Recognized organizations
Nonprofits vetted by DOJ whose accredited staff can handle cases, often at low cost. The EOIR list shows each one's status and scope.
Search the DOJ recognition list first
The Department of Justice keeps the public roster of authorized non-attorney help.
Open the Executive Office for Immigration Review page at justice.gov/eoir/find-legal-representation and search by state. The list names recognized organizations, their accredited representatives and the level of representation each may provide, and many offer low-cost or free services. For attorneys, verify the licence through the state bar association where they claim admission; every state bar runs a free online lookup. A legitimate helper hands you a written agreement describing the work and the fee, and reluctance to provide one is a reason to leave.
State bar lookup
Every attorney must hold an active licence somewhere. Search the bar directory for the exact name and confirm the record is active and clean.
Free and low-cost clinics
Law school clinics and nonprofit programs appear on the EOIR roster. Waiting lists are common, so contact several organizations, not one.
Walk away from notario promises
In the United States, the title notario carries no legal authority at all.
In many Latin American countries a notario is a senior legal figure, which can make the title misleading in the United States. A U.S. notary commission does not authorize immigration legal advice or representation. Warning signs include guaranteed outcomes, offers to invent a relationship or a job, requests to sign blank forms and refusal to give you copies of what was filed. Bad advice can cause serious immigration consequences. Report suspected fraud through the official channels listed by USCIS, your state attorney general or the Federal Trade Commission.