[:en] Immigration Legal Resources Document
HOUSTON IMMIGRATION LAW RESOURCES
This sheet is to help people living in the US who do not have legal papers. If you need help for yourself or your family, please call one of the groups listed below to learn more about your options or to talk with a lawyer who specializes in immigration.
Basic Legal Options
Asylum – To qualify, a person must fear harm in his/her home country because of a protected characteristic like race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
Special immigrant juvenile status – Children under 21 years of age may qualify if all of the following are true:
- They are declared to be a dependent of the court or legally placed under the custody of a state department or agency.
- It is not in the best interest of the child to return to his or her home country.
- The child cannot be reunited with a parent because of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or similar reason under state law.
U Visa – A person may qualify if he/she is a victim of a violent crime in the US and is helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.
T Visa – For victims of human trafficking under 18 years of age who are present in the US because of trafficking and have assisted with the investigation or prosecution of trafficking.
Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) – Battered spouses, children and parents of US Citizens who are in the US illegally may petition for legal status, receive employment authorization, and access public benefits on their own without the cooperation of an abusive spouse, parent, or adult child.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – Young persons who arrived in the US before the age of 16 years and have lived in the US since 2007 may qualify. DACA allows them to stay in the US without being deported for a period of 2-3 years and to apply for work authorization.
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) – Parents with a child who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident and have lived in the US continuously since 2010 may qualify. DAPA allows them to stay in the US without being deported and apply for work authorization
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance
Location: 2900 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77006
Languages: Multiple languages available
Types of Assistance:
- Charlas: free information sessions in Spanish and English offered 3 times per month at the main office and once per month in Richmond. At these sessions, you learn about immigration laws, and afterwards, you will have the opportunity for a free consultation with an Immigration Attorney. First come, first serve. You can find the schedule on the website or call (713) 874-6570 for more information.
- Citizenship Workshops: offered free of charge. Call 713-874-6700 or email citizenship@catholiccharities.org for the schedule and to register.
- By appointment only: DACA application assistance services, Family Petitions, Naturalization, Cuban Adjustment, Refugee and Asylee Adjustment, T Visa, U Visa, and VAWA, Asylum, Unaccompanied Minors, and Deferred Action
Cost: $30 intake fee unless attending a Charla session or Citizenship Workshop. If income is below 125% of the federal poverty line, you may get your services for free.
YMCA of Greater Houston – International Services
Location: 6300 Westpark Dr., Suite 600, Houston, TX 77057 (Near Hillcroft transit center)
Phone Number: (713) 339-9015 / Website: http://www.ymcainternationalservices.org
Languages: Multiple languages available
Types of Assistance: Asylum, employment authorization, family petitions, naturalization and citizenship, permanent residency, removal/deportation proceedings, victims of crime, victims of domestic violence, and victims of human trafficking
When: Walk-in on Wednesdays only from 9am-3pm. First come, first serve.
Cost: $40 (free if seeking asylum, trafficking, or domestic violence)
Neighborhood Centers Inc. – Baker Ripley Center
Location: 6500 Rookin St., Suite 104-B, Houston, TX 77074
Phone Number: (713) 273-3707 / Website: Neighborhood-centers.org
Languages: English, Spanish, and others
Types of Assistance: All immigration cases
When: Walk-in every Friday starting at 9:30am (line starts at 8am in building B)
Cost: $30 for attorney consultation. Cash or Check.
Boat People SOS (Houston Office)
Location: 11360 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 910, Houston, TX 77072
Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese
Type of assistance: Help to apply for citizenship, green card, family sponsorship, and more.
How: Call (281) 530- 6888 to make an appointment for a free consultation with an attorney
African Law Center
Location: 9898 Bissonnet Street, Suite 589, Houston, TX 77036
Website: http://www.africanlawcenter.org
Languages: English, French, other African dialects
Areas of assistance: Green card and legal permanent residence, naturalization and citizenship, removal of condition, cancellation of removal, extreme hardship waiver K-1 Visa, DACA, DAPA, Asylum and Refugess, VAW, T-Visa, U-Visa, Review of applications
Cost: $30 for consultation with an attorney.
How: Call (281) 624-6421 or visit the website above to schedule an appointment
United We Dream (Houston Office)
Location: 1900 Kane Street, Suite 116, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: (713) 863-1422 / Website: http://unitedwedream.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Counselors help with DACA, refugees, asylum, deportation defense, LGBTQ.
Cost: Free
Central American Resource Center (Houston Office)
Location: 6006 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77081
Phone Number: (713) 665-1284
Languages: Spanish and English
Areas of assistance: Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Consular Processing, DACA, Employment authorization, Employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions, Family-based petitions, NACARA, Naturalization/Citizenship, Removal hearings, T visas, TPS, U visas, VAWA petitions
Cost: Most consultations and services are free
How: Walk-In appointments everyday starting at 9am
Justice for Our Neighbors Houston/East Texas
Location: 2220 Broadway Street, Houston, TX, 77012 at the Mission Milby Community Center
Website: http://www.jfonhouston-etx.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: DACA, DAPA, children who are abused or neglected by parents, family petitions, and other general immigration issues that are NOT employment based.
How: Call (713) 454-6472 for a phone interview. You will be put on a waitlist for an appointment with a lawyer.
Cost: $35 for consultation with an attorney
Somali Bantu Community of Greater Houston
Location: 6666 Harwin Dr., Suite 260, Houston, TX 77036
Website: http://www.sbcgh.org
Languages: Arabic, English, Somali, Swahili, Maay Maay, Bhutanese
Areas of assistance: Attorneys help with immigration and general legal issues. They also offer ESL and citizenship classes.
How: Call (713) 995-1070 for more information.
Human Rights First (Houston Office)
Location: 1303 San Jacinto St., 9th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Website: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/asylum-seekers-and-potential-clients
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Asylum application and representation
How: Call (713) 955-1360 and leave a voicemail explaining the circumstances of your case. They will call you back within 2 weeks to let you know if you qualify for an intake meeting.
Kids in Need of Defense (Houston Office)
Location: 1303 San Jacinto Street, Floor 9, Houston, TX 77002
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Represent children who are in the United States without either of their parents
How: Call (832) 779-4030 for more information and to try to set up an appointment.
Tahirih Justice Center Houston Office
Location: 1717 St. James Place, Suite 450, Houston, TX 77056
Website: http://www.tahirih.org
Areas of assistance: Legal protection for immigrant women and girls who are domestic violence, rape, or human trafficking. Help with asylum, VAWA, T-Visa, U-Visa, and abused, abandoned, or neglected children.
How: Call (713) 496-0100 between 9am and 5:30pm Monday-Friday to schedule an intake appointment.
Texas Civil Rights Project – Houston
Location: 2006 Wheeler, Houston, TX 77004
Website: http://www.texascivilrightsproject.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of legal assistance: Immigrant survivors of domestic abuse (VAWA or U-Visa) only
How: Call (832) 767-3680 on Thursday afternoon between 2-4pm for intake interview over the phone.
Call 2-1-1 or visit www.211texas.org for more information in your area.[:de]HOUSTON IMMIGRATION LAW RESOURCES
This sheet is to help people living in the US who do not have legal papers. If you need help for yourself or your family, please call one of the groups listed below to learn more about your options or to talk with a lawyer who specializes in immigration.
Basic Legal Options
Asylum – To qualify, a person must fear harm in his/her home country because of a protected characteristic like race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
Special immigrant juvenile status – Children under 21 years of age may qualify if all of the following are true:
- They are declared to be a dependent of the court or legally placed under the custody of a state department or agency.
- It is not in the best interest of the child to return to his or her home country.
- The child cannot be reunited with a parent because of abuse, abandonment, neglect, or similar reason under state law.
U Visa – A person may qualify if he/she is a victim of a violent crime in the US and is helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.
T Visa – For victims of human trafficking under 18 years of age who are present in the US because of trafficking and have assisted with the investigation or prosecution of trafficking.
Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) – Battered spouses, children and parents of US Citizens who are in the US illegally may petition for legal status, receive employment authorization, and access public benefits on their own without the cooperation of an abusive spouse, parent, or adult child.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – Young persons who arrived in the US before the age of 16 years and have lived in the US since 2007 may qualify. DACA allows them to stay in the US without being deported for a period of 2-3 years and to apply for work authorization.
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) – Parents with a child who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident and have lived in the US continuously since 2010 may qualify. DAPA allows them to stay in the US without being deported and apply for work authorization
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance
Location: 2900 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77006
Languages: Multiple languages available
Types of Assistance:
- Charlas: free information sessions in Spanish and English offered 3 times per month at the main office and once per month in Richmond. At these sessions, you learn about immigration laws, and afterwards, you will have the opportunity for a free consultation with an Immigration Attorney. First come, first serve. You can find the schedule on the website or call (713) 874-6570 for more information.
- Citizenship Workshops: offered free of charge. Call 713-874-6700 or email citizenship@catholiccharities.org for the schedule and to register.
- By appointment only: DACA application assistance services, Family Petitions, Naturalization, Cuban Adjustment, Refugee and Asylee Adjustment, T Visa, U Visa, and VAWA, Asylum, Unaccompanied Minors, and Deferred Action
Cost: $30 intake fee unless attending a Charla session or Citizenship Workshop. If income is below 125% of the federal poverty line, you may get your services for free.
YMCA of Greater Houston – International Services
Location: 6300 Westpark Dr., Suite 600, Houston, TX 77057 (Near Hillcroft transit center)
Phone Number: (713) 339-9015 / Website: http://www.ymcainternationalservices.org
Languages: Multiple languages available
Types of Assistance: Asylum, employment authorization, family petitions, naturalization and citizenship, permanent residency, removal/deportation proceedings, victims of crime, victims of domestic violence, and victims of human trafficking
When: Walk-in on Wednesdays only from 9am-3pm. First come, first serve.
Cost: $40 (free if seeking asylum, trafficking, or domestic violence)
Neighborhood Centers Inc. – Baker Ripley Center
Location: 6500 Rookin St., Suite 104-B, Houston, TX 77074
Phone Number: (713) 273-3707 / Website: Neighborhood-centers.org
Languages: English, Spanish, and others
Types of Assistance: All immigration cases
When: Walk-in every Friday starting at 9:30am (line starts at 8am in building B)
Cost: $30 for attorney consultation. Cash or Check.
Boat People SOS (Houston Office)
Location: 11360 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 910, Houston, TX 77072
Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese
Type of assistance: Help to apply for citizenship, green card, family sponsorship, and more.
How: Call (281) 530- 6888 to make an appointment for a free consultation with an attorney
African Law Center
Location: 9898 Bissonnet Street, Suite 589, Houston, TX 77036
Website: http://www.africanlawcenter.org
Languages: English, French, other African dialects
Areas of assistance: Green card and legal permanent residence, naturalization and citizenship, removal of condition, cancellation of removal, extreme hardship waiver K-1 Visa, DACA, DAPA, Asylum and Refugess, VAW, T-Visa, U-Visa, Review of applications
Cost: $30 for consultation with an attorney.
How: Call (281) 624-6421 or visit the website above to schedule an appointment
United We Dream (Houston Office)
Location: 1900 Kane Street, Suite 116, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: (713) 863-1422 / Website: http://unitedwedream.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Counselors help with DACA, refugees, asylum, deportation defense, LGBTQ.
Cost: Free
Central American Resource Center (Houston Office)
Location: 6006 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77081
Phone Number: (713) 665-1284
Languages: Spanish and English
Areas of assistance: Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Consular Processing, DACA, Employment authorization, Employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions, Family-based petitions, NACARA, Naturalization/Citizenship, Removal hearings, T visas, TPS, U visas, VAWA petitions
Cost: Most consultations and services are free
How: Walk-In appointments everyday starting at 9am
Justice for Our Neighbors Houston/East Texas
Location: 2220 Broadway Street, Houston, TX, 77012 at the Mission Milby Community Center
Website: http://www.jfonhouston-etx.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: DACA, DAPA, children who are abused or neglected by parents, family petitions, and other general immigration issues that are NOT employment based.
How: Call (713) 454-6472 for a phone interview. You will be put on a waitlist for an appointment with a lawyer.
Cost: $35 for consultation with an attorney
Somali Bantu Community of Greater Houston
Location: 6666 Harwin Dr., Suite 260, Houston, TX 77036
Website: http://www.sbcgh.org
Languages: Arabic, English, Somali, Swahili, Maay Maay, Bhutanese
Areas of assistance: Attorneys help with immigration and general legal issues. They also offer ESL and citizenship classes.
How: Call (713) 995-1070 for more information.
Human Rights First (Houston Office)
Location: 1303 San Jacinto St., 9th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Website: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/asylum-seekers-and-potential-clients
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Asylum application and representation
How: Call (713) 955-1360 and leave a voicemail explaining the circumstances of your case. They will call you back within 2 weeks to let you know if you qualify for an intake meeting.
Kids in Need of Defense (Houston Office)
Location: 1303 San Jacinto Street, Floor 9, Houston, TX 77002
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of assistance: Represent children who are in the United States without either of their parents
How: Call (832) 779-4030 for more information and to try to set up an appointment.
Tahirih Justice Center Houston Office
Location: 1717 St. James Place, Suite 450, Houston, TX 77056
Website: http://www.tahirih.org
Areas of assistance: Legal protection for immigrant women and girls who are domestic violence, rape, or human trafficking. Help with asylum, VAWA, T-Visa, U-Visa, and abused, abandoned, or neglected children.
How: Call (713) 496-0100 between 9am and 5:30pm Monday-Friday to schedule an intake appointment.
Texas Civil Rights Project – Houston
Location: 2006 Wheeler, Houston, TX 77004
Website: http://www.texascivilrightsproject.org/
Languages: English, Spanish
Areas of legal assistance: Immigrant survivors of domestic abuse (VAWA or U-Visa) only
How: Call (832) 767-3680 on Thursday afternoon between 2-4pm for intake interview over the phone.
Call 2-1-1 or visit www.211texas.org for more information in your area.[:]