U.S. Department
of Justice
Self-Help Legal Materials
EOIR Self-Help Legal Centers
Self Help Legal Centers, located within immigration courts, provide general legal information as well as specific information about the local immigration court to pro se respondents and other interested parties. The centers provide materials for general informational purposes only and are not a substitute for legal advice. They neither constitute any legal opinion by the Department of Justice nor create any rights or benefits. Further, they do not address all applicable laws or case interpretations, and are subject to change as new laws and regulations are enacted and circuit case precedent changes.
The centers provide blank forms including change of address and fee waiver forms. Information is provided on various forms of relief, including Asylum and Voluntary Departure, as well as the answers to frequently asked questions about the local immigration court.
Self-Help Legal Centers can facilitate respondents’ access to legal information, which in turn can increase court efficiency and improve outcomes in the immigration courts. As described in EOIR DM 22-01, self-help legal services “serve a vital role in providing respondents with access to basic legal services, helping respondents to understand the proceedings and thus enhancing the efficiency of court proceedings.” Respondents who have access to basic information require less assistance from court staff and are better prepared when they appear before an immigration judge. In addition, immigration judges can directly refer unrepresented respondents to the centers and the respondent can then obtain helpful information.
In addition to the self-help guides listed below, EOIR’s Immigration Court Online Resource (iCOR) provides information to help immigrants navigate immigration proceedings. This resource provides general information on what will happen during immigration hearings and how someone can prepare for their immigration court hearing. This includes information on how to contact the immigration court, check the status of your case, find legal representation, appeal an immigration judge’s decision, and more. This information is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Punjabi.
Self-Help Guides to Immigration Removal Proceedings and Common Forms of Relief
The following guides provide information on immigration removal proceedings and several common forms of relief from removal (deportation). The guides are tailored to assist individuals in immigration court proceedings and are available in all immigration courts. As noted above, the guides should be used for general informational purposes only and are not a substitute for legal advice. The distribution of these guides in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities and on this website does not indicate that EOIR’s or ICE’s interpretation of the law is the same as that expressed in the guides, or that EOIR or ICE endorse any of the organizations which drafted these guides. A list of all EOIR downloadable forms is available here.
Immigration Court Procedure
Notice to Appear (NTA)
Accessing an Attorney
Fraud
- Are You the Victim of Fraud?
- ¿Es víctima de fraude?
- Immigration Practitioner/Organization Complaint Form
- Formulario de queja contra un(a) professional/organización de inmigración
Change of Address and Change of Venue
- Have You Moved?
- ¿Se mudó o cambió la dirección?
- Você se mudou?
- EOIR-33 Alien’s Change of Address Form – Listed by Immigration Court
- EOIR-33 Alien’s Change of Address Form – Board of Immigration Appeals
Bond
Missed Hearing
Appeal
- Do You Disagree with the IJ's Decision
- ¿Está usted en Desacuerdo con la Decisión del Juez de Inmigración?
- Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge
- Fee Waiver Request
Types of Relief from Removal/Deportation
Asylum
- I'm Afraid to Go Home (Asylum)
- Tengo miedo de volver (Asilo)
- Tenho Medo de Voltar
- I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal
Cancellation of Removal for Nonpermanent Residents (42B)
- Application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents
- Additional self-help material is forthcoming. To learn more about Cancellation of Removal for Nonpermanent Residents, please visit the “Explore Relief Options” screening tool on the EOIR Immigration Court Online Resource portal or consult with an attorney.
Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders)
- Application for Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents
- Additional self-help material is forthcoming. To learn more about Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents, please visit the “Explore Relief Options” screening tool on the EOIR Immigration Court Online Resource portal or consult with an attorney.
T Nonimmigrant Status for Victims of Human Trafficking (T-Visa)
- Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
- Additional self-help material is forthcoming. You can learn more about T nonimmigrant status on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website for victims of human trafficking and other crimes.
U-Visa
- Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
- Additional self-help material is forthcoming. You can learn more about U nonimmigrant status on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website for victims of criminal activity.
Voluntary Departure
The ABA Know Your Rights Video - This updated video was created by the American Bar Association in collaboration with several immigrant advocacy organizations to introduce individuals in immigration detention to the immigration court system. The 45-minute video offers information that shows individuals how to navigate the court system and what to expect as they await their day in court. Through a series of vignettes with actors re-enacting typical scenarios, the video uses adult-education techniques to aid in comprehension and retention.
ImmigrationLawHelp.org - A website to help low-income individuals find help for their immigration proceedings. The website allows individuals to search in a variety of ways including by state and county, or by detention facility, to find organizations that offer free or low-cost legal services in the area of their choice.
Note: ImmigrationLawHelp.org is separate and distinct from EOIR’s list of Free Legal Service Providers, which is available here.
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) - provides a toolkit for nonprofit agencies that wish to provide legal immigration services to low income and indigent aliens.
The Florence Project (Arizona) - The Florence Project is a nonprofit legal service organization that provides free legal services to men, women and children detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), formerly known as the INS. The Florence Project has also developed comprehensive self-help legal materials for detained individuals proceeding without legal representation.
The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (also under Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) - LIRS is the national agency set up by Lutheran churches in the United States to carry out the churches' ministry with uprooted people. LIRS programs include refugee resettlement, foster care for refugee minors, assistance for political asylum seekers, immigration training and consulting, legislative advocacy, and public education.
Immigration Advocates Network- IAN is an online organization working to connect individuals to legal resources and services. Their resources include a list of nonprofit legal services providers and an online screening tool for potential forms of relief.
Note: The Immigration Advocates Network legal services provider list is separate and distinct from EOIR’s list of Free Legal Service Providers, which is available here.
For more information on OLAP’s programs and initiatives, please send an email to:
eoir-olap@usdoj.gov