BIA-recognized immigration help in Ohio — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Ohio 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 Ohio
20 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Ohio, as of the roster published April 20, 2026. 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 Corp., Diocese of Cleveland | Akron | Blessed Trinity Parish, 300 East Tallmadge Avenue, Akron, OH 44310 | (216) 939-3769 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| International Institute of Akron | Akron | 530 S. Main Street, Suite 1762, Akron, OH 44311 | (330) 376-5106 | 07/01/58 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Logistic Assistance for Migrant People | Archbold | 300 Short Buehrer Road, Archbold, OH 43502 | (419) 445-0728 | 04/02/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio | Cincinnati | 7162 Reading Road, Suite 600-700, Cincinnati, OH 45237 | (513) 672-3746 | 08/23/10 | Active |
| Immigrant and Refugee Law Center | Cincinnati | 3724 St. Lawrence Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45205 | (513) 828-0577 | 05/07/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Corp., Diocese of Cleveland | Cleveland | 7800 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 | (216) 281-7005 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| IMAGO Immigration Legal Services dba Building Hope in the City | Cleveland | 15135 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH 44111 | (216) 241-9400 | 12/10/24 | Active |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Cleveland | 3167 Fulton Road, Suite 106, Cleveland, OH 44109 | (216) 250-1574 | 04/06/07 | Active |
| AO: Advocating Opportunity, Inc. | Columbus | 92 Jefferson Ave., Columbus, OH 43215 | (855) 855-1945 | 12/22/25 | Active |
| Catholic Social Services | Columbus | 409 Industry Drive, Columbus, OH 43204 | (614) 340-7061 | 12/09/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection at La Gran Comision Wesleyan Church | Columbus | 536 Norton Road, Columbus, OH 43228 | (614) 954-5226 | 01/17/25 | Active |
| US Together, Inc. | Columbus | 1415 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43229 | (614) 437-9941 | 07/10/12 | Active |
| Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. | Dayton | 130 West Second Street, Suite 700 East, Dayton, OH 45402 | (937) 228-8104 | 07/22/25 | Active |
| Cristo Rey Center | Fostoria | 339 Sandusky Street, Fostoria, OH 44830 | (440) 316-2618 | 11/01/24 | Active |
| Cristo Rey Center | Freont | 105 North Stone Street, Freont, OH 43420 | (419) 619-3625 | 11/01/24 | Active |
| International Welcome Center | New Franklin | 5781 Manchester Road, New Franklin, OH 44319 | (330) 882-4916 | 04/01/21 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Corp., Diocese of Cleveland | Painesville | 8 North State, Suite 455, Painesville, OH 44077 | (216) 939-3728 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. | Toledo | 525 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 300, Toledo, OH 43604 | (419) 255-0814 | 07/22/25 | Active |
| Social Services for the Arab Community (SSFAC) | Toledo | 2900 Carskaddon Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606 | (419) 902-7732 | 03/01/21 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection - Dayton | West Carrollton | 3634 Watertower Lane, Suite 1, West Carrollton, OH 45449 | (937) 802-2012 | 07/24/23 | 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 Ohio — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Ohio
- Legal aid in Ohio — 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: 2026-09-01. 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 valid for six years, except that an organization recognized for the first time receives conditional recognition valid for two years (8 CFR 1292.11(f)); the three-year term is the validity period of an individual representative’s accreditation, not the organization’s recognition (8 CFR 1292.12(d)). Renewals require re-application and updated documentation. As of the 2026-04-20 EOIR roster: 1,452 recognized organizations operate 1,564 offices nationwide, staffed by representatives holding Full Accreditation (court representation) or Partial Accreditation (USCIS-only practice).
To be recognized, an organization must be a non-profit that provides immigration legal services primarily to low-income and indigent clients, and if it charges fees it must have a written policy for accommodating clients unable to pay; EOIR reviews its fee schedule, fee-waiver policy and annual budget as part of recognition (8 CFR 1292.11(a)(1) and (b)). Each organization sets its own fees, and neither EOIR nor any other national source publishes what recognized non-profits — or private immigration attorneys — actually charge. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and compare quotes before you commit.
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.
EOIR Hotline for case status: 1-800-898-7180 (24/7 automated; English/Spanish menu).