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How to check an immigration lawyer's license

Ask which state licenses the lawyer, look them up on that state's bar or court register, then check EOIR's List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. For a non-lawyer accredited representative, check the EOIR roster instead.

There is no single national register of US lawyers. Each state's highest court or bar keeps its own. Immigration is federal law, so a lawyer licensed in any state can handle immigration cases for people anywhere, but their licence and good standing are recorded by their home state.

This page sets out the checks that take a few minutes: what the federal definition of "attorney" requires, where to look a lawyer up, what the status words mean, how to check federal immigration discipline, and how to check an accredited representative.

What the federal rules require

8 CFR 1.2 defines an attorney as "any person who is eligible to practice law in, and is a member in good standing of the bar of, the highest court of any State, possession, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or of the District of Columbia, and is not under any order suspending, enjoining, restraining, disbarring, or otherwise restricting him or her in the practice of law."

So two things must both be true: the person is admitted in at least one US jurisdiction, and they are currently in good standing with no suspension or restriction. Being admitted years ago is not enough.

For immigration court and the BIA, attorneys must also be registered with EOIR as a condition of practice (8 CFR 1292.1(a)(1) and (f)).

Step 1: ask which state licenses them

USCIS's Find Legal Services page (last reviewed 4 August 2026) says: "Before hiring an attorney, ask to see the attorney's current licensing document," and "verify through the state agency where they are licensed that they are eligible to practice law."

EOIR's flyer "Read This Before You Take Legal Advice" gives the same steps: ask in which state(s) the person is licensed, then contact that state's licensing office (usually the state bar or the state's supreme court) and ask whether they have a bar number and are in "good standing".

A lawyer's office address does not tell you where they are licensed. A lawyer in Texas may be licensed only in New York, and that is allowed for federal immigration work.

Step 2: look them up on the state register

Each state has its own lookup. Examples we confirmed were online on 9 October 2026:

  • California: State Bar of California Attorney Search (apps.calbar.ca.gov).
  • Florida: The Florida Bar, "Find a Florida Bar Lawyer" (floridabar.org/directories/find-mbr).
  • Texas: State Bar of Texas, "Find a Lawyer" (texasbar.com).
  • New York: the NYS Attorney Registrations dataset published on data.ny.gov by the NYS Unified Court System. It shows registration number, name, firm, address, year admitted, law school and status.

For any other state, search for the state's highest court or state bar and its "attorney search" or "lawyer lookup". Search the person's full legal name, and compare the bar or registration number they give you.

Step 3: read the status correctly

A name appearing in a lookup does not by itself mean the person may practise. New York's open dataset (read 9 October 2026) uses status values including:

  • Currently registered
  • Due to reregister within 30 days of birthday
  • Delinquent
  • Suspended, currently registered
  • Suspended, delinquent
  • Suspended, due to reregister
  • Disbarred
  • Resigned, and "Resigned from bar - disciplinary reason"
  • Incapacitated, Deceased

Notice that "Suspended, currently registered" exists: a person can be registered and still suspended. Other states use different words ("active", "inactive", "not eligible to practice"). If the status is anything other than plainly active and eligible, ask the state bar what it means before you rely on that person.

Step 4: check EOIR's discipline list

EOIR, which runs the immigration courts and the BIA, publishes a List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners (the page was updated 8 October 2026, with a Spanish version). It lists practitioners who are suspended or disbarred from immigration practice, with the city or state, the dates, the discipline imposed, and whether they have been reinstated. EOIR also keeps a separate List of Previously Disciplined Practitioners.

USCIS's Find Legal Services page points to this list. A practitioner can be in good standing with a state bar and still be barred from immigration practice, or the other way round, so check both.

If they say they are an accredited representative

An accredited representative is not a lawyer, so they will not be on any state bar register. Check the EOIR roster instead (8 CFR 1292.20 requires it to be public):

  1. Find the person's name on the Accredited Representatives list (the report dated 4 October 2026 lists 2,638).
  2. Confirm the recognized organization next to their name is the one you are dealing with. Accredited representatives may only act through that organization (8 CFR 1292.12(a)).
  3. Check the expiry date. An asterisk means renewal is pending.
  4. "DHS only" means they cannot represent you in immigration court.

If someone says they are a "consultant", "notario", "preparer" or "immigration specialist" and is on neither a state bar register nor the EOIR roster, they are not authorized to represent you or give legal advice (8 CFR 292.1(e)).

Check the paperwork too

When an attorney or accredited representative represents you before USCIS, they file a Form G-28, the notice that tells USCIS who represents you. USCIS notes that a supervised law student or graduate cannot file their own G-28; the supervising attorney or accredited representative must. Ask for a copy, and check that the details on it match the person and licence you looked up.

Also keep copies of everything filed for you. New York's §460-d, for example, prohibits immigrant assistance providers from failing to give customers copies of documents filed with a government agency.

If something doesn't match

  • Not found on the state register, or not in good standing: don't sign or pay. Contact the state bar to confirm.
  • Listed on EOIR's discipline list: check the dates and whether they were reinstated.
  • A complaint about an attorney: USCIS says complaints can go to the state where the attorney is licensed, or to DHS disciplinary counsel (Form EOIR-44 or email).
  • A complaint about an accredited representative or recognized organization: file with EOIR or DHS disciplinary counsel in writing or on Form EOIR-44 (8 CFR 1292.19).
  • Suspected fraud by an unlicensed helper: USCIS points to the Federal Trade Commission and your state consumer protection office.

USCIS notes you can change or end representation at any time.

Finding a licensed attorney or accredited representative

Migratio's directory lists immigration attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives. Listings are shown in a neutral order with factual filters (state, language, attorney or accredited representative). Migratio does not recommend, rank or match any lawyer, and it is not a lawyer referral service. Check any listing yourself against the state bar or the EOIR roster before you sign anything.

See attorneys and accredited representatives in the directory.

Notaries public, notarios and immigration consultants are not lawyers and cannot give immigration legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can.

Migratio is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can advise you.

Questions people ask

How do I know if my immigration lawyer is licensed?

Ask which state licenses them and check that state's bar or court lookup for good standing. Then check EOIR's List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. USCIS also suggests asking to see their current licensing document.

Does an immigration lawyer have to be licensed in my state?

No. Under 8 CFR 1.2 an attorney in good standing in any US state, territory or DC qualifies, because immigration law is federal. Their licence is recorded by the state that admitted them.

How do I check if an immigration lawyer has been disciplined?

Check the state bar record for the lawyer's licensing state, and EOIR's List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners (and its list of previously disciplined practitioners), which covers suspensions and disbarments from immigration practice.

How do I verify a DOJ accredited representative?

Find their name and organization on EOIR's Accredited Representatives roster, check the expiry date, and look for 'DHS only', which means they cannot appear in immigration court.

What is a G-28 and should I get a copy?

Form G-28 is the notice that tells USCIS who represents you, filed by your attorney or accredited representative. A copy lets you confirm who is on record and check their details against the licence you looked up.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • How to choose an immigration lawyer: 10 checks — Check the licence and discipline record, confirm who will do the work, get the scope and fee in writing, and walk away from guarantees. These ten checks are facts you can verify; the decision is yours.
  • What is a DOJ accredited representative? — An accredited representative is a non-attorney the Department of Justice has approved to represent people in immigration matters, working only through a DOJ-recognized non-profit. 'Full' accreditation covers USCIS, immigration court and the BIA; 'DHS only' covers USCIS and the rest of DHS.
  • Immigration scams: warning signs and where to report them — Only attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives may give immigration legal advice, USCIS forms are available at no cost on its website, and USCIS does not take payment by gift card or by apps such as Venmo. If you have paid a scammer, report to the FTC and your state consumer protection office.
  • Notario vs. immigration lawyer: what a notary can't do — In the United States a notary public (notario público) is not a lawyer and may not give immigration legal advice or represent you. Federal rules limit representation to attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives and a few narrow categories.
  • Who can legally give US immigration advice? — Attorneys in good standing and DOJ-accredited representatives of recognized non-profits can advise and represent you; a few narrow categories can appear unpaid. Notaries, notarios and immigration consultants cannot give immigration legal advice. Form preparers may only fill in blanks for a nominal fee.