BIA-recognized immigration help in Virginia — free DOJ-accredited organizations
This page lists every non-profit in Virginia 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 Virginia
27 organizations listed in the EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster for Virginia, 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 of the Diocese of Arlington - Hogar Immigrant Services | Alexandria | 6301 Little River Turnpike, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22312 | (703) 534-9805 | 03/29/04 | Active |
| Just Neighbors Ministry, Inc. | Annandale | 7630 Little River Tpke, Suite 900, Annandale, VA 22003 | (703) 979-1240 | 11/21/24 | Active |
| National Korean American Service and Education Consortium | Annandale | 4304 Evergreen Lane, Suite 104, Annandale, VA 22003 | (703) 256-2208 | 08/11/16 | Active |
| African Communities Together | Arlington | 1225 S Clark Street, Suite 504, Arlington, VA 22202 | (240) 621-0194 | 02/21/20 | Active |
| ECDC African Community Center Arlington | Arlington | 901 South Highland Street, Arlington, VA 22204 | (703) 685-0510 | 01/03/13 | Active |
| Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA) | Arlington | 1815 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22207 | (571) 429-5410 | 04/13/16 | Active |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Charlottesville | 375 Greenbrier Drive, Suite 200, Charlottesville, VA 22901 | (434) 979-7772 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| Sin Barreras (Without Borders) | Charlottesville | 425 Seminole Trail, Suite 310, P.O Box 6433, Charlottesville, VA 22901 | (434) 531-0104 | 11/18/15 | Active |
| Ayuda | Fairfax | 2701 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 444-7009 | 09/18/24 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection - Fairfax | Fairfax | 11451 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 | (703) 745-1030 | 02/27/26 | Active |
| International Commission for Dalit Rights, Inc. (ICDR) | Fairfax | 3615 Chain Bridge Rd, Unit C, Fairfax, VA 22030 | (202) 538-1435 | 08/05/24 | Active |
| Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) | Fairfax | 2701 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 405, Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 942-6680 | 12/04/24 | Active |
| Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area | Fairfax | 3975 Fair Ridge Drive, Suite 100 North, Fairfax, VA 22033 | (202) 723-3000 | 06/26/90 | Active |
| National Korean American Service and Education Consortium | Fairfax | 11350 Random Hills Road, Suite 230, Fairfax, VA 22030 | (703) 256-2208 | 08/11/16 | Active |
| Tahirih Justice Center | Falls Church | 6400 Arlington Blvd, Suite 400, Falls Church, VA 22042 | (571) 282-6161 | 03/22/10 | Active |
| LUCHA Ministries, Inc. | Fredericksburg | 1019 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 | (540) 370-4502 | 06/14/16 | Active |
| Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program-Harrisonburg Office | Harrisonburg | 250 East Elizabeth Street, Suite 215, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | (540) 299-4832 | 01/06/06 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Shenandoah Valley Immigrant Resource Center | Harrisonburg | 25 N Liberty Street, Suite #E, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | (540) 383-7455 | 03/06/26 | Active |
| Commonwealth Catholic Charities | Newport News | 12284 Warwick Boulevard, Sute 1-G, Newport News, VA 23606 | (757) 247-3600 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| Commonwealth Catholic Charities | Richmond | 1601 Rolling Hills Drive, Richmond, VA 23229 | (804) 545-5900 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | Richmond | 2004 Bremo Road, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23226 | (804) 308-9144 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| Sacred Heart Center, Inc. | Richmond | 1400 Perry Street, Richmond, VA 23224 | (804) 230-4399 | 04/06/18 | Active |
| Commonwealth Catholic Charities | Roanoke | 2131 Valley View Blvd NW, Roanoke, VA 24012 | (540) 342-7561 | 02/23/96 | Active |
| Immigrant Connection - Blue Ridge | Roanoke | 3706 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 | (540) 529-4101 | 09/01/16 | Active |
| Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program-Harrisonburg Office | Winchester | 2273 Valley Avenue, Winchester, VA 22601 | (540) 299-4832 | 01/06/06 | Active (pending renewal) |
| Just Neighbors Ministry, Inc. | Winchester | 301 N. Cameron Street #103, Winchester, VA 22601 | (703) 979-1240 | 11/21/24 | Active |
| CASA, Inc. | Woodbridge | 2359 Research Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192 | (571) 421-2211 | 10/25/10 | 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 Virginia — the EOIR court that hears removal cases for residents of Virginia
- Legal aid in Virginia — 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).