Legal Help for Immigrants
Overview
Catholic Migration Services’ programs are staffed by experienced attorneys, representatives accredited with the Department of Justice, paralegals and administrative staff. We provide legal advice and representation to immigrants in a variety of matters, including:
- Naturalization/U.S. Citizenship (Learn more here.)
- Green Cards/Permanent Residence
- Asylum and Humanitarian Relief
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Family Reunification
- U and T Visas for Victims of Trafficking and Certain Crimes (T and U visas)
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
- Deportation Defense
How We Help Immigrants
The following programs are staffed by experienced attorneys, representatives accredited with the Department of Justice, paralegals and administrative staff:
- Help eligible immigrants obtain legal status and work authorizations
- Help Legal Permanent Residents become Citizens
- Help immigrants in Deportation/Removal proceedings
- Help immigrants in deportation/removal proceedings represent themselves in Immigration Court and provide assistance with applications for asylum, employment authorization, immigration court motions, and other items.
To view recent successes by Catholic Migration Services, check out our newsletters here.
Contact Us for Free Help
To be eligible for our services, immigrants must be low-income and living in New York City, or for certain programs, New York State. An initial consultation does not guarantee legal representation. Our services are free, but many immigration applications have filing fees; Catholic Migration Services will assist those who are eligible with fee waiver applications. Please note, we have limited capacity and may not be able to assist all who qualify and need services; you may be placed on a waitlist, referred to another provider, or asked to call back when appointments are available.
To request assistance with an affirmative immigration benefit (such as TPS, DACA, family petitions, etc.), please call us at 718-236-3000 (Brooklyn) or 347-472-3500 (Queens), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have a case in immigration court and are seeking legal representation, please call us at 718-236-3000 on Monday mornings, when we may have a limited number of consultation appointments available. To request assistance with naturalization applications, please send a text message to 347-305-5520.
If you are a newly arrived immigrant in removal proceedings, please visit the Pro Se Plus Project for resources and information. To join the waiting list for pro se services, please click here to complete our Interest Form.
Our staff speaks several languages and can provide translation and interpretation accommodations upon request.
Important Information for Undocumented Immigrants
Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to people regardless of their immigration status.
Undocumented workers have almost all the same rights under New York City, New York State and Federal labor laws as documented workers. For more information, please see our Employment Law section here.
Undocumented tenants have the same rights to housing and protection from landlord harassment under New York City law. Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to tenants regardless of their immigration status. For more information, please see our Housing Law section here.
Know Your Rights Presentations
Catholic Migration Services partners with non-profit organizations, educational institutions, religious organizations, community centers, and elected officials to present information about legal developments and policies affecting immigrants and combat misinformation and scams. Presentations can be conducted in-person or virtually.
If you would like to request an immigration presentation, contact us at info@catholicmigration.org today!