How to find an immigration lawyer or accredited representative you can trust

Your case matters too much to trust the wrong person. This page helps you check someone before you hire them. It is general information, not legal advice. Need free or low cost help? See Free legal help in the Bay Area. Worried about notarios and scams? See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Who is allowed to help with my immigration case?

Only two kinds of people may give you immigration legal advice and speak for you:

• A lawyer (also called an attorney) who is in good standing with the bar of any U.S. state, territory or Washington, D.C. Immigration law is federal, so a lawyer licensed in another state may handle your case in California.
• An accredited representative. This is a person who is not a lawyer but is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. They may only work through a recognized organization, which must be a nonprofit.

No one else may give you legal advice. That includes a notary, a "notario," a travel agent or an immigration consultant. Read more in Warning signs of an immigration scam.

How do I check a lawyer?

1. Ask for the lawyer's full name, State Bar number and the state where they are licensed.
2. For a California lawyer, open the State Bar of California attorney search. Search by name or bar number.
3. On the lawyer's profile, look for two things: that they are eligible to practice law, and whether they have a history of discipline.
4. Licensed in another state? Check that state's bar website the same way.
5. Check the EOIR list of currently disciplined practitioners. It names lawyers and representatives who are under discipline now, which can bar them from immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Click the date beside a name to read the order. If the person you plan to hire is on the list, do not hire them until you understand why.

No internet? Call the State Bar at 800-843-9053 (in California) or 213-765-1200 (outside California) and ask.

How do I check an accredited representative?

1. Ask for the person's full name and the name of their organization.
2. Open the Department of Justice recognition and accreditation roster. It has three lists: recognized organizations, accredited representatives, and organizations listed by state. The agency updated the lists on October 11, 2026.
3. In the accredited representatives list, find their name. Check that their status is active and their accreditation date has not passed. Accreditation lasts 3 years, and an asterisk means a renewal is pending. Also check that the organization next to their name is the one they work for now, and that it is active too.
4. Look for "(DHS only)" after their name. That means partial accreditation: they may help with applications to immigration agencies like USCIS, but they may not represent you in immigration court. A representative with full accreditation may also go to immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Can't find the person or the organization? Do not pay. Do not sign. Ask the organization to show you, or look for help elsewhere.

What should a fair agreement look like?

Clear, written and understood by you before you pay. There is no set price for immigration help. Fees vary a lot by case and by provider.

• Get it in writing. In California, when a lawyer expects your fees and costs to total more than $1,000, the agreement must be in writing. It must say how you will be charged (for example, a flat fee or an hourly rate), what work the lawyer will do, and what each of you is responsible for. You must get a copy signed by both of you. There are a few exceptions, such as an emergency. If the lawyer skips this, you may be able to cancel the agreement, but the lawyer can still be paid a reasonable fee for work done.
• Know the fee type. A flat fee is one price for a set task, like one application. An hourly fee depends on time spent, so ask for an estimate of the total.
• Government fees are separate. Filing fees for USCIS are paid to the government and are usually on top of what you pay your lawyer. Ask which fees are included.
• Watch the word "nonrefundable." The State Bar warns that with a nonrefundable retainer, you may not get your money back. Ask what happens to your money if you end the work early.
• Get a receipt for every payment. Avoid paying in cash.
• See your papers. When a lawyer or accredited representative files for you with USCIS, they file Form G-28, which you also sign. Ask for a copy of it and of everything they file in your name.

What should I ask at the first meeting?

Ask the questions that tell you whether you can trust this person. The first meeting is often called a consultation. Before you go, ask if it has a fee. Bring your immigration papers and a list of dates (entries, exits, arrests, past applications). Keep your originals and give copies.

A good helper answers plainly and does not rush you. Use the printable list below. Take notes, or bring a friend to take notes for you.

What are the red flags?

Stop and check again before you pay someone who:

• Will not give you their bar number, their organization's name, or a written agreement
• Promises you will win, or says they have special contacts inside immigration
• Asks you to sign a blank form, or a form with answers that are not true
• Wants cash only, or payment by gift card, wire transfer or a payment app to a personal account
• Found you first, by calling you or walking up to you to offer legal services
• Wants to keep your original passport or birth certificate
• Will not tell you what they filed, or will not give you copies

For more warning signs, see Warning signs of an immigration scam.

What if things go wrong?

Speak up right away. Feeling let down by someone you trusted hurts, but you still have options. Talk to your lawyer or representative first and say clearly what worries you. You can also get a second opinion from another lawyer or a nonprofit. If that does not fix it, use the options below. You can use more than one.

Ask for your file and your unearned money back. Do this in writing and keep a copy. If you cannot get your file from a lawyer, the State Bar's pilot Attorney Client Bridge Program may be able to help.

File a complaint with the State Bar if you think a California lawyer acted unethically, for example by taking money and doing little or no work, lying to you, or not returning your file.

• It is free. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen.
• File online in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian or Chinese, or download a paper form, which also comes in Tagalog.
• Questions? Call 800-843-9053.
• Send copies of your agreement, receipts, canceled checks, letters and texts. Keep the originals. Your own story is not enough on its own, so papers help.
• The State Bar tells you it received your complaint. A State Bar attorney reviews it, and if it looks like an ethics violation, it is investigated.

Disagree about the bill? If your main problem is how much you were charged, ask about fee arbitration. It is an informal, low cost way for a neutral person to decide whether the fees were fair, and it can order a refund. The lawyer usually must take part if you ask. If your lawyer sends you a "Notice of Client's Right to Fee Arbitration," you have 30 days to send in the request form. Call the State Bar fee arbitration program at 415-538-2020.

Apply to the Client Security Fund if a California lawyer took your money dishonestly.

• It can repay up to $100,000 per person for one lawyer, for losses on or after January 1, 2009.
• It can cover a fee you paid in advance when the lawyer did little or no work.
• Usually the lawyer must first have been disciplined, resigned or died, and you must have filed a State Bar complaint. The fund can make exceptions.
• Apply within 4 years of finding out about the loss. Applying is free, you do not need a lawyer, and you do not have to be a U.S. citizen.
• Applying does not stop other deadlines, so keep using your other options too.
• Call 213-765-1140 or email clientsecurityfund@calbar.ca.gov. Client Security Fund (State Bar of California)

Report a lawyer or accredited representative to immigration court officials. Anyone can send a written complaint to EOIR's disciplinary counsel, using Form EOIR-44, by email to EOIR.Attorney.Discipline@usdoj.gov. This is the place to report an accredited representative, too. Most complaints have no deadline, but file as soon as you can.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• State Bar of California: checks lawyers' licenses and takes complaints. Call 800-843-9053 (in California). The State Bar does not refer people to lawyers or give legal advice. Attorney search
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): a nonprofit and a Department of Justice recognized organization, with immigration help for people with low income who live in San Mateo or Santa Clara County. Call 650-326-6440, or visit 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. CLSEPA services
• More nonprofits: see Free legal help in the Bay Area. Outside the Bay Area, find a recognized nonprofit near you on the Department of Justice roster, which has a list by state.
• Lawyer referral services: the State Bar certifies lawyer referral services that can set up a first meeting for a reduced fee or no fee. See How much does immigration help cost?

You do not have to decide alone. Bring someone you trust.

Is there a question list I can print?