Immigration Legal Services

The U.S. immigration legal system is extremely complex and challenging to navigate. Newcomers often struggle to access immigration benefits due to cost burdens, language and cultural barriers, rapidly changing policies, and case processing backlogs. Our Legal Services team aims to help break down these barriers and develop strategies to address clients needs.

About Legal Services

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Forced displacement worldwide has increased the demand for free and low-cost immigration legal services by persons seeking humanitarian protection in the United States. With over 85 years of experience as a resettlement agency, we understand the toll that uncertain immigration outcomes can have on people seeking safety. Our immigration legal services program exists to help newcomers regain agency, achieve stability for themselves and their families in the U.S., and contribute to supporting loved ones abroad.

Global Refuge believes that access to high-quality immigration legal services honors the inherent dignity of the people we serve while also contributing to efforts to improve the immigration system. Research shows markedly improved legal outcomes for individuals represented in their immigration cases.

Access to legal representation can help individuals secure critical documentation and work authorization more quickly – benefiting newcomers and their receiving communities. However, challenges such as a shortage of non-profit immigration legal service providers often leave many newcomers underserved.

Our immigration legal services program offers high-quality immigration legal services from a trauma-informed and culturally proficient perspective. We understand that access to immigration legal protections can increase employment/economic stability, open doors for academic achievement, and improve physical and mental health. That is why we are committed to using the U.S. Department of Justice’s Recognition and Accreditation program to build legal services capacity and to ensure services are provided by individuals with lived experience. As a faith-based, non-profit organization we are committed to providing these services at no cost or low cost to our clients.

Finally, we wish to ensure that all applicants, whether represented by counsel or not, have access to a fair, efficient, and just immigration legal system. Through our experience representing clients and providing technical support and assistance to our network of affiliates, we use data to detect, analyze, and advocate for systemic changes within the immigration system to benefit the greater good.

Get Help

We are honored to serve low-income immigrants and refugees by providing affordable legal counseling in a wide range of immigration matters. If you or someone you know is seeking low-cost assistance for a range of reasons, including, but not limited to, Adjustment of Status (green card), asylum, work permits, family sponsorship and reunification, naturalization, and other immigration application types, you can use the button below to schedule a consult with our legal team.

Schedule a Consult

We also offer no-cost legal assistance to certain Afghans and Ukrainians in the United States. If you or a loved one is in need of services, please send us an email.

ما همچنان برای بعضی از افغان ها و اوکراینی ها در امریکا کمک حقوقی بدون هزینه ارائه میدهیم. اگر شما یا یکی از عزیزان تان به خدمات نیاز دارید، لطفاً برای ما یک ایمیل بفرستید

Ми також пропонуємо безкоштовну юридичну допомогу вибраним афганцям і українцям у Сполучених Штатах. Якщо вам або вашій близькій людині потрібні послуги, надішліть нам електронний лист.

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If Global Refuge’s Legal Services are not able to meet your needs, we encourage you to use trusted websites to find a licensed lawyer or accredited representative.

• DOJ Recognition & Accreditation Program
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network Affiliate Directory
• National Immigration Legal Services Directory – Immigration Advocates Network

Services and Resources

Our Immigration Legal Services

Our legal program focuses on supporting clients in their cases involving humanitarian forms of relief, family-based applications, and citizenship/naturalization. The team provides immigration legal screening, case consultations, pro se assisted services, limited and direct representation, and assistance with case inquiries and escalation. We are a hybrid practice that offers remote services through video conferencing and in person at our offices in Baltimore, MD; Falls Church, VA; Fargo, ND; and San Antonio, TX.

The Global Refuge Legal Services team provides services for low-income individuals, including:

• Immigration Screening & Consultations
• Work Permit Applications (EADs)
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) & Reparole, and DACA Applications
• Family-based sponsorship & Family Reunification
• Affirmative Asylum (filed with USCIS)
• Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident, or “green card” applications
• Green Card Renewals and Replacements
• Naturalization & Certificates of Citizenship
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests
• Individual Case Liaison & Advocacy

We may also provide pro bono or no cost legal services for:

• Eligible Afghan Humanitarian Arrivals, Refugees, and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders
• Eligible Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees

**We currently do not provide assistance to individuals who need representation in immigration court.

Community-based Partnerships:

Global Refuge proudly partners with select local government, community-based, and network-affiliated organizations to deliver immigration legal services through legal clinics and workshop models, including Know Your Rights and other information sessions, immigration screenings, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, naturalization, work permit clinics, and more. If you would like more information about partnering with our team, please contact us at Email.

Resources for Afghan Nationals 

• New Restrictions for Nationals of Travel Ban Countries 
• Step-by-Step Guide for SIV Entrants
  • Dari
  • Pashto
• Changes to Work Permit Costs and Validity Periods
• Lawful Permanent Residency Options for Afghan Parolees
• Protect Yourself and Your Future! How to Avoid Immigration Services Scams
• Family-Based Immigration Options
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Pashto)
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Dari)
• Step-by-Step Guide for Newly Arrived Refugees (Pashto)
• Step-by-Step Guide for Newly Arrived Refugees (Dari)
• Immigration Help Brochure (Dari)
• Immigration Help Brochure (Pashto)

Resources for Ukrainian Nationals

• Protect Yourself & Your Future! How to Avoid Immigration Scams

Resources for Nationals with Temporary Protected Status 

• Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti
• 2025 Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan
• 2025 Extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador
• Update on Termination of TPS for Certain Venezuelans
  • Español
• Extension and Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela
• Deferred Enforced Departure for Palestinian Territories
• Deferred Enforced Departure for Lebanon

Resources for Refugees and Other Recently Arrived Immigrants

• Following to Join Refugee Processing Updates
• One Year Filing Deadline and Exceptions
• Step-by-Step Guide for Newly Arrived Refugees
• Step-by-Step Guide for SIV Entrants

Avoiding Immigration Services Scams and Notario Fraud

• Protect Yourself and Your Future! How to Avoid Immigration Services Scams
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (Dari)
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (Russian)
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (Haitian Creole)
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (English)
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (Pashto)
• The Wrong Help Can Hurt (Ukrainian) 

Other Resources

• New Policies Affecting Refugees
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen – English
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Spanish)
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Haitian Creole)
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Dari)
• Navigating Social Media as a Non-Citizen (Pashto)

Our Values 

Rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired by our values, our legal services team approaches our work with the advocacy, care, and empowerment that is consistent with faith teachings. Learn more from the ELCA.

Questions and Referrals

For questions about referrals to our Baltimore, Fargo, and San Antonio offices, please send an email to our legal services team or contact your case manager.

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