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Pro se help desks

Last updated on September 2, 2022

This is a list of organizations that provide limited legal assistance to asylum seekers without lawyers in immigration court. Please reach out to these organizations directly for details on their services. The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) has listed the pro se help desks we know about. Please email us at info@asylumadvocacy.org if you have other recommendations. Visit ASAP’s Find Help page to find other legal and social services.

California

Esperanza (Los Angeles)

  • Location: Currently only providing services remotely over the phone.
  • Phone number: (323) 905-0404. Send a text with your name and a description of the assistance you seek.
  • Help desk hours: Available by phone Tuesdays & Thursdays.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33), Notice of Appeal
  • Special notes: Also work with individuals who were placed in MPP (whether they are in the U.S. or in Mexico).

Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) (East Palo Alto)

  • Location: CLESPA, 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
  • Phone number: (650) 326-6440
  • Help desk hours: Available for walk-in appointments Monday – Thursday: 9am – 1pm PT. You can also call CLSEPA to schedule another time.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33)

Centro Legal de la Raza (Oakland)

  • Location: Currently only providing services remotely.
  • Phone number: (510) 437-1554
  • Help desk hours: Please reach out for details.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589)

Colorado

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (Denver)

  • Location: Please reach out for details.
  • Phone number: (720) 543-8898
  • Help desk hours: Please reach out for details.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589), Notice of Appeal

Florida

Catholic Charities Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami (Miami)

  • Location: Please reach out for details.
  • Phone number: (786) 414-2770
  • Help desk hours: Please reach out for details.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33), Notice of Appeal

Georgia

Center for Excellence (Atlanta)

  • E-mail: aliya@innovationlawlab.org
  • Help desk hours: Please reach out for details.
  • Services: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765)

Illinois

National Immigrant Justice Center (Chicago)

  • Location: Please reach out for details.
  • Phone number: (312) 660-1328
  • Help desk hours: Taking live calls Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm CT. If you are unable to reach someone, please leave a message.
  • Services provided: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33)

Massachusetts

Catholic Charities of Boston (Boston)

  • Location: Call to request an appointment. Catholic Charities staff are available in-person at Boston Immigration Court on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
  • Phone number: (617) 464-8000
  • Email address: ichadmin@ccab.org
  • Help desk hours: Call for more details.
  • Services provided: Asylum application (form I-589), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33)

New York

Catholic Charities Community Services, Archdiocese of New York (New York)

  • Location: 80 Maiden Lane New York, NY 10038
  • Phone number: (315) 690-4831. Call and leave a message or send a text message with your name, A-number, and phone number.
  • Help desk hours: Call for more details.
  • Services provided: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33)

Texas

American Gateways (San Antonio)

  • Location: Please reach out for details.
  • Phone number: (210) 521-4768, ext. 232
  • Help desk hours: Taking calls Monday through Thursday, 9am-12pm CT.

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc. (El Paso)

  • Location: Call for more details.
  • Phone number: (915) 532-3975 ext. 8401
  • Help desk hours: Call for more details.
  • Services provided: Asylum application (form I-589), work permit application (form I-765), motion to change venue, change of address (form E-33), Notice of Appeal (form E-26)