How to find authorized immigration help from official pages

Illustrative picture of one person seen from behind at a city crosswalk, with trees and pale stone buildings across the street

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To find authorized immigration help through official sources, start with the "Find Legal Representation" page of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, part of the United States Department of Justice. It links to the Recognition and Accreditation Program, a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers, a Pro Bono Portal and a list of attorneys and representatives who currently may not practice immigration law. These links let you check a helper's name before you share your case.

What do the official pages say?

The Recognition and Accreditation Program page describes representatives who are not attorneys. It states that "Federal regulations at 8 C.F.R. section 1292.1(a)(4) allow non-attorney" Accredited Representatives to represent people before the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office for Immigration Review, "which includes the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)".

One short sentence on that page is central to this topic:

"Accredited Representatives may only provide immigration legal services through Recognized Organizations."

The same page adds: "Only non-profit, federally tax-exempt entities may apply to be recognized." It also states the purpose of the program: it "aims to increase the availability of competent immigration legal representation for low-income and indigent persons".

Official routes to check a helper

  1. Open the Find Legal Representation page. It is at justice.gov/eoir/find-legal-representation and lists the Recognition and Accreditation Program, the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers, the Pro Bono Portal and the Office of Legal Access Programs.
  2. If the helper is not an attorney, look at the rosters. The Recognition and Accreditation Program page links to the "Recognition and Accreditation Rosters". Check whether both the person and the organization they work through are named there.
  3. Use the current roster, not an old copy. The page says "Accreditation of representatives is valid for three years" and that organizations "must timely apply for renewal", so a saved or printed copy may be out of date.
  4. Check the list of people who may not practice. The Find Legal Representation page links to a list of attorneys and representatives who currently may not practice immigration law. Look up any name there before you rely on it.
  5. For free or low-cost help, use the official lists. The same page links to the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers and the Pro Bono Portal. The USAGov legal aid page adds general programs and says: "Search for help in your state and find contact information using your zip code or address."

What the case system page says about registration

The Justice Department page on its electronic case system, ECAS, states: "Attorneys and fully accredited representatives must register online and then have their identity validated if they wish to represent an alien in immigration proceedings." Once that is complete, they receive an identification number from the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

The same page adds two points about who registers:

  • "Registration is for individuals only, not law firms or organizations."
  • "At this time, representatives with partial accreditation, law students, law graduates, reputable individuals, or accredited foreign government officials may not register."

What is not covered or depends on the situation

These pages show where to look for a helper and where to check a name, but they do not say which kind of help fits a particular case. Some free programs have limits: the USAGov page notes that "Some limit their services to people with low incomes." Its list of legal issue types names family, civil, housing, employment and consumer law and does not name immigration, so ask each program whether it takes immigration matters.

Where to look next on the official site

  • The Recognition and Accreditation Program page links to its Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the program that the FAQs do not answer, the page says "you can email the R&A Program" and gives the address there.
  • The Find Legal Representation page also links to the Office of Legal Access Programs.
  • USAGov offers general help: "Ask a real person any government-related question for free."
  • On this site: how to spot a fake immigration website and how to find source links and dates on our guides.

The picture on this page is illustrative only: it shows one person seen from behind at a city crosswalk, with trees and pale stone buildings across the street, and it does not depict a real client or official.

Scope note

This page is general information drawn from the official pages cited above. It is not a review of anyone's case. A question about a personal situation belongs with an independent attorney.

VisaNow.AI is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information taken from official government pages; it does not assess anyone's case. An attorney-client relationship arises only with an independent attorney. Check the official pages for current details.

Information current as of 2026-10-26