Many people lack the special legal help required to navigate immigration processes. In this guide we have identified trusted organizations in Philadelphia that provide quality legal services for free or at reduced costs. Specifically, organizations that understand the needs of Black immigrants from the African continent and from Caribbean countries. All of these resources have established their credibility based on consistent, culturally competent, and sensitive service to the community.
1. HIAS Pennsylvania
- Services: Asylum applications, citizenship services, family-based petitions, DACA support.
- Website: hiaspa.org
- Phone: (215) 832-0900
2. Nationalities Service Center (NSC)
- Services: Immigration consultations, citizenship applications, refugee assistance, DACA renewals.
- Website: nscphila.org
- Phone: (215) 893-8400
3. Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS)
- Services: Family reunification, citizenship applications, DACA renewals, legal consultations.
- Website: esperanza.us
- Phone: (215) 324-0746
4. Community Legal Services (CLS) of Philadelphia
- Services: Comprehensive immigration legal assistance, public benefits counseling, advocacy.
- Website: clsphila.org
- Phone: (215) 981-3700
5. Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC)
- Services: Referrals, immigration policy guidance, DACA resources, training, community support.
- Website: paimmigrant.org
- Phone: (215) 832-0636
6. Catholic Social Services (CSS) – Immigration Legal Services
- Services: Low-cost immigration consultations, naturalization assistance, refugee support.
- Website: cssphiladelphia.org
- Phone: (267) 331-2490
7. Justice at Work (formerly Friends of Farmworkers)
- Services: Legal aid for immigrant workers, employment rights, workplace advocacy.
- Website: justiceatworklegalaid.org
- Phone: (215) 733-0878
8. Juntos
- Services: Community advocacy, legal clinics, deportation defense resources, DACA support.
- Website: vamosjuntos.org
- Phone: (215) 218-9079
9. African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA)
- Services: Immigration assistance for African and Caribbean communities, citizenship classes, family reunification counseling.
- Website: acanaus.org
- Phone: (215) 729-8225
10. Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA)
- Services: Family law, protection from abuse, housing and employment assistance relevant to immigrant communities.
- Website: philalegal.org
- Phone: (215) 981-3800
11. Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC)
- Services: Immigration consultations, citizenship and naturalization support, language assistance, social services, and community advocacy particularly targeted towards Southeast Asian immigrant populations.
- Website: seamaac.org
- Phone: (215) 467-0690
SEAMAAC provides culturally sensitive support and advocacy, ensuring immigrant communities have the resources necessary to achieve stability and inclusion in Philadelphia.
12. African Family Health Organization (AFAHO)
- Services: Immigration legal assistance, family reunification, health-related legal consultations tailored to African and Caribbean immigrants.
- Website: afaho.org
- Phone: (215) 546-1232
13. Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
- Services: Legal information sessions, employment-related legal aid, immigrant integration services, citizenship preparation.
- Website: welcomingcenter.org
- Phone: (215) 557-2626
14. ACLAMO Family Centers
- Services: Immigration consultations, legal education, citizenship assistance, bilingual (English/Spanish) advocacy and support.
- Website: aclamo.org
- Phone: (610) 277-2570
15. Puentes de Salud
- Services: Immigration-related legal referrals, healthcare-focused legal consultations, community education, bilingual advocacy (English/Spanish) specifically targeted toward Latin American immigrants.
- Website: puentesdesalud.org
- Phone: (215) 454-8000
Puentes de Salud provides holistic, culturally sensitive support, helping immigrants navigate both legal and healthcare systems in Philadelphia.
This list has been a labor of love, regularly updated as organizations change or new organizations or new resources become available. We’ve tried to be as comprehensive as possible because immigration rules and regulations are changing constantly.
If you find new resources or realize that things have changed please contact us so we can keep this guide up-to-date for the community. Remember: No matter how complicated your immigration situation seems, you do not have to tackle it alone.
Philadelphia has one of the strongest collective networks of immigrant legal support in the country. Contact these organizations, attend community meetings, and engage with others who have walked on this same path before you. Your journey matters and there are people who are ready to help you navigate it!
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
