I want to know if I have a path to papers
Your status today, the main paths and getting screened safely.
5 steps
Step 1 of 5: Know your status today
Your current status decides which doors are open.
- What is my immigration statusYour immigration status is the legal category the government has you in. It decides whether you can work, travel, get some benefits, and how safe you are from deportation. Many people are not sure which one they have, or think a pending application is the same as a status. It isn't. Here is how the main ones differ and how to find out yours.Guide
- What is my immigration status checklistPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 2 of 5: Learn the main paths
Family, survivor, humanitarian and other paths.
- Undocumented Green Card PathsThere is no single line to stand in, and living here 10 years does not earn a green card by itself. But many undocumented people do have a path they don't know about yet, through family, harm they survived, their age, or an old petition. A free screening is how you find out. Here are the real paths, the myths that cost people money and years, and where to get checked for free.Guide
- Family Petitions OverviewIf your relative is a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, they may be able to file for you. Some relatives can move fast. Others wait in line for years. How you entered the country can decide whether you finish here or abroad. Here is who can file, how long it takes, what it costs and what to check before anyone files.Guide
- Survivor OptionsYes, there is protection for people who went through something terrible. U.S. law has five main paths for survivors, and you do not need papers to ask about any of them. Here is a plain map of each one, who it is for, and where to get free help in the Bay Area.Guide
- Screening prep sheetPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 3 of 5: Get screened by someone qualified
Check who you pay before you pay.
- Find a Trusted LawyerCheck before you pay. A few minutes can protect your money and your case. Here is how to look up a lawyer or a Department of Justice accredited representative, what a fair agreement looks like, what to ask at the first meeting, and what to do if something goes wrong.Guide
- Immigration ScamsBefore you pay anyone for help with immigration papers, check them. Some helpers are not allowed to give legal advice, and some are scammers. Here is how to spot the warning signs, check someone in five minutes, protect your papers and your money, and what to do if it already happened to you.Guide
- Questions for your first meetingPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 4 of 5: If there is no path yet
No path today does not mean no path ever.
- No Clear Path YetNo path today does not mean no path ever. Laws change, families change, and many people find an option they missed. You can get ready now. Get a real screening, gather your records, protect your family, and keep your record clean, so you can move fast when a door opens.Guide
- Ready folder checklistPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 5 of 5: Get help from a person
You do not have to do this alone. Ask about cost, languages and current openings before you share documents.
- ImmigrationLawHelp.orgA national directory of free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal service providers. Search by ZIP code, county or the name of a detention facility.Organization
- DOJ recognized organizations and accredited representativesFederal lists of nonprofit organizations recognized by the Department of Justice and their accredited non-attorney representatives, who are allowed to represent people before immigration agencies and courts. Use it to check that a non-lawyer helper is authorized.Organization
This page puts DNLH guides in a useful order. It is general information, not legal advice. Each guide shows its sources and the date its facts were checked.
Not quite your situation?
All situations- ICE detained someone in my familyFind them, get legal help and keep the family going.6 steps
- I want to be ready if agents come to my door, work or carYour rights, what to carry and how to report.5 steps
- I got a court date or a Notice to AppearUnderstand the notice, never miss a hearing, find a lawyer.5 steps
- I want a plan in case I am separated from my childrenWho cares for them, the forms, money and talking with kids.5 steps
Show 4 more situations
- I have a green card and want to become a citizenCheck first, apply, study and prepare for the interview.6 steps
- Someone hurt me, or I survived abuse or traffickingSafety first, then the immigration options made for survivors.5 steps
- A notario, consultant or lawyer hurt my caseProtect your case, report it and try to get your money back.4 steps
- My USCIS case is stuck, or I movedCheck, ask, escalate, and keep your address current.4 steps