Finding honest immigration help: the complete guide

We know looking for help can feel risky. You have heard stories. Maybe someone you know lost money, or lost a case. Here is the good news: honest help exists, much of it is free or low cost, and you can check anyone before you trust them. You do not have to guess.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office. We cannot take your case or represent you, and we cannot promise any result. What we can do is show you how to find someone who can.

On this page

1. Who is allowed to give me immigration legal advice?
2. Do I need a lawyer or an accredited representative?
3. What is a notario, and what may a consultant or notary do?
4. How do I check someone before I pay?
5. Where can I get free or low cost help in the Bay Area?
6. What if I have a court case or someone is detained?
7. How much does immigration help cost?
8. What are the red flags of a scam?
9. What should I bring to my first meeting?
10. What happens after I hire someone?
11. What if my helper cheated me or did a bad job?
12. Can our church or community group help neighbors with immigration forms?
13. What changed in 2025 and 2026?
14. Questions people ask
15. Printables, Who can help and Sources

Who is allowed to give me immigration legal advice?

Only two kinds of people may give you immigration legal advice: a licensed lawyer, or a DOJ accredited representative who works for a recognized nonprofit. Legal advice means telling you which form to file, what to answer, whether you qualify for something, or what risks you face.

You do not have to hire anyone to file with USCIS. USCIS says you may file and represent yourself, and that a "notario" or notary public in the United States is not a lawyer and cannot represent you (USCIS, Legal Services).

A few things to know:

• Immigration law is federal. A lawyer licensed in Texas or New York may handle your immigration case in California. Check them with their own state's bar.
• Accredited representatives are real help. They are trained, approved by the Department of Justice and supervised by their nonprofit. Many of the free groups near East Palo Alto use them. Accreditation lasts three years at a time.
• A few other people may sometimes appear for you. Federal rules also allow law students and recent law graduates working under supervision in a clinic, without pay from you. They also allow a "reputable individual," such as a trusted friend, to appear without pay on a single case, usually only with a relationship to you that already existed, and only if the immigration official permits it. Someone who regularly does immigration work, or who says they are qualified to, cannot use this rule.
• In immigration court, only a practitioner may speak for you. The court's own manual says notarios, visa consultants and "immigration specialists" who are not lawyers or accredited representatives are not authorized to represent anyone.

Do I need a lawyer or an accredited representative?

For most applications to USCIS, either one can help you. For immigration court, you need a lawyer or a fully accredited representative. Here is how to think about it.

If you have a case in immigration court, look for a lawyer or a representative with full accreditation. A representative marked "(DHS only)" may not go to court with you. Ask, "Can you represent me in immigration court?"

If you are filing with USCIS, such as a DACA renewal, a work permit, a family petition, a green card or citizenship, an accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit can often do the work. So can a lawyer.

If your case has hard parts, ask whoever you meet whether they have handled cases like yours. Hard parts include:

• Any arrest, ticket, charge or conviction, even an old one, even one that was cleared. See Crimes and immigration: the complete guide.
• A past deportation order, a past removal, or time spent outside the U.S. after living here without status
• A past application that was denied, or that someone else filed for you
• Fear of going back to your country. See Asylum: the complete guide.
• Being the victim of a crime, abuse or trafficking. See Survivors and immigration: the complete guide.

A good helper will tell you plainly if your case is beyond what they do, and will point you to someone else. That is a sign of honesty, not weakness.

What is a notario, and what may a consultant or notary do?

In California, a notario, notary or immigration consultant may only do paperwork tasks. They may not give legal advice. California has strict rules for them, and you can use those rules to protect yourself.

An immigration consultant may:

• Type your own answers onto a government form, without telling you what to answer
• Translate your answers
• Help you get supporting papers, like a birth certificate
• Mail or submit the finished forms for you, when you ask
• Refer you to a lawyer or accredited representative, without charging you for the referral

An immigration consultant may not:

• Give legal advice, or tell you which form or program fits you
• Represent you in immigration court
• Promise a result, or claim special friends or influence at immigration
• Take money for a new law or program before it actually starts. If they did, they must give it back within 30 days.

A consultant working legally in California must:

• File a $100,000 bond with the California Secretary of State and pass a background check
• Post a sign in the office, in English and in the language of their clients, that says they are not a lawyer and lists their fees
• Give you a written contract in English and in your language before any work. It must list each service and its price and say they are not a lawyer.
• Let you cancel the contract within 72 hours of signing. The Secretary of State says you get all your money back if you cancel in that time.
• Give you a signed receipt for every payment, a copy of every form they fill out for you, and your original papers back

These rules are in California Business and Professions Code sections 22440 to 22449.

About notaries public. A notary public in California who is not a lawyer and advertises in a language other than English must post a notice in that language saying, in substance, "I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matters." They may not call themselves a "notario público" or "notario." The Secretary of State must suspend or revoke a notary's commission for breaking these rules (Government Code 8219.5). Immigration consultants are also barred from using the word "notario" in ads and signs (Business and Professions Code 22442.3).

If someone already took your money, go to What if my helper cheated me or did a bad job? and to What to do if a notario or immigration consultant cheated you.

How do I check someone before I pay?

Ask for their full name, then look them up on the list that matches what they say they are. A real helper will not mind. If they refuse, walk away.

If they say they are a lawyer:

1. Ask for their full name, State Bar number and the state where they are licensed.
2. For a California lawyer, search the State Bar attorney search by name or bar number.
3. On their profile, check that they are eligible to practice law, and look for any 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. If the person is on it, do not hire them until you understand why. Click the date beside a name to read the order.

No internet? Call the State Bar at 800-843-9053 in California, or 213-765-1200 from outside California. The State Bar does not refer you to lawyers or give legal advice, but it can tell you about a license.

If they say they are an accredited representative:

1. Ask for their full name and the name of their nonprofit.
2. Open the Department of Justice roster. It has three lists: recognized organizations, accredited representatives, and both sorted by state. The current lists are dated October 11, 2026.
3. Find their name. Check that their status is active, that the nonprofit next to their name is the one they work for now, and that the nonprofit is active too. An asterisk means a renewal is pending.
4. Look for "(DHS only)" after the name. That means partial accreditation: no immigration court.

If they say they are a consultant or notary:

1. Search their last name or business name on the Secretary of State Immigration Consultant Search. It shows whether their bond is active.
2. Remember: even a listed consultant may not give you legal advice.

If you cannot find them anywhere, do not pay and do not sign. Look for help from a nonprofit on this page instead.

Where can I get free or low cost help in the Bay Area?

Start with a nonprofit. Many help for free or a small fee, and their staff are lawyers or DOJ accredited representatives. Call more than one. Openings change from week to week, and groups often have limits on where you live, your income or the kind of case.

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

In East Palo Alto and San Mateo County:

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): DACA, asylum, U visas and VAWA for survivors, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for young people, and deportation defense in court or detention. For people with low income who live in San Mateo or Santa Clara County. 650-326-6440. Walk in at 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. clsepa.org/services
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA), Redwood City: first consultation free. Everyone is welcome, whatever their income or status. By appointment only, no drop ins. IIBA's Redwood City office page says to call (650) 587-1558 for a free first consultation; its consultations page lists the office's main line, (650) 780-7530. Either number reaches the Redwood City office. 600 Allerton Street, Suite 101, Redwood City. Free citizenship workshop the second Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; register at (650) 780-7530.
• Catholic Charities San Francisco (serves San Mateo County): family petitions, green cards, citizenship, DACA, TPS, U and T visas, VAWA, asylum and court cases. (650) 285-6451. It says it never charges fees over the phone or through online ads. Catholic Charities immigration
• Coastside Hope, Half Moon Bay: for people who live or work on the Coastside. First consultation $50; help with filing fees may be available by income. 650-726-9071, extension 229. Coastside Hope
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: free civil legal help for people with low income in San Mateo County. Main line (650) 558-0915, 330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 123, Redwood City. Its LIBRE program gives limited immigration help, including consultations and help with VAWA, U visas and SIJS for teen parents, their families and other vulnerable immigrants. For a LIBRE attorney appointment, call 650-517-8936. LIBRE program
• Bay Area Legal Aid: for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking with low income (VAWA, U and T visas, SIJS). Advice line 1-800-551-5554, in all languages. Survivors are usually referred to its survivors' line by a domestic violence agency, police or a court. It generally does not take DACA. baylegal.org
• Tahirih Justice Center: free help for immigrant women and girls fleeing violence. Call 1-866-575-0071, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No walk ins. Bay Area office: 650-270-2100. Tahirih get help

In Santa Clara County:

• SIREN: citizenship, green cards, family petitions, DACA, U visas, VAWA and deportation defense. Free phone consultations by appointment; other services low cost. (408) 453-3003. For a court case, (559) 840-0005. SIREN
• Asian Law Alliance: free or low cost, for people with low income and people who speak limited English. Many Asian languages and Spanish. (408) 287-9710. asianlawalliance.org
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: $50 consultation, not refunded, for county residents with low to moderate income. (408) 468-0100. ccscc.org
• Amigos de Guadalupe: free and low cost. Walk in consultations Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m. (408) 341-6080. amigoscenter.com
• Step Forward Foundation: free consultations and help, mainly for Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties. (408) 915-8698. stepfwd.org
• More groups: Pars Equality Center (408) 261-6405, International Rescue Committee San Jose (408) 277-0255, Pangea Legal Services (415) 254-0475, and the Santa Clara University Community Law Center (408) 288-7030.

For the full details on each group, including what we found on the federal lists, see Free or low cost immigration legal help in the Bay Area.

County and state lists:

• Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations keeps a list of free to low cost legal help sorted by need. desj.santaclaracounty.gov/oir/legal-services
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services keeps its own legal help list: (650) 363-4194. smcgov.org
• California Department of Social Services funds nonprofits for immigration help and lists them by region: (916) 651-8017. cdss.ca.gov
• ImmigrationLawHelp.org lets you search nonprofit legal help by zip code, anywhere in the U.S. immigrationlawhelp.org
• Outside the Bay Area? Every check on this page works in any state. Use the DOJ roster list sorted by state to find recognized nonprofits near you, and the pro bono list for the immigration court that has your case.
• 211 can help you find local services by phone or text in many California counties, but not all. See 211: free help finding local services.

Students: many California colleges offer free immigration legal help on campus. See Where can college students get free immigration legal help?

Free workshops: IIBA holds a free citizenship workshop in Redwood City each month, and SIREN holds DACA renewal clinics on October 29, November 12 and December 10, 2026. See Becoming a citizen: the complete guide and DACA: the complete guide.

What if I have a court case or someone is detained?

Act today. Court dates and detention move fast, and the court will not give you a free lawyer in most cases. Federal law gives you the right to a lawyer in immigration court, but "at no expense to the Government." The judge must tell you about free legal services and make sure you got the list.

Do this now:

1. Find your A number and check your hearing. See Immigration court from start to finish.
2. Call two or three groups the same day. Say, "I have a case in immigration court and I need a lawyer," or "My family member was detained."
3. Use the court's own list. The DOJ List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers names groups and lawyers who promise at least 50 hours a year of free help at a court. It comes out four times a year. The court does not endorse anyone on it. Bay Area providers are listed under the Concord Immigration Court.
4. Keep a call log. Write down every group you called, the date and what they said. If you do not have a lawyer by your hearing, go anyway and ask the judge for more time to find one.

Groups that say they take court cases near East Palo Alto: CLSEPA 650-326-6440, SIREN (559) 840-0005, Step Forward (408) 915-8698, Pangea (415) 254-0475, Asian Law Alliance (408) 287-9710 (for people fleeing persecution) and Catholic Charities San Francisco (650) 285-6451, including bond hearings. San Mateo County also lists the Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic, 650-724-9068.

For someone held by immigration, Santa Clara County lists six groups: Amigos de Guadalupe, CLSEPA, Pangea, the Santa Clara University Community Law Center, Step Forward and SIREN. The county says their ability to take new clients "varies and is not guaranteed." If one says no, ask who they would call next. See When a loved one is detained: the complete guide.

For children, federal funding for children's lawyers has been cut back. The group that ran the main federal contract says it ended July 31, 2026. California's Youth Legal Services program lists $6.7 million for 2026 to 2027 for nonprofits that represent immigrant youth. That helps many children, but it is not a promise for every child. Do not wait for a lawyer to be assigned. Call CLSEPA at 650-326-6440. See Can I get a free lawyer for immigration court?

How much does immigration help cost?

Nonprofit help is often free or low cost. Private lawyers set their own prices, and there is no standard fee. Government filing fees are separate and go only to the government.

What we found at Bay Area nonprofits (checked October 21, 2026):

Lawyer referral services. The State Bar certifies lawyer referral services, which must meet standards set by the California Supreme Court. They match you with a lawyer, and you can set up a first meeting for a reduced fee or no fee. Near East Palo Alto:

• San Mateo County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: (650) 369-4149. A $45 fee, paid in advance and not refunded, covers one lawyer's name and a meeting of up to 30 minutes. Call if you need an interpreter. (checked October 19, 2026)
• Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral and Information Service: lists immigration law among its areas. (415) 989-1616. (checked October 19, 2026)
• Santa Clara County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: (669) 302-7803. Its practice area list did not include immigration on October 19, 2026. It says if your area is not listed, it does not have a lawyer for it.

If you hire a private lawyer:

• Get it in writing. In California, when a lawyer expects your fees and costs to total more than $1,000, the agreement generally must be in writing, signed by both of you, and you get a copy. It must say how you will be charged, what work the lawyer will do, and what each of you will do.
• Know the fee type. A flat fee is one price for a set task. An hourly fee depends on time, so ask for an estimate of the total.
• Watch the word "nonrefundable." The State Bar warns that with a nonrefundable retainer you may not get your money back.
• Ask which government fees are on top. Lawyer fees and USCIS or court fees are separate.
• Get a receipt every time. Avoid paying in cash.

Government fees (examples, checked October 18 and 19, 2026):

• DACA renewal: $555 online, $605 on paper. No fee waiver.
• Citizenship (Form N-400): $710 online, $760 on paper, a $380 reduced fee, or $0 with an approved waiver. See How much citizenship costs.
• Immigration court: an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals costs $1,060. The annual asylum fee is $105 and cannot be waived. See New immigration court and asylum fees in 2026.

Help paying. In California, Mission Asset Fund offers 0% interest loans for many USCIS fees, and some Bay Area Dreamers can get a grant of up to $5,000 that can also cover lawyer fees. See Can I get money to pay for immigration fees? and DACA fee help.

What are the red flags of a scam?

Stop and check again before you pay anyone who does any of these things. Scammers can be friendly, speak your language, and go to your church. That is how they earn trust.

• Calls themselves a "notario," "immigration expert" or "immigration specialist" and is not a lawyer
• Will not give you their bar number, their nonprofit's name, or a written contract in your language
• Promises a green card, work permit or visa, or says you are sure to win
• Says they have special friends inside immigration who can speed things up
• Charges you to "get on a list" for a new law or program that has not started. Until a program actually begins, there is no list and no line.
• Charges for blank forms
• Asks you to sign a blank form, or a form with answers that are not true
• Wants to keep your original passport, birth certificate or other papers
• Wants cash only, or payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency
• Found you first, by calling you or walking up to you to offer legal help
• Will not tell you what they filed, or will not give you copies
• Says they are from the government and asks for money or personal details by phone, text or email. Real government websites end in .gov.

How to pay government fees safely. Pay USCIS directly: through Pay.gov when you file online, or for a paper form by card (Form G-1450) or from a U.S. bank account (Form G-1650). USCIS no longer takes checks or money orders for paper forms unless you qualify for an exemption (USCIS Filing Fees, checked October 21, 2026). USCIS says it does not take Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal or gift cards for immigration fees, and will never ask you to pay a person by phone or email. Since February 23, 2026, the immigration court takes fees only by electronic payment through its own portal.

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

What should I bring to my first meeting?

Bring every immigration paper you have, a list of key dates, and your questions. Keep your originals. Bring copies to leave with them, and the originals only to show.

Papers to bring:

• Your passport, birth certificate and any ID
• Any card or paper from immigration: work permit, green card, I-94, visa, DACA approval
• Every notice from USCIS, ICE or the immigration court, including any Notice to Appear and hearing notice
• Copies of anything you or anyone else ever filed for you
• Any arrest, ticket, charge or court record, even if it was dismissed or cleared. See Crimes and immigration: the complete guide.
• Papers about your family: marriage, divorce, children's birth certificates, a family member's status

A short timeline on one page: when you first came, every time you left and came back, any time you were stopped at the border, any past applications, and any arrest. Write what you know. Gaps are fine. Do not guess or make up dates.

Your questions. Use the printable list. Bring a pen, or a friend who can take notes. Ask for an interpreter if you need one. You have every right to understand what is said about your own case.

Tell the truth. What you tell your lawyer or representative helps them protect you. A surprise later, like an old arrest they did not know about, can hurt your case much more than the truth told early.

What happens after I hire someone?

You should get a written agreement, copies of what is filed for you, and a way to reach your helper. Here is what to expect.

• An agreement. From a lawyer, in writing when fees are expected to pass $1,000. From a consultant, always in writing in English and your language. Read it before you sign. Ask what is not included.
• A notice that they represent you. For USCIS, your lawyer or accredited representative files Form G-28, which you also sign. In immigration court, your representative files Form EOIR-28. The court does not treat anyone as your representative without it. Ask for a copy of both.
• Copies of everything filed in your name. Keep them at home in one folder.
• Updates. Ask how fast they usually answer, and ask them to tell you right away about any notice, deadline or hearing.

Help with only part of a court case. Sometimes a lawyer or accredited representative will help you write or fill out one court paper without taking your whole case. This is called limited document assistance. They must tell the court by filing Form EOIR-61 with that paper. You still speak for yourself in court, and they do not go to your hearings.

Your job does not stop. Keep your address current with the court and with USCIS. Go to every hearing and appointment. Keep paying any fee on time. Save every letter. Your helper can only act on what they know.

What if my helper cheated me or did a bad job?

Protect your case first. Then get your papers back, report it, and go after your money. It is not your fault. Scammers are good at sounding trustworthy. You can still act.

Step 1: protect your case. Get a second opinion this week from a lawyer or accredited representative at a nonprofit on this page. Bring everything. A wrong or false filing can harm your case, and some deadlines are short. Do not go back to the same person, and do not pay a new "fixer" who promises to undo the damage. If false facts went on a form, tell your new helper right away.

Step 2: get your papers. Ask in writing for your original documents and a copy of every form prepared or filed for you. California law requires a consultant to return originals and give you copies. A lawyer must give you your file if you ask.

Step 3: report it. You can report to more than one place.

Step 4: try to get your money back.

• A consultant, within 72 hours of signing: cancel in writing and get all your money back.
• A consultant, later: you can ask for a refund in writing, sue in small claims court for up to $12,500, or ask a lawyer about a lawsuit under the consultant law, which can award your losses plus three times your damages or $1,000 per violation, whichever is more.
• A California lawyer, a fee fight: ask the State Bar about fee arbitration, an informal, low cost way to decide if fees were fair. If your lawyer sent you a "Notice of Client's Right to Fee Arbitration," you have 30 days to ask for it. 415-538-2020.
• A California lawyer who took money dishonestly: apply to the State Bar's Client Security Fund. It can repay up to $100,000. Apply within 4 years of finding out about the loss. It is free, and you do not have to be a citizen. 213-765-1140.

Worried that reporting will hurt you because of your status? The State Bar says it does not ask for or track status. The Secretary of State says law enforcement will look into a consultant complaint whatever your immigration status. The Attorney General's form does not ask about status. The EOIR pages do not say how they treat the status of people who report. If you are worried, talk with a nonprofit before you report to a federal office.

For every step in detail, see What to do if a notario or immigration consultant cheated you and How to find a lawyer you can trust.

Can our church or community group help neighbors with immigration forms?

Yes, in limited ways. Without a lawyer or accredited representative, your volunteers may help with paperwork, not legal advice. Churches and community groups are often the first place people turn. That trust is a gift. Protect it.

What volunteers can do safely:

• Host a free workshop run by a recognized nonprofit or a lawyer. Many groups on this page hold them.
• Share this guide and the lists of free help. Help people make the call.
• Drive people to appointments, watch children, bring food, and sit with someone at a hard meeting.
• Help gather papers, make copies and keep a family's folder organized.
• Teach people the red flags, and how to check a lawyer or representative.

What volunteers should not do without a lawyer or accredited representative:

• Tell someone which form to file, whether they qualify, or what to answer
• Fill out forms by choosing the answers for the person
• Charge any money for help with immigration papers
• Call yourselves "immigration helpers," "experts" or "notarios"

If your group wants to give legal help itself, the path is federal recognition. The Department of Justice recognizes only nonprofit, federally tax exempt groups, and accredited representatives may give legal help only through a recognized group. Talk with a nearby recognized nonprofit about partnering or getting started.

A narrow federal rule lets a "reputable individual," such as a trusted friend or pastor, appear for one person before an immigration agency, without pay, usually only with a relationship to them that already existed, and only if the immigration official allows it. It is not a way to run a help desk. Ask a lawyer before you rely on it.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Here is what we confirmed as of October 21, 2026. If you read older advice, check it against this list.

• Free legal programs in court were cut (April 2025). The Department of Justice ended contracts for the Legal Orientation Program, the Immigration Court Helpdesk and related programs, effective April 16, 2025, according to the Congressional Research Service. A court ruled for the government in July 2025. Fewer people now get free legal information at the courthouse, so call a nonprofit early.
• Children's lawyers lost federal money (2025 and 2026). After a court fight that CLSEPA helped bring, the group that ran the main federal contract for children's legal services says the contract ended July 31, 2026. California still funds some children's lawyers.
• California warned about notario fraud (June 2025). The Attorney General warned about calls and texts about a fake "problem" with a case, and about consultants who falsely call themselves immigration lawyers.
• New court and asylum fees (July 2025 to now). A federal law signed July 4, 2025 added fees in immigration court and at USCIS. An appeal now costs $1,060, and the annual asylum fee is $105 with no waiver. Since February 23, 2026, the court takes fees only by electronic payment.
• The San Francisco Immigration Court closed (September 4, 2026). Bay Area cases now go to the Concord Immigration Court.
• The court's free lawyer list was updated (September 24, 2026). Bay Area providers are listed under Concord.
• The federal roster was updated (October 11, 2026). Several Bay Area nonprofits show "renewal pending." That is normal while their recognition is being renewed.
• The federal fraud reporting site was down (October 2026). From October 18 to 21, 2026, the FTC fraud reporting site was closed because of a federal government shutdown. Report to the California Attorney General first.
• A citizenship fee increase was proposed (June 2026). USCIS proposed raising the online citizenship fee from $710 to $1,280 and ending the reduced fee and fee waivers. As of October 21, 2026 it was still a proposal, not the fee in effect. Check the fee on the day you file.

What has not changed: only a lawyer or an accredited representative may give you immigration legal advice. A notario is still not a lawyer. And you can still check anyone before you pay.

Questions people ask

Is a free nonprofit as good as a paid lawyer? It can be. Many nonprofit staff are lawyers or DOJ accredited representatives who do immigration work every day. What matters is that the person is qualified, honest and has handled cases like yours.

Can an accredited representative go to court with me? Only if they have full accreditation. If the roster shows "(DHS only)" after their name, they may help with USCIS but not in immigration court.

My notario was a notary public. Is that legal? A notary public is not a lawyer and may not give immigration legal advice. In California a notary may not call themselves a "notario." See What to do if a notario or immigration consultant cheated you.

Will a lawyer report me to immigration? California law requires lawyers to keep their clients' secrets (Business and Professions Code 6068). Telling your lawyer the whole truth helps them protect you. If you are afraid, ask them about confidentiality at the start.

Can a lawyer from another state help me in California? Yes, for immigration law, which is federal. Check that they are in good standing with their own state's bar.

How much should a consultation cost? There is no set price. At the nonprofits we checked, it ranged from free to $50. The county bar lawyer referral service in San Mateo County charges $45 for up to 30 minutes. Ask before you go.

What if no one has room for my case? Keep calling, and ask each group who they would call next. Keep a call log. If you have a court date, go anyway and ask the judge for more time. See Can I get a free lawyer for immigration court?

I am a college student. Where do I start? At your campus. See Where can college students get free immigration legal help?

Who can help me with DACA in California? California pays nonprofits to help with DACA for free or at low cost. See Can I get help filing my DACA application in California?

Can I get money to pay my lawyer or my fees? Sometimes. See Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?

Someone online offered to fill out my forms for a low price. Is that OK? Check them first. Many online sellers are not lawyers or accredited representatives. Official forms are free on uscis.gov. If they choose your form or your answers, they are giving legal advice.

I already paid. Can I still back out? With a consultant, you can cancel within 72 hours of signing and get all your money back. With a lawyer, read your agreement and ask about money paid in advance that was not earned. Either way, cancel in writing and keep a copy.

Can undocumented people become lawyers? Yes, in California. See Can undocumented people become lawyers?

Check before you pay

What to say when you call

Who can help?

These are public offices and nonprofit legal programs. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): 650-326-6440, 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. clsepa.org
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City: consultations (650) 587-1558; main line and workshops (650) 780-7530. iibayarea.org
• Bay Area Legal Aid advice line: 1-800-551-5554. baylegal.org
• SIREN, San Jose: (408) 453-3003. sirenimmigrantrights.org
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194. smcgov.org
• Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations: desj.santaclaracounty.gov/oir
• California Department of Social Services, Immigration Services: (916) 651-8017. cdss.ca.gov
• State Bar of California: check a lawyer or file a complaint, 800-843-9053. calbar.ca.gov
• California Attorney General: report a scam, (800) 952-5225. oag.ca.gov/report

You deserve honest help, and it is out there. Check first, ask your questions, and keep the papers in your own hands. One good call today can change what happens next. Do not lose hope.