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

  • Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island — 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 · 401-784-8607. Nonprofit whose Citizenship & Immigration Services staff are accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice (five attorneys plus six DOJ-accredited representatives), providing low-cost legal advice and representation in naturalization, green cards, family petitions, TPS, DACA, unlawful-presence waivers, asylum, deportation defense, and help for crime victims. USCIS representation is for Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut residents; representation at the Boston/Chelmsford Immigration Court is case-by-case. Walk-in and phone consultations are available Monday-Friday at 401-784-8607 (a separate appointment-based consultation type was temporarily paused, but general intake remains open). It also runs a 24/7 immigration legal hotline for people detained by immigration authorities at 401-784-8628.
  • Progreso Latino — 626 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863 · 401-728-5920. Community nonprofit that is DOJ-recognized with a BIA-accredited representative on staff (Jessica Vasquez). It provides immigration legal services including naturalization, green-card renewals, family petitions, TPS, DACA, and work-permit help. Consultations are always free and other services are charged on a nominal-fee basis, with fee waivers and payment plans available case-by-case. Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, with extended hours (8:30am-11am) the second Saturday of each month.
  • Catholic Charities of Providence - Office of Immigration and Refugee Services (Diocese of Providence) — One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903 · 401-421-7833. Immigration office of the Diocese of Providence and a member agency of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC). Staff assist with family-based petitions, adjustment of status, consular processing, green-card renewals, naturalization, employment authorization (work-permit) renewals, TPS, and DACA, and the office represents clients before USCIS and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). A nominal fee is charged in addition to the standard government filing fees. It also offers free citizenship-exam preparation classes (call 401-278-2532 for class information). Services available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French, Tigrinya, Amharic, and Kpelle. Call 401-421-7833 to schedule an appointment.
  • Roger Williams University School of Law Immigration Clinic — 10 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809. Free law-school clinic where supervised student attorneys represent low-income (indigent) immigrants, with a focus on defense against removal before the Boston Immigration Court (including bond motions for detained clients) and applications for relief before USCIS such as asylum, adjustment of status, and relief for domestic-violence victims. As a clinic tied to the academic year, it takes a limited number of cases and intake depends on capacity, so confirm availability before relying on it; contact the clinic through the law-school webpage or the main law-school line (401-254-4500). Director: Deborah Gonzalez.

Help RI Law (Rhode Island Legal Services) — Rhode Island’s statewide legal-aid portal, run by Rhode Island Legal Services. It offers free civil legal help to low-income residents and a self-help legal information library. Note: RILS focuses on housing, family, benefits, and consumer law and generally does NOT handle immigration cases; for immigration matters it refers people to the accredited nonprofits listed above.

Rhode Island has no immigration court within the state. Removal (deportation) cases for Rhode Island residents are heard by the Boston Immigration Court (EOIR), JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury Street, Room 320, Boston, MA 02203 (public entrance at 125 Cambridge Street; main line 617-565-3080). Some cases assigned by ZIP code are handled by the Chelmsford Immigration Court at 150 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Chelmsford, MA 01824. Hearings are increasingly held by video. Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and Progreso Latino are DOJ-recognized organizations with DOJ/BIA-accredited representatives. Dorcas International appears on the EOIR Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives roster and its own site states its Citizenship & Immigration Services staff are accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice; Progreso Latino’s official site lists a named BIA-accredited representative on staff. The U.S. Department of Justice (EOIR) publishes a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for that court. None of the organizations on this page pay us — these are public-interest referrals, not sponsored links.

National resources (available to Rhode Island 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: 2026-06-20.

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.