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
19 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Ohio. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. | Akron | 130 West Second Street, Suite 700 East, Dayton, OH 45402, Fostoria | (937) 228-8104 | 07/22/25 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Corp., Diocese of Cleveland | Akron | Blessed Trinity Parish, 300 East Tallmadge Avenue, Akron, OH 44310, International Institute of Akron 07/01/58 08/07/25* Active, (Pending Renewal) | (216) 939-3769 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Catholic Charities Corp., Diocese of Cleveland | Akron | 8 North State, Suite 455, Painesville, OH 44077, Toledo | (216) 939-3728 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Cristo Rey Center | Akron | 105 North Stone Street, Freont, OH 43420, New Franklin | (419) 619-3625 | 11/01/24 | Active |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Akron | 3167 Fulton Road, Suite 106, Cleveland, OH 44109, Columbus | (216) 250-1574 | 04/06/07 | Active |
| Logistic Assistance for Migrant People | Archbold | 300 Short Buehrer Road, Archbold, OH 43502, Cincinnati | (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, Cleveland | (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 |
| 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, Dayton | (614) 437-9941 | 07/10/12 | Active |
| Cristo Rey Center | Fostoria | 339 Sandusky Street, Fostoria, OH 44830, Freont | (440) 316-2618 | 11/01/24 | Active |
| International Welcome Center | New Franklin | 5781 Manchester Road, New Franklin, OH 44319, Painesville | (330) 882-4916 | 04/01/21 | 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, West Carrollton | (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: 2026-05-27. 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).