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Free immigration legal help in Utah — BIA-recognized organizations

Directory of 8 BIA-recognized non-profits in Utah authorized by DOJ to provide low-cost or free immigration legal representation.

This page lists every non-profit in Utah 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 Utah

8 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Utah. These non-profits are authorized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration legal representation at low or no cost.

OrganizationCityAddressPhoneRecognizedStatus
International Rescue Committee, Inc.Murray02/23/96Active
Lutheran Family Services Rocky MountainsMurray415 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84107(801) 290-200806/07/05Active
No More A Stranger FoundationMurray141 E 5600 S, Suite 300, Murray, UT 84107, Ogden(801) 938-839011/16/23Active
Catholic Community Services of UtahProvo2504 F Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401, Provo, Elevate Utah 08/03/23 08/03/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(801) 977-911905/28/85Active
Alliance Community ServicesSalt Lake City5280 South Commerce Drive, Suite E140, Salt Lake City, UT 84107(801) 265-111107/06/18Active
Catholic Community Services of UtahSalt Lake City224 North 2200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116(801) 977-911905/28/85Active
Holy Cross Ministries of UtahSalt Lake City860 East 4500 South, Suite 204, Salt Lake City, UT 84107, Immigrant Legal Services 11/29/23 11/29/25* Active, (Pending Renewal)(801) 261-344009/08/06Active
Utah Legal ServicesSalt Lake City960 S. Main St., Salt Lake City, UT 84101, West Valley(801) 328-889111/09/17Active

How to verify and contact a BIA-recognized organization

  1. Confirm current status at the EOIR roster — recognition can be withdrawn, and the roster is updated quarterly.
  2. Call ahead to check service availability — many orgs have waitlists, especially for asylum and removal-defense cases.
  3. Ask about fees before signing a representation agreement. Free or sliding-fee is standard.
  4. Bring all USCIS notices + photo ID to your intake appointment.
  5. 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.

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 Utah

8 locations/organizations on record in Utah. Always verify directly before visiting.

  • No More A Stranger Foundation
    Murray
  • Catholic Community Services of Utah
    Murray
  • Alliance Community Services
    Murray
  • Catholic Community Services of Utah
    Murray
  • Holy Cross Ministries of Utah
    Murray
  • Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains
    Murray
  • Utah Legal Services
    Murray
  • International Rescue Committee, Inc.
    Murray

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 Utah 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 Utah?
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.