These nonprofit organizations in Ohio offer FREE or low-cost immigration legal help. If you need help with DACA, asylum, citizenship, deportation, or any immigration case, contact these options BEFORE paying private fees.

These nonprofits provide free or low-cost immigration legal services to Ohio residents. Capacity is limited — call first; most require an appointment.

  • Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) — 4645 Executive Dr., Columbus, OH 43220 · 380-529-2747. Work authorization, green cards, family-based petitions, adjustment of status, asylum, naturalization, VAWA, T visas, TPS, and DACA ($25 intake; does not handle removal/court cases).
  • Legal Aid Society of Cleveland — 1223 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113 · 888-817-3777. U visas (crime victims), T visas (trafficking survivors), VAWA petitions, and naturalization for lawful permanent residents, asylees, and refugees.
  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland — Migration & Refugee Services — Cleveland, Akron, and Painesville · 216-939-3769. Family reunification, adjustment of status, asylum, naturalization, and representation in removal proceedings ($40 consultation, reducible by need).
  • Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) — Toledo (also Defiance and Dayton) · 1-800-837-0814. Immigrant and agricultural-worker rights, TPS, and citizenship/naturalization across 32 northwest and west-central Ohio counties.
  • International Institute of Akron (IIA) — 530 South Main St., Suite 1762, Akron, OH 44311 · 330-376-5106. Immigration legal services for the greater Akron area.

Ohio Legal Help is the statewide legal-information and self-help portal: its immigration section covers naturalization, green cards, work permits, asylum, VAWA, SIJS, DACA, and TPS, with a “Find a Lawyer” tool to connect you to local legal aid.

Several of these organizations, including ABLE and Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, provide pro bono representation before the Cleveland Immigration Court; the U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers is updated quarterly. None of the organizations on this page pay us — these are public-interest referrals, not sponsored links.

National resources (available to Ohio residents)

Directories and hotlines

Specific-case hotlines

  • Asylum: RAICES (1-866-RAICES-4), CLINIC asylum line
  • Detention: NIPNLG (1-800-867-2924)
  • VAWA / domestic violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (national line)
  • Human trafficking victims: National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

⚠️ Important: Avoid fraudulent “notarios”

AVOID PEOPLE CALLING THEMSELVES “NOTARIO PÚBLICO” FOR IMMIGRATION if not attorneys or BIA-accredited reps. US notary publics are NOT attorneys (unlike Latin America). People without legal credentials practicing immigration are violating federal law.

Verify credentials:

How to prepare for consultation

  1. Bring ALL documents: passport, green card if any, USCIS letters, criminal records, tax returns, evidence of family relationship, immigration status history
  2. Be HONEST: even about criminal records or past issues. Attorney needs FULL truth to defend you well.
  3. Ask about timelines and possible outcomes
  4. Confirm cost (if applicable) in writing before committing
  5. Bring translator if your English is limited

Last verified: 2026-06-17.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.