Immigration Legal Services at the Esperanza Center

For Immigration Clients in English
Para Clientes de Inmigración en Español
For Our Volunteers
Donate to ILS
Our Supporters
Our Memberships

For Our Immigration Clients

Immigration Legal Services (ILS) was founded in 1994 to provide low-cost legal counseling and representation in humanitarian and family-based immigration matters. As one of the largest non-profit immigration legal services providers in the state, we serve individuals from over 150 different countries who reside in Maryland or have immigration cases in Maryland. We assist clients and their family members seeking to obtain, extend, or retain lawful immigration status or citizenship in the United States.

We provide affordable and pro bono legal counseling and representation in a wide range of immigration matters including:

Immigration consultations
Family-based petitions
Adjustment of status
Trafficking, crime victim, and domestic violence-based immigration applications
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) applications and renewals
Immigrant visa processing
Applications for Citizenship
Inadmissibility waiver applications
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
NACARA (Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act)
Removal defense (Defense against deportation)
Asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture

Immigration Legal Services:
667-600-2922
[email protected]

How to Consult with an ILS Attorney

*Please note: ILS has resumed new immigration consults by appointment only*

ILS Menu of Services

Our office provides immigration consultations to all Maryland residents. During the consultation, the attorney or accredited representative will discuss your immigration options. Any government or office fees related to application filings will be discussed during the consultation. Participating in a consultation does not guarantee we can take your case. Please call 667-600-2922 and follow the prompts to leave a voicemail for the type of consult you desire. The consultation fee is $100 money order. No cash, credit card, or personal checks accepted. If you are unable to pay the consultation fee, fee waivers are available on a limited basis.

Consultation Fee Waiver Request Form

Please submit fee waiver by mail to:

ILS
ATTN: Fee Waiver Request
430 S. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231

For survivors of crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking: Please call to schedule a free consultation. Bring a copy of your police report, if any. Click here for ILS menu of services.
For those interested in Naturalization or Citizenship: click here.
For those needing a consultation as an asylee or refugee interested in applying for your green card: click here.
Former clients: To request ILS representation for a new service, you must attend a new consultation.

Para clientes de inmigración en español

Los Servicios Legales de Inmigración se fundaron en 1994 para brindar asesoría legal y representación a bajo costo en asuntos de inmigración humanitaria y familiar. Como uno de los proveedores de servicios legales de inmigración sin fines de lucro más grandes del estado, atendemos a personas de más de 150 países diferentes que residen en Maryland o tienen casos de inmigración en Maryland. Asistimos a los clientes y sus familiares que buscan obtener, extender o retener el estatus migratorio legal o la ciudadanía en los Estados Unidos.

Brindamos asesoría legal y representación gratuita y pro bono en una amplia gama de asuntos de inmigración que incluyen:

Consultas de inmigración
Peticiones familiares
Ajuste de estatus
Aplicaciones de inmigración basadas en las víctimas de delitos, violencia doméstica, o tráfico humano
Solicitudes y renovaciones de DACA
Procesamiento de visa de inmigrante
Solicitudes de ciudadanía
Solicitudes de exención de inadmisibilidad
Estado de protección temporal (TPS)
NACARA (Ley de ayuda nicaragüense y centroamericana)
Defensa de remoción (Defensa contra deportación)

Asilo, retención de deportación y socorro bajo la Convención contra la Tortura

Servicios Legales de Inmigración
667-600-2922
[email protected]

To learn more about our legal services, haga clic aqui.

Cómo consultar con un Abogado/a de ILS

Nuestra oficina brinda consultas de inmigración a todos los residentes de Maryland. Durante la consulta, el abogado o representante acreditado discutirá sus opciones de inmigración. Cualquier cargo gubernamental o de oficina relacionado con la presentación de solicitudes se discutirá durante la consulta. Participar en una consulta no garantiza que podamos llevar su caso. Llame al 667-600-2922 para programar una consulta. El costo de la consulta es un giro postal de $ 100. No se acepta efectivo, tarjetas de crédito o cheques personales. Si no puede pagar la tarifa de la consulta, las exenciones de tarifas están disponibles de forma limitada.

Haga clic aquí para obtener el formulario de solicitud de exención de tarifas de consulta. Envíe la exención de tarifas por correo a: ILS, ATTN: Solicitud de exención de tarifas; 430 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231.

Para sobrevivientes de delitos, violencia doméstica, agresión sexual y trata de personas: Llame para programar una consulta gratuita. Traiga una copia de su informe policial, si lo hubiera. Haga clic aquí para ver el menú de servicios de ILS.
Para aquellos interesados en naturalización o ciudadanía: haga clic aquí.
Para aquellos que necesitan una consulta como asilado o refugiado interesado en solicitar su tarjeta verde: haga clic aquí.
Clientes anteriores: Para solicitar la representación de ILS para un nuevo servicio, debe asistir a una nueva consulta.

Additional Resources from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For Our Volunteers

ILS and Pro Bono Services Program (PBP)

Attorney Volunteers (Pro Bono Attorneys; Maryland License is Not Required)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a form of immigration relief resulting in a path to citizenship for certain unaccompanied minors who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by one or both parents. Before applying for SIJS, an order of special findings must be sought from the circuit court, usually through a guardianship or custody hearing. SIJS cases involve court representation.
Asylum (Withholding of Removal and/or protection under the Convention Against Torture): Asylum is a humanitarian form of immigration relief resulting in a path to citizenship for people who have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of one of five protected grounds (race, religion, national origin, political opinion, membership in a particular social group). Click here to learn more about asylum. Asylum cases may or may not involve court representation.
Crime victim representation: Immigrant crime victims may be eligible for special protections that result in a path to citizenship. Crime victim representation generally does not involve court representation. Click here to learn more about the U nonimmigrant visa for crime victims.

If you are an attorney interested in supporting our Pro Bono legal services program, here’s how to register:

Create a Better Impact volunteer profile. Indicate your interest in at least the “Immigration Legal Services” program.
Sign up to receive the PBP newsletter. Volunteer opportunities and training announcements are made primarily through this email newsletter, once a month.
Participate in orientation by phone or in-person.

Individual Case Placement
The demand for low or no-cost immigration legal services always exceeds ILS’s capacity, and we need pro bono attorneys to help represent the underserved immigrant population. ILS Pro Bono Attorneys provide representation to pre-screened asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence/trafficking/sexual assault, victims of crime and unaccompanied immigrant minors.

ILS provides topic-specific training for new volunteer attorneys. Register here for our series of immigration overview training called “So You Want to Pro Bono?” No case commitment required. For upcoming topic-specific training, register here. Case commitment required. Review a list available cases.

How does ILS support pro bono attorneys?

• Training
• Templates
• Mentorship and document review
• Court accompaniment and observation
• Malpractice insurance
• Interpretation and translation services
• Meeting space for scheduled appointments

Legal Clinics

ILS conducts two types of clinics: (1) consultation clinics, and (2) group processing clinics for eligible individuals to receive application assistance. Clinics are generally held on Saturdays at least quarterly. For more information, the schedule of available clinic dates, and to sign up, click here.

Non-attorney volunteers (Interpreters/Translators; Legal clinic assistance)

Register to Volunteer as a Legal Clinic Assistance
ILS conducts two types of clinics: (1) consultation clinics, and (2) group processing clinics for eligible individuals to receive application assistance. Clinics are generally held on Saturdays at least quarterly. For more information, the schedule of available clinic dates, and to sign up, click here.

Create a Better Impact volunteer profile. Indicate your interest in at least the “Immigration Legal Services” program.
Sign up to receive the PBP newsletter. Volunteer opportunities and training announcements are made primarily through this email newsletter, once a month.

Register to Volunteer as an Interpreter / Translator
For those interested in volunteering as interpreters (live or telephonic) or translators for immigration-related appointments:

Create a Better Impact volunteer profile. Indicate your interest in at least the “Immigration Legal Services” program.
Email [email protected] with “ILS INTERPRETER/TRANSLATOR” in the subject line.
Sign up to receive the PBP newsletter. Volunteer opportunities and training announcements are made primarily through this email newsletter, once a month.

In-House Volunteering (Attorneys, Non-Attorneys, and Law Students)

ILS recruits attorneys, law students, paralegals, and others to volunteer in our office, during business hours, under the supervision of our staff. Visit the Volunteer Page of Esperanza Center to participate in an information session. Thank you for wanting to make a difference in our community.

Donate to ILS

Check back soon to donate directly to ILS. Thank you.

Catholic Charities of Baltimore Immigration Legal Services would appreciate any recent editions of books/materials for our modest law library. As you plan for your annual law library updates, please consider donating the outgoing/older editions to us. These materials would be very much appreciated in our work and would make helpful additions to our library. Please mail to 430 S. Broadway, 3rd floor, Baltimore, MD 21231.