BIA-recognized immigration help in North Carolina — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in North Carolina 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 North Carolina
44 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for North Carolina. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte | Asheville | 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 | (828) 255-0146 | 05/15/96 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte | Asheville | — | 05/15/96 | Active | |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Asheville | 2020 Chapel Hill Drive, Suite 30, Durham, NC 27707 | (919) 286-1964 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Asheville | 726 Ramsey Street, Suites 10 and 11, Fayetteville, NC 28301, Gastonia | (910) 424-2020 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Asheville | 5101 Ocean Highway West, South Brunswick, NC 28470, Southern Pines | (910) 754-8544 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Asheville | 20 North 4th Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, NC 28401 | (910) 251-8130 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Church World Service NC | Asheville | — | 09/04/15 | Active | |
| Church World Service NC | Asheville | 330 S Greene Street, 2nd Floor, Greensboro, NC 27401 | (336) 676-4223 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| Church World Service NC | Asheville | 1403 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, Winston-Salem | (910) 726-3014 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| Council on Immigrant Relations | Asheville | 416 East Sycamore Street, Lincolnton, NC 28093, Marshall | (980) 284-2011 | 05/21/13 | Active |
| Hispanic Federation Inc. | Asheville | 601 E. 5th Street, Suite 330-C, Charlotte, NC 28202 | (787) 417-7700 | 02/22/19 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Asheville | 62A Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801, Pisgah Legal Services | (828) 253-0406 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Asheville | 221 S. Gaston Street, Brevard, NC 28712, Burlington | (800) 489-6144 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Asheville | 302 W. U.S. Hwy 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714, Carrboro | (828) 253-0406 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Asheville | 103 S Grove Street, #5050, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Pisgah Legal Services | (828) 693-3840 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Asheville | 169 N. Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139, South Brunswick | (828) 247-0297 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| World Relief | Asheville | — | 09/25/24 | Active | |
| World Relief | Asheville | — | 09/25/24 | Active | |
| World Relief | Asheville | — | 09/25/24 | Active | |
| Immigrant Connection of the High Country | Boone | 130 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, NC 28607, Brevard | (828) 278-9302 | 12/18/24 | Active |
| Refugee Support Center | Carrboro | 401 NC 54 Bypass, E15, Carolina Apts. Office Building, Carrboro, NC 27510, Charlotte | (919) 423-1478 | 03/29/24 | Active |
| Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency | Charlotte | 5009 Monroe Road, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28205 | (704) 535-8803 | 08/31/10 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte | Charlotte | 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 | (704) 370-3228 | 05/15/96 | Active |
| Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy | Charlotte | 1431 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 | (704) 971-2621 | 08/25/15 | Active |
| International House of Metrolina, Inc. | Charlotte | 1611 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204, International House of Metrolina, Inc. | (704) 333-8099 | 08/27/08 | Active |
| Latin American Coalition | Charlotte | 4938 Central Avenue, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28205, Legal Aid of North Carolina 07/01/16 11/12/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (704) 531-3848 | 01/17/08 | Active |
| ViaLegal Immigration | Charlotte | 3117 Whiting Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205, Durham | (704) 965-7766 | 07/21/25 | Active |
| Church World Service NC | Durham | 504 West Chapel Hill Street, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27701, 504 West Chapel Hill Street/Durham NC Extension Office, 504 West Chapel Hill Street, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27701, InStepp Inc. 10/03/16 03/12/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (919) 680-4310 | 09/04/15 | Active |
| Unidos We Stand | Gastonia | 514 S Union Road, Suite B, Gastonia, NC 28054, Greensboro, Center of the Cross, Corp. 07/18/23 07/18/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (704) 572-4412 | 08/05/24 | Active |
| Elon University Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic | Greensboro | 201 N. Greene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | (336) 279-9299 | 03/09/11 | Active |
| Jalloh’s Upright Services of North Carolina | Greensboro | 122 North Elm Street, Suite 512, Greensboro, NC 27401 | (336) 265-3190 | 12/09/24 | Active |
| North Carolina African Services Coalition, Inc. | Greensboro | 122 N. Elm Street, Suite 1010, Greensboro, NC 27401 | (336) 574-2677 | 07/14/25 | Active |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | 915 West Gate City Boulevard, Suite A, Greensboro, NC 27403, Greenville | (336) 256-1062 | 08/08/14 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Hendersonville | 1746 Union Street, Greenville, NC 27834, Hendersonville, Latino Advocacy Coalition of Henderson County 06/08/23 06/08/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (919) 861-7441 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Centro Latino - Catawba County Hispanic Ministry | Hickory | 2259 12th Avenue N.E., Hickory, NC 28601, Centro Latino - Catawba County Hispanic Ministry | (828) 330-0477 | 06/01/07 | Active |
| RazomUS, nonprofit corporation | Indian Trail | 305 Post Office Drive, Unit 4, Indian Trail, NC 28079, Kernersville, Holy Cross Catholic Church Ministerio Hispano 12/07/06 09/24/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (980) 310-7502 | 05/06/24 | Active |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Newton Grove | 32 North Main Street, Marshall, NC 28752, Newton Grove, Episcopal Farmworker Ministry 04/01/97 02/28/26* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (828) 210-3788 | 12/05/11 | Active |
| RazomUS, nonprofit corporation | Pineville | P.O. Box 820, Pineville, NC 28134, Raleigh | — | 05/06/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | Raleigh | 7200 Stonehenge Drive, Raleigh, NC 27613, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh | (984) 900-3114 | 08/18/01 | Active |
| Council on Immigrant Relations | Raleigh | 2809 Spring Forest Road, Suite 103, Raleigh, NC 27616 | (919) 322-0360 | 05/21/13 | Active |
| Immigration Resources of NC, Inc. | Raleigh | 1712 E Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609, Legal Aid of North Carolina 07/01/16 11/12/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (919) 624-1688 | 01/16/25 | Active |
| MAS Immigrant Justice Center | Raleigh | P.O. Box 37219, Raleigh, NC 27627, MAS Immigrant Justice Center | (919) 345-8105 | 01/26/10 | Active |
| Union Central Comunitaria.Org | Raleigh | 1512 Garner Road, Raleigh, NC 27610, Union Central Comunitaria.Org | (919) 798-7191 | 11/22/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Hope-Sandhills | Southern Pines | 6481 US Hwy 1 North, Southern Pines, NC 28387, Wilmington | (910) 556-1326 | 11/09/20 | 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 North Carolina — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of North Carolina
- Legal aid in North Carolina — 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).