The three public lists
- DOJ Recognition & Accreditation roster: nonprofits allowed to give immigration legal help, with their accredited staff.
- State bar lookup: whether a person is a licensed attorney and in good standing.
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: whether a nonprofit is real and current. Every listing in this directory that comes from IRS records links its public record.
Questions to ask on the phone
- Who will handle my case, and are they an attorney or an accredited representative?
- What does it cost, in writing, and what is included?
- Will I get copies of everything filed, with my own address on it?
- What happens if I decide to stop?
How this directory verifies listings
Listings start from public records: the IRS exempt-organizations file, the DOJ roster, federal health center data and organizations' own websites. An organization earns the "Verified" badge only when a person with an email on that organization's own website domain signs in and confirms the listing. Nobody can verify a listing for an organization they do not belong to.