For Service Members: Request Assistance

AILA MAP will work to match your case with a pro bono immigration attorney if you meet all the following requirements:

• You are an active-duty service member (on active duty for more than 30 days) or recent veteran (completing service within the past two years);
• You are currently unrepresented by an attorney;
• You hold a rank of E-4 or lower (unless you are a MAVNI seeking naturalization);
• You are requesting immigration assistance for yourself and/or a child, fiancé, spouse, or parent;
• You require immigration assistance for a case that doesn’t involve adoption, a request to expedite, or serious criminal issues; and
• You have not requested AILA MAP assistance previously.

If you meet the above requirements, you may complete the request for assistance below with as much detail as possible so that we may better understand the case. The information you provide will be forwarded to AILA MAP, who will attempt to match the case with an experienced immigration attorney who has volunteered to assist at no cost. If matched, you will be placed in direct contact with an AILA attorney who has agreed to work with you via email.

Please note that AILA MAP will do its best to locate an attorney who can assist you, but matching is not guaranteed. If a case has not yet been matched with a volunteer attorney within 90 days, AILA MAP will be unable to match the case and will contact you with further resources.

If you do not meet the requirements to request assistance through MAP, there are a number of other resources to assist you:

1. AILA MAP Low Bono Referral List – AILA has a list of attorneys willing to provide low bono or reduced fee immigration assistance. To receive a copy of the latest low bono referral list, please contact probono@aila.org. If you contact an attorney on this list, please note that you are contacting them through the AILA MAP low bono referral list.
2. AILA’s Immigration Lawyer Search (for a fee)
3. The United States Executive Office for Immigration Review’s List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
4. Immigration Advocates Network – National Immigration Legal Services Directory

If you decide to hire an attorney or the case is resolved after you have requested assistance, please contact AILA MAP at probono@aila.org as soon as possible to let MAP know you no longer require assistance.

For general immigration questions, the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic in which qualifying users can post immigration questions at no cost to be answered by pro bono attorneys.

If you are veteran seeking citizenship and you do not qualify for assistance through MAP, another helpful resource is the Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program (VNAP). A program through the Veteran’s Consortium, VNAP assists veterans apply for citizenship who have an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge and who have a copy of their DD-214. If you or a veteran you know may qualify, please contact vnap@vetsprobono.org.