Other places to find help

Please note: these resources and organizations are not created or officially endorsed by the ABA or Free Legal Answers. We encourage you to conduct your own research to find resources and organizations to help you as necessary.

Find resources for the following: 

• IMMIGRATION 
• VETERANS  

If you have a different state-specific civil legal question, such as a family law or housing question, please visit the main ABA Free Legal Answers website and choose your state.

IMMIGRATION

Find Immigration Legal Resources Near You:

• Immigration Advocates Network National Immigration Legal Services Directory: Provides a list of immigration legal service providers by state, county, or detention facility. Includes only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services.
• AILA’s Immigration Lawyer Search: allows you to search for immigration lawyers near you who are approved members of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association.
• The Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review list of pro bono legal service providers: if you are in immigration court proceedings, consult this list to find pro bono legal service providers for the immigration court where your hearing will take place.

Are you looking for information for someone in immigration detention?

• Call the American Bar Association Detention and LOP Information Line at 202-442-3363.
  • The ABA information line provides pro se assistance, not legal representation.
  • Individuals in detention can call the information line for free by pressing 2150# from inside the detention center.

Are you are trying to locate someone who is detained by ICE?

• Use the ICE Detainee Locator
  • You will need the person’s nine-digit A# and country of birth or the person’s full name, date of birth, and country of origin.

To confirm your next hearing date or the status of your case:

• Call 1-800-898-7180 and enter your A# when prompted (information available in English and Spanish)
• Go online (you will need your A#)
  • For information in English
  • For information in Spanish

If you are looking for the address and contact information of an immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals:

• Go to: justice.gov/eoir/eoir-immigration-court-listing

For information on the procedures followed by the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals:

• Immigration Court Practice Manual: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-policy-manual/part-ii-ocij-practice-manual
• BIA Practice Manual: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-policy-manual/iii

Do you need to fill out a form for your court case or appeal?

•  To find immigration court forms: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-downloadable-eoir-forms
  
  

For questions about a case with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS):

• Check your case status online;
• Submit a case inquiry online;
• Call the USCIS Contact Center at: 1-800-375-5283

*You will need your A# and/or receipt number for your case when you call or go online.

To find the current versions of all USCIS forms and frequently asked questions about forms:

• Go to: http://www.uscis.gov/forms

If you believe your application with USCIS is taking longer than it should to process:

• First, check https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ to check normal processing times for your application type in the office that is handling it. If it is outside normal processing times, you can submit a request for assistance to the USCIS Ombudsman at https://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance.

If you are an active duty member of the military or a veteran:

• For veterans who want to become U.S. citizens: https://www.vetsprobono.org/apply/item.10451-Veterans_Naturalization_Assistance_Program 
• For help with a case of your own or a case you have filed for a family member, contact the AILA Military Assistance Project at: https://airtable.com/shrR6vGmPWClpS2Dc
  • for active duty service members or veterans within 2 years of discharge

Are you looking for help with a particular type of case?

• Asylum Seekers/Refugees: 
  • Human Rights First: https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/asylum-seekers-and-potential-clients
    • New York City, DC, Los Angeles, and Houston areas

• LGBTQ-related claims or issues:
  • Immigration Equality (NY area)
    • https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/asylum/(asylum specific)
    • https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help(general issues)
  • Whitman Walker Health (DC area):
    • https://www.whitman-walker.org/legal-services

• DACA
  • Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINic): https://cliniclegal.org/issues/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca
  • National Immigration Law Center: https://www.ilrc.org/daca

• Battered or abused spouses/children, trafficking victims, other gender-based violence:
  • Tahirih Justice Center: tahirih.org/get-help/
    • for intake phone numbers and hours in various offices

• Children's cases (Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, other):
  • Kids in Need of Defense (KIND):  https://supportkind.org/who-we-are/contact-us/

• Employment-related issues:
  • National Immigration Law Center: nilc.org
  • National Employment Law Project: https://www.nelp.org/contact/

VETERANS

If you are a veteran in crisis, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, OR text 838255. You may also visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more information.

Find Local VA Resources

• Find your local VA healthcare facility
• Find a VA Regional Office near you
• Find your Pension Management Center
• File a VA disability benefits claim
• Find information to apply for a discharge upgrade

Legal Aid Programs and Resources for Veterans

Find programs that give free legal help and resources. Eligibility for free legal representation may depend on your income.

• ABA Home Front - Search the state-by-state directory to find local legal aid and pro bono programs. 
  • Visit the Nationwide page for national resources for veterans. 
  • Additional resources can be found here. 

If you need to hire an attorney, find local help at:

• ABA Lawyer Referral Directory – Use to find help in your state or area.

If you’re an active-duty servicemember, consider these programs for free legal help:

• ABA Military Pro Bono Project – This program accepts case referrals from military attorneys on behalf of junior-enlisted, active-duty military personnel facing civil legal issues, and it works to place these cases with pro bono attorneys.
• AILA MAP – The American Immigration Lawyers Association Military Assistance Program (MAP) provides pro bono immigration assistance to active-duty servicemembers, recent veterans, and their families.

For help with employment-related issues:

• U.S. Department of Labor - Find information about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the U.S. Department of Labor's Veteran's Employment and Training Service (VETS). Learn more about filing a claim here. 
• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) - Guard and Reserve servicemembers can find contacts for requesting assistance. 

Need help with food, clothing, shelter, medicine or other services?

• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• Lifeline for Vets
• Drug & Alcohol Support Resources

To report suspected fraud to VSafe:

• Report online or call the hotline at 833-38V-SAFE (8-7233).