Building One Community -

IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES

B1C is accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as a provider of high-quality, low-cost immigration legal services. We have a staff immigration attorney and a team of staff and volunteer DOJ representatives who have gone through rigorous training and passed an exam to become accredited and qualified to provide immigration counseling.

Depending on the case and the services needed, different fees may apply. Any options and additional services will be discussed in advance.

Our Immigration Legal Services team also conducts legal clinics, information sessions, and educational presentations throughout the community, sometimes in partnership with other organizations.

B1C also provides other types of services, such as ELL and Citizenship classes, translations, notarizations, and wages representation.

GET STARTED

1. Contact us

Call us at (203) 391-4084 or (203) 674-8585 Ext. 109 or email us.

EMAIL US

2. Submit our intake form

INTAKE FORM

3. Schedule your consultation

We will give you an appointment at the earliest possible date.

4. Payment

$50 fee for consultations

Cash, check, or Paypal

After a consultation, we will determine if we can help you in these areas:

Petition for family members, apply for Green Card

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, we can assist you to petition for eligible family members, both relatives in the U.S. and abroad.

Become a Citizen

We can help eligible permanent residents apply for citizenship and prepare for the citizenship exam.

Get humanitarian protection

We can help you apply for protection under federal law where:

You fled your home country because of persecution or fear of persecution
You are the victim of a crime in the U.S.
You are a victim of domestic violence
You are a juvenile lacking parental protection.

Get temporary protection, DACA, TPS

If you came to the U.S. as a child, you may be eligible for DACA. If you came from certain countries as a result of a natural disaster or war, you may be eligible for TPS.

Other immigration legal needs

We can assist with Green Card renewals, travel permissions, certificates of citizenship, visa extensions, and many other USCIS processes.

Assist with your own asylum claim

We can help guide you file an initial asylum application, but without representing you.

Frequently asked questions about our Immigration Legal Services

How much do you charge for assistance?

Our fees recognize that many in the immigrant community have limited financial resources. Our fees are fixed based on the immigration process we are assisting with. We also provide fee waivers based on income and family circumstances.

I don’t speak English; can you still help me?

Most of our staff and volunteers speak several languages, and we can arrange for interpreters. We carry out consultations in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Polish, and other languages.

Will my information be protected?

All information provided to Immigration Legal Services will be kept confidential to the maximum extent provided by law. No information is released to third parties without the express consent of the client.

Will you meet with clients in person or remotely?

Our initial consultations are by phone, Zoom, or WhatsApp. We have follow-up meetings in person at B1C when needed. All cases where we provide representation will require at least one in-person meeting.

Will you represent me in Immigration Court?

We can assist a limited number of clients in Immigration Court in Hartford. Most of our work is focused on applications and petitions with the USCIS. If we cannot represent you in court, we will provide a list of other legal providers.

After my application is filed, will you still provide help if there are questions from the government?

Yes, our representation agreement includes assistance after filing. This includes responding to “Requests for Evidence” from the government and preparation for interviews.

Can I go to a “notario” for immigration legal help?

Immigration law is complex, and submitting applications prepared by unlicensed persons can result in serious consequences for the immigrant. We strongly recommend only using licensed immigration attorneys or DOJ Accredited Representatives.

Can I apply for food stamps, Medicaid, or subsidized housing without hurting my immigration options?

Yes! Receiving public benefits -- including food stamps, Medicaid (Husky), or subsidized housing – for which a person is otherwise eligible is permitted. It will not have a negative effect on current immigration status or eligibility for future immigration benefits.

I’m filling in my own forms, can you check them for me?

If we represent you, we will take full responsibility for completing and submitting forms based on the information you provide. However, we cannot review forms filled out by you or third parties and give a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Can you help me with housing problems, collecting wages, or getting government benefits?

Immigration Legal Services’ exclusive focus is on immigration law issues. Other areas of B1C can assist you or provide referrals for non-immigration issues. We can put you in touch with the right person.

What documents do I need to have for a consultation?

Normally, an initial consultation tries to understand the general issues that an immigrant may be facing and answer questions. If there are documents that will help us understand your situation better, please provide us copies before the consultation.

What if I only have general questions, do I need to pay for a consultation?

Every month, we offer a free one-hour Q&A session with our immigration attorney on Zoom. Anyone can attend without registration, and ask any immigration-related question they have. The Q&A happens on the 2^nd Wednesday of every month at 11:30 am. Contact us for information on how to log in.