These nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania residents. Capacity is limited — call first; most require an appointment.

  • HIAS Pennsylvania — 123 South Broad St., Suite 950, Philadelphia, PA 19109 · 215-832-0900. Asylum, citizenship, removal defense, family unity, immigrant youth (SIJS), and services for survivors of domestic violence and torture, for low-income immigrants in southeast PA.
  • Nationalities Service Center (NSC) — 1216 Arch St., 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 · 215-893-8400. Family immigration, asylum, naturalization, removal defense, and humanitarian relief for adults and children (a $60 consultation fee is often waived for survivors of crime and torture).
  • Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) — York, PA · 717-600-8099. Free representation for detained immigrants statewide, asylum, an Immigrant Survivors Project (domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking), and representation of children.
  • Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh (JFCS) — 5743 Bartlett St., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 · 412-904-5966. Family- and humanitarian-based immigration, citizenship, refugee/asylee services, crime-victim relief, and SIJS — the main such service in western PA.
  • Justice at Work (formerly Friends of Farmworkers) — Philadelphia 215-733-0878, Pittsburgh 412-569-7661 (toll-free 800-729-1607). Legal aid for low-wage immigrant workers: wage theft, labor trafficking, and workplace discrimination.

PALawHelp.org (Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network) is the statewide finder: a legal-help directory connecting you to local legal-aid offices, self-help tools, and clinics across Pennsylvania.

Several of these organizations provide pro bono representation before the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh immigration courts; 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 Pennsylvania 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.