Only lawyers can give you legal advice and represent you in court. Before selecting a lawyer, you should find out if he or she has been disciplined, suspended or expelled from his or her professional association for breaking the rules for lawyers. Note: You should use a lawyer who is licensed in the state where you reside. To find a Maryland lawyer who works on immigration matters and is allowed to charge a fee to help you, go to www.ailalawyer.com and see the list provided for Maryland. To find an immigration lawyer in Maryland who will provide services at no cost or at a low fee:
See the state-by-state list provided by the U.S. Department of Justice by going to www.justice.gov/eoir/probono/states.htm and clicking on Maryland; or
Call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 and ask about lawyers in Maryland; or
See the state-by-state list provided by the Immigration Advocates Network: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/.
To confirm whether someone is a Maryland lawyer and check if he or she is in good standing in Maryland or has been disciplined for breaking the rules, call the Client Protection Fund at 410-630-8140. For a list of lawyers who are no longer allowed to practice law, see the list provided by the U.S. Department of Justice at www.justice.gov/eoir/discipline.htm.
If you choose to use an immigration consultant, please note that he or she may NOT provide legal advice or legal services concerning an immigration matter. This means an immigration consultant may NOT provide you with immigration forms, complete immigration forms on your behalf, file immigration forms on your behalf, advise you to file immigration forms or apply for a benefit on your behalf.
An immigration consultant may NOT state that he or she can or will obtain special favors from or has special influence with the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Labor, State, Justice, Commerce or any other State or Federal agency.
An immigration consultant may NOT collect fees or compensation before services are performed.
An immigration consultant may NOT refuse to return documents supplied, prepared or paid for by you.
An immigration consultant may NOT represent in any manner that he or she possesses a title or credentials that would qualify him or her to provide legal advice or services.
For more information on what an immigration consultant can and cannot do, see Maryland Immigration Consultant Act, Md. Code Ann. COMMERCIAL LAW §§ 14-3301 to 14-3306 . For a list of immigration consultants who have been previously disciplined, and for those who are currently suspended.
Accredited representatives are not lawyers. They work for an organization that's officially recognized and authorized by the U.S. government to give legal immigration advice. To find an accredited representative, visit www.justice.gov/eoir/recognized-organizations-and-accredited-representatives-roster-state-and-city. The people on this list are accredited representatives for as long as they continue to work at the organization named on the list. They may charge a fee to help you.
In Spanish, the term "notario" refers to someone who can provide certain limited legal services. In English, the term "notary" refers to someone who can officially witness and authenticate signatures on documents. In the United States, a notary is NOT authorized to provide legal advice or services of any kind.
For free copies of immigration forms, visit www.uscis.gov/forms.