Legal Resources for Immigrants and Refugees

Do you need help understanding your legal rights as a newcomer to this country?

Minnesota has many organizations that can advocate for your rights. They can guide you through all immigration-related issues.

The information on this page is general. It is not intended to be legal advice. For reliable legal advice, you should consult an attorney specializing in immigration and refugee law.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Federal Website

• Welcome to the United States
  Provides resources for new immigrants. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Portuguese, French, and Haitian Creole.
• A Guide to U.S. Citizenship
  A set of information to learn more about the work of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and how the citizenship process works.
• St. Paul District Office
  Find location, hours, directions, and descriptions of services provided by the Minnesota USCIS office.

Frequently Asked Questions About Immigration

• LawHelpMN (Minnesota Legal Services Coalition)
  Connects you with organizations that can provide legal help. This may include full legal representation in court, brief advice in person or over the telephone, educational materials, workshops, and referrals to private attorneys. The website also has useful glossaries and information guides in Russian, Somali, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Hmong, and other languages.
• Naturalization
  Learn how to become a citizen of the United States. This page includes frequently asked questions about the naturalization process.

Immigration Law Services

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
  Find an immigration lawyer.  
• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
  Provides help in immigration matters to low-income immigrants and refugee in Minnesota. Provides low-cost and free brief advice and service, and ongoing legal representation to persons who qualify for services based on their income, place of residence, and type of immigration.
• Legal Help Near You
  Use this search tool to find a legal aid office or community resource that may be able to help you with your civil legal problem.

Refugee Resettlement and Advocacy Resources

• Office of Refugee Resettlement
  Helps refugees and asylees with programs such as repatriation assistance, refugee preventive health, and services for older refugees and unaccompanied children.
• International Institute of Minnesota
  Provides resettlement service. This includes family reunification, refugee sponsorship, coordination and referral of services, and advocacy. Has assisted in over 20,000 family reunifications since 1975.
• The Advocates for Human Rights - Refugee and Immigrant Program
  Helps refugees, asylees, and other immigrant newcomers be informed about immigrant rights, community services, work authorization, and new laws affecting immigrants in Minnesota. They also provide free and low-cost immigration-related legal and advocacy services in Minnesota. They are one of the largest Midwest-based, non-governmental organizations engaged in international human rights work.
• Consulate of Mexico - St. Paul
  Helps Mexican nationals in Minnesota. Provides passport and other documentation information to people interested in traveling to Mexico. Their website and telephone services are in Spanish and English with a link to a Visas section.
• American Immigration Council
  Works to increase public understanding of immigration law, policy, and the value contributed by immigrants to American society. Promote public service and excellence in the practice of immigration law. Advances fairness and due process under the law for immigrants.