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

  • Mountain State Justice — 1217 Quarrier St., Charleston, WV 25301 · 304-344-3144. Statewide nonprofit law firm providing free, confidential immigration legal services to people living in West Virginia. Intake is open. Handles consultations and represents clients in family-based immigrant petitions, asylum, naturalization/citizenship, humanitarian U and T visas, VAWA petitions, removal (deportation) defense, appeals, and advice on the immigration consequences of crimes. Free of charge; call 304-344-3144 (or 800-319-7132) to complete an intake and, if you qualify, schedule a consultation. Also has offices in Morgantown (304-326-0188) and Princeton (681-207-7510).
  • West Virginia University College of Law Immigration Clinic — Clinical Law Program, West Virginia University College of Law, P.O. Box 6130, Morgantown, WV 26506 · 304-293-7249. Law-school clinic where law students, supervised by licensed faculty attorneys, provide free immigration legal help to low-income clients (operating since 1996; described as the only provider of free immigration legal aid to indigent immigrants in the state). Areas include adjustment of status, asylum, DACA, employment authorization, family-based petitions, naturalization, VAWA, U and T visas, consular processing, and relief from removal, with representation before the Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. No fee charged. Capacity is limited and tied to the academic calendar — apply early by phone at 304-293-7249 (toll-free 866-964-7249) or email cliniclaw@mail.wvu.edu; not every request can be accepted.
  • Legal Aid of West Virginia — 123 Washington St. W, Suite 101, Charleston, WV 25302 · 1-866-255-4370. West Virginia’s statewide civil legal aid nonprofit serving low-income residents and victims of domestic violence from 12 offices. Its immigration work is narrow: it focuses on VAWA self-petitions for abuse survivors and help completing immigration forms, rather than full removal-defense representation. Free of charge; apply through the central Application Line at 1-866-255-4370 or the online application at legalaidwv.org. Spanish-speaking help and LanguageLine interpretation are available. For full immigration representation, ask for a referral to Mountain State Justice or the WVU College of Law Immigration Clinic.

Legal Aid of West Virginia — Central Application Line — West Virginia’s statewide civil legal aid nonprofit (12 offices). It is the main front door for free legal help for low-income residents; apply by phone at 1-866-255-4370 or through the online application at legalaidwv.org. Its immigration work is narrow (mainly VAWA self-petitions for abuse survivors and help completing immigration forms), so for full immigration representation it may refer you to Mountain State Justice or the WVU College of Law Immigration Clinic.

West Virginia has NO immigration court of its own. EOIR operates no court anywhere in the state, so West Virginia residents’ removal cases are heard at out-of-state courts. Which court depends on where you live and where the Department of Homeland Security files your case: residents of the eastern panhandle and the Washington, D.C. region are commonly scheduled at the Northern Virginia immigration court now located in Annandale, Virginia, while other West Virginia cases may be routed to the Cleveland, Ohio court or to the Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania courts. If you are detained, your hearing is held at the court that serves the detention facility, which may be in another state. Do not rely on a single court name — always confirm the exact court and address on your hearing notice (Form I-862, Notice to Appear) or by calling the EOIR case hotline at 1-800-898-7180. 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 West Virginia 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.