U.S. Department
of Justice
Learn About Legal Representation
In immigration proceedings, you have the right to obtain legal representation at no cost to the government. This means that the government does not provide you with an attorney or representative. You may choose to represent yourself (pro se) or you may seek the representation of an attorney or Accredited Representative. Attorneys and Accredited Representatives may offer services pro bono, meaning they do not charge, or they may charge for their services. To learn more about these options, please select one of the following options.
Please be advised that non-lawyer immigration specialists, visa consultants, and notarios are not authorized to represent parties before an immigration court or the BIA. Additionally, some practitioners (attorneys or Accredited Representatives) have been suspended or disbarred from practice before the immigration courts and the BIA, and you should review the List of Disciplined Practitioners to determine whether a practitioner is eligible to represent you.
Additionally, you are advised to keep copies of all court filings and documents. You are also responsible for attending all court hearings. To obtain case information, please access EOIR's Automated Case Information system. Alternatively, case information may be found by calling 1-800-898-7180 / 304-625-2050 (TDD 800-828-1120).
To receive notifications about your case (and to comply with agency requirements), you must inform EOIR of any changes to your contact information. You can provide any updates to your address or contact information using EOIR's Respondent Access.
Please select an option below
When an attorney provides legal services at no cost, this is considered pro bono representation.
EOIR maintains the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers. The Pro Bono List only includes information on non-profit organizations, pro bono referral services and private attorneys that are willing to provide free legal services in immigration court proceedings.
You may represent yourself in proceedings before the immigration court and the BIA. This is called pro se representation.
Due to the complex nature of immigration and nationality laws, you may wish to obtain representation. EOIR maintains the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers. The Pro Bono List only includes information on non-profit organizations, pro bono referral services and private attorneys that are willing to provide free legal services in immigration court proceedings.
In proceedings before the immigration court and the BIA, you may be represented by an attorney of your choosing, at no cost to the government. It is important to note that before the immigration court, an attorney can represent you for all proceedings or only for bond proceedings. When obtaining representation, it is important to understand whether the attorney will represent you for all proceedings or only for bond proceedings. It is also important to understand whether the attorney will represent you if your case is appealed to the BIA. EOIR does not provide advice regarding the selection of a representative.
EOIR maintains the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers. The Pro Bono List only includes information on non-profit organizations, pro bono referral services and private attorneys that are willing to provide free legal services in immigration court proceedings.
Even if you are represented, you are still responsible for updating the immigration court and the BIA of any changes to your address and telephone number.
Please be advised that non-lawyer immigration specialists, visa consultants, and notarios are not authorized to represent parties before an immigration court or the BIA. Additionally, some practitioners (attorneys or Accredited Representatives) have been suspended or disbarred from practice before the immigration courts and the BIA, and you should review the List of Disciplined Practitioners to determine whether a practitioner is eligible to represent you.
You may choose to be represented by an Accredited Representative. A fully Accredited Representative is an individual who is not an attorney and is approved to represent individuals before the immigration courts, the BIA, and the Department of Homeland Security. An Accredited Representative must be employed by, or volunteer for, a Recognized Organization. EOIR maintains a list of Accredited Representatives.
A Recognized Organization is a non-profit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization that has been recognized by EOIR to provide immigration legal services before EOIR and/or DHS through Accredited Representatives. The organization may charge fees but must have a policy of accommodating clients who are unable to pay those fees for immigration legal services. EOIR maintains the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers. The Pro Bono List only includes information on non-profit organizations, pro bono referral services and private attorneys that are willing to provide free legal services in immigration court proceedings.
Please be advised that non-lawyer immigration specialists, visa consultants, and notarios are not authorized to represent parties before an immigration court or the BIA. Additionally, some practitioners (attorneys or Accredited Representatives) have been suspended or disbarred from practice before the immigration courts and the BIA, and you should review the List of Disciplined Practitioners to determine whether a practitioner is eligible to represent you.
You have the right to change your legal representation at any point in your proceedings. You may choose to substitute a new attorney or you may choose to proceed pro se, without counsel. However, if your proceedings are before the immigration court, until the immigration judge has granted either a motion for substitution of counsel or a motion to withdraw, that attorney will remain your attorney of record. If your proceedings are before the BIA, upon receipt of the new Notice of Appearance, the BIA automatically recognizes new counsel, and prior counsel does not need to file a motion to withdraw.
If you are having problems with your attorney or Accredited Representative, you may submit a complaint to EOIR. For examples of the types of behavior that EOIR will investigate and information on how to submit a complaint, please see EOIR's Attorney Discipline Program.