800 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Coney Island Avenue Communities Inc. | Brooklyn | 42 West Street, Suite 320, Brooklyn, NY 11222 | (917) 440-9002 | 11/26/24 | Active |
| Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn, Ltd. | Brooklyn | 8711 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214 | (718) 259-2828 | 05/01/15 | Active |
| Immigrant Hope - Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn | 6501 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220 | (718) 745-7702 | 05/06/11 | Active |
| Juan Neumann Center | Brooklyn | 545 60th Street, Suite 108, Brooklyn, NY 11220 | (718) 439-8160 | 09/16/25 | Active |
| Make the Road New York | Brooklyn | 301 Grove Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237 | (718) 418-7690 | 06/21/16 | Active |
| Mixteca Organization Inc. | Brooklyn | 245 23rd Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215 | (718) 965-4795 | 01/27/25 | Active |
| Safe Horizon | Brooklyn | 50 Court Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Shorefront YM-YWMA of Brighton Manhattan Beach, Inc. 05/07/10 09/24/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (718) 943-8632 | 03/25/93 | Active |
| South Side Community Mission, Inc./South Side Mission of Transfiguration Church | Brooklyn | 280 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | (718) 387-3803 | 12/18/79 | Active |
| United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn Inc. | Brooklyn | 32 Penn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249, Buffalo, Catholic Charities of Buffalo 06/29/11 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (718) 643-9700 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. | Buffalo | 438 Main Street, 7th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 847-0662 | 02/06/08 | Active |
| Jericho Road Ministries, Inc. | Buffalo | 184 Barton Street, Buffalo, NY 14213, Jericho Road Ministries, Inc., Main Street / Buffalo Extension Office, 1500 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, Jericho Road Ministries, Inc., West Ferry Street / Buffalo Extension Office, 248 West Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 | (716) 881-0539 | 06/02/17 | Active |
| Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. | Buffalo | 2495 Main Street, Suite 530, Buffalo, NY 14214, Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. | (716) 882-4963 | 06/02/09 | Active |
| Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. | Buffalo | 290 Main Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 853-9555 | 10/02/19 | Active |
| North Eastern Expansion Development | Dover Plains | 3042 Route 22, P.O. Box 100, Dover Plains, NY 12522, Elmhurst | (914) 466-4411 | 09/15/16 | Active |
| World Immigration Center | Elmhurst | 40-06 Case Street, 2nd Floor, Elmhurst, NY 11373, Flushing | (718) 429-6345 | 09/25/24 | Active |
| Dash Immigrant Services, Inc. | Flushing | 3640 Main Street, Suite 307B, Flushing, NY 11354 | (718) 864-1688 | 06/23/25 | Active |
| MinKwon Center for Community Action | Flushing | 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355, Forest Hills | (718) 460-5600 | 06/11/15 | Active |
| Queens Community House | Forest Hills | 108-25 62nd Drive, Forest Hills, NY 11375, Haverstraw | (718) 592-5757 | 09/11/12 | Active |
| Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) NY | Hempstead | 91 North Franklin Street, Suite 208, Hempstead, NY 11550, Immigrant Justice Corps 01/23/15 01/17/26* Active, (Pending Renewal), IJC/CARECEN Extension Office, 91 Franklin Street, Suite 208, Hempstead, NY 11550 | (516) 489-8330 | 05/24/16 | Active |
| Columbia County Sanctuary Movement | Hudson | 541 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534, Ithaca | (518) 303-3848 | 07/17/20 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga | Ithaca | 324 W. Buffalo Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 | (607) 272-5062 | 08/20/10 | Active |
| Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. | Jackson Heights | 950 Danby Road, Suite 160, Ithaca, NY 14850, Jackson Heights, La Victoria Foundation 09/05/23 09/05/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (607) 235-3202 | 06/02/09 | Active |
| ACCESS of WNY | Lackawanna | 609 Ridge Road, Suite 210, Lackawanna, NY 14218, Mt. Kisco, Neighbors Link Corp. d/b/a Neighbors Link Northern Westchester 03/02/16 04/03/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (716) 332-5901 | 11/13/24 | Active |
| African Hope Committee | New York | 441 Convent Avenue, Suite 4D, New York, NY 10031 | (212) 862-9010 | 05/05/25 | Active |
| African Services Committee | New York | 429 West 127th Street, New York, NY 10027 | (212) 222-3882 | 09/18/25 | Active |
| Aid for AIDS International Inc. | New York | 131 Varick Street, Suite 1006, New York, NY 10013 | (212) 337-8043 | 08/15/24 | Active |
| Association des Senegalais d’Amerique, ASA, Inc. | New York | 209 W. 116th Street, Suite 5, New York, NY 10026 | (212) 932-0900 | 09/22/25 | Active |
| Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT) | New York | Bellevue Hospital Center, 462 First Avenue, CD 744, New York, NY 10016 | (212) 562-8487 | 12/09/11 | Active |
| CUNY Citizenship Now! | New York | 5030 Broadway, Room H201, New York, NY 10034, CUNY Citizenship Now!, West 57th Street/ New York Extension Office, 555 West 57th Street, 11th Floor, Room 1147, New York, NY 10019 | (646) 644-9400 | 08/26/10 | Active |
| Cabrini Immigrant Services | New York | 701 Fort Washington Ave, New York, NY 10040 | (212) 791-4590 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Community Services | New York | 80 Maiden Lane, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10038 | (212) 419-3700 | 07/16/25 | Active |
| Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) | New York | 45 Suffolk Street, New York, NY 10002 | (212) 941-0030 | 10/09/24 | Active |
| Church World Service New York | New York | 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 700, New York, NY 10115 | (212) 870-2061 | 02/27/25 | Active |
| Co-Counsel NYC, Inc. | New York | 224 W 35th St, Ste 500 #269, New York, NY 10001 | (212) 946-3768 | 05/29/25 | Active |
| Congregation Beit Simchat Torah | New York | 130 West 30th Street, New York, NY 10001 | (212) 929-9498 | 05/21/24 | Active |
| Her Justice | New York | 100 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10005 | (212) 695-3800 | 01/05/16 | Active |
| Hispanic Federation Inc. | New York | 55 Exchange Place, Suite 501, New York, NY 10005 | (212) 233-8955 | 02/22/19 | Active |
| Human Rights First | New York | 75 Broad Street, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10004 | (212) 845-5200 | 06/20/12 | Active |
| Imigra Foundation LTD | New York | 12 East 41st Street, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10017, Immigrant Justice Corps 01/23/15 01/17/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (646) 590-2476 | 06/28/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Legal Aid Foundation | New York | 1740 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019 | (917) 647-2023 | 12/30/24 | Active |
| Immigration Law & Justice New York | New York | 475 Riverside Drive, #727, New York, NY 10115 | (212) 870-3785 | 06/04/25 | Active |
| International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) | New York | One Battery Park Plaza, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10004 | (516) 238-5195 | 02/25/25 | Active |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | New York | 122 East 42nd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10168-1289, International Rescue Committee, Inc., IRC - New York - West 38th Street Extension Office, 263 West 38th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10018 | (212) 377-4728 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement | New York | 10-25 41st Ave, New York, NY 11101 | (748) 784-7447 | 04/16/24 | Active |
| Legal Services NYC | New York | 40 Worth Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10013 | — | 06/03/24 | Active |
| Neighborhood Defender Service, Inc. | New York | 317 Lenox Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10027 | (212) 876-5500 | 11/06/15 | Active |
| New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project | New York | 116 Nassau Street, Third Floor, New York, NY 10038 | (212) 714-1184 | 01/07/16 | Active |
| Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR) | New York | 5030 Broadway, Suite 639, New York, NY 10034, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) 07/21/17 01/22/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (212) 781-0355 | 08/13/24 | Active |
| Project Rousseau | New York | 1560 Broadway #805, New York, NY 10036, Sanctuary for Families 02/06/02 06/17/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (917) 719-1060 | 12/10/24 | Active |
| The Center for Family Representation | New York | 40 Worth Street, Suite 605, New York, NY 10013 | (212) 691-0950 | 12/09/24 | Active |
| The Door - A Center of Alternatives | New York | 121 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 308, New York, NY 10013 | (212) 941-9090 | 04/03/20 | Active |
| The Legal Aid Society | New York | 49 Thomas Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10013 | (212) 577-3000 | 08/09/24 | Active |
| The New York Immigration Coalition | New York | 131 West 33rd Street, Floor 6, New York, NY 10001 | (212) 627-2227 | 11/27/24 | Active |
| The New York Legal Assistance Group | New York | 100 Pearl Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004 | (212) 613-5000 | 02/29/08 | Active |
| UnLocal, Inc. | New York | 45 West 29th Street, Suite 203, New York, NY 10001 | (646) 216-8210 | 03/02/16 | Active |
| Urban Justice Center | New York | 40 Rector Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 11206, Urban Justice Center | (646) 602-5607 | 05/18/18 | Active |
| Carol Cole Global Ventures Inc. | New York City | 244 5th Avenue, Suite 2774, New York City, NY 10001, Newburgh | (212) 301-2644 | 04/07/23 | Active |
| Saathi of Rochester, Inc. | Pittsford | 640 Kreag Road, Suite 202 Unit B2, Pittsford, NY 14534, Poughkeepsie | (585) 234-1050 | 06/05/08 | Active |
| DSI International Inc. | Queens Village | 214-51 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor, Queens Village, NY 11428, Rochester | (347) 257-4244 | 12/05/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Family and Community Services (CCFCS) | Rochester | 87 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604-1407 | (585) 546-7220 | 07/30/25 | Active |
| Enlace Services, Inc. | Rochester | 228 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14508 | (585) 201-8897 | 12/30/24 | Active |
| Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. | Rochester | 100 S Clinton Avenue, 24th Floor, Rochester, NY 14604, Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc. 07/06/05 07/30/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (716) 352-9818 | 06/02/09 | Active |
| Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach | Rochester | 414 Lexington Avenue, Rochester, NY 14613 | (585) 270-8626 | 05/30/19 | Active |
| New Hope Free Methodist Church | Rochester | 62 North Union Street, Rochester, NY 14607 | (585) 760-4328 | 11/23/18 | Active |
| Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services | Rochester | 393 Lexington Avenue, Rochester, NY 14613 | (585) 319-3134 | 02/21/25 | Active |
| Succor Immigration Services Inc. | Rochester | Center 4 Hope, 1301 Vintages Lane, Rochester, NY 14626 | (585) 507-0366 | 12/03/24 | Active |
| Worker Justice Center of New York | Rochester | 1187 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14609, Schenectady | (585) 430-5282 | 09/17/24 | Active |
| The Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project, Inc. | Schenectady | 204 Lafayette Street, Suite 2, Schenectady, NY 12305, Spring Valley, Konbit Neg Lakay, Inc. 09/28/23 09/20/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (518) 435-1770 | 11/25/14 | Active |
| Staten Island Community Job Center Inc. dba La Colmena | Staten Island | 774 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10302, Sunnyside | (718) 442-7700 | 04/07/25 | Active |
| Sunnyside Community Services, Inc. | Sunnyside | 43-31 39th Street, 2nd Floor, Sunnyside, NY 11104, Syracuse | (718) 784-6173 | 06/08/21 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Onondaga County | Syracuse | 527 N. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13208 | (315) 474-7428 | 08/14/12 | Active |
| Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society | Syracuse | 351 S. Warren Street, 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202 | (315) 422-8191 | 01/03/25 | Active |
| InterFaith Works of Central New York | Syracuse | 1010 James Street, Floor 1, Syracuse, NY 13203 | (315) 449-3552 | 07/13/18 | Active |
| Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc. | Syracuse | 221 S. Warren Street, Suite 200, Syracuse, NY 13202, Ulster Park | (315) 579-2576 | 12/09/24 | Active |
| Church Communities International | Ulster Park | 100 Maple Ridge Drive, Ulster Park, NY 12487, Utica | (845) 399-6680 | 08/15/24 | Active |
| Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, Inc. | Utica | 201 Bleecker Street, Utica, NY 13501, White Plains | (315) 738-1083 | 06/18/25 | Active |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | White Plains | 90 Maple Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601 | (914) 949-1305 | 04/24/24 | Active |
| My Sisters’ Place | White Plains | 3 Barker Avenue, 5th Floor, White Plains, NY 10601, Yonkers | (914) 683-1333 | 08/09/24 | Active |
| Bible Fellowship Pentecostal Assembly of New York, Inc. | Yonkers | 172 Elm Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 | (718) 324-3181 | 08/25/15 | Active |
| Empire Justice Center | Yonkers | 30 South Broadway, Suite 701E, Yonkers, NY 10701 | (914) 595-0910 | 12/17/24 | Active |
| Literacy Solutions NY, Inc. | Yonkers | Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, 2nd Floor, Yonkers, NY 10701 | (914) 375-7964 | 02/13/19 | 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 York — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of New York
- Legal aid in New York — 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 York
137 locations/organizations on record in New York. Always verify directly before visiting.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany
Albany - Prisoners' Legal Services of New York
Albany - Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, Inc.
Albany - The New York Immigration Coalition
Albany - U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Albany - Catholic Charities of Long Island
Albany - Center for the Integration & Advancement of New Americans
Albany - HANAC, Inc.
Albany - Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc.
Albany - Siddhartha Foundation Inc.
Albany - American Civic Association
Albany - Journey's End Refugee Services, Inc.
Albany - Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) NY
Albany - Make the Road New York
Albany - Sisters of St. Joseph - Long Island Immigration Clinic
Albany - BronxWorks
Albany - DLA Immigration Aid Inc.
Albany - Legal Services NYC-Bronx
Albany - Mercy Center, Inc.
Albany - Safe Horizon
Albany - South Bronx United, Inc.
Albany - The Bronx Defenders
Albany - Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Inc.
Albany - Arab American Association of New York, Inc.
Albany - Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Albany
…and 112 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 New York 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 New York?
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.
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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.