Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) Los Angeles
General Contact Information
www.carecen-la.org/legal_services
- Phone
- 213-385-7800, ext. 136
- Fax
- 213-385-1094
How to Get Help
| WALK-IN | |
|---|---|
| Information | In light of the Covid-19, CARECEN Is canceling all walk in services until further notice. Please call 213-385-7800 ext. 136 to schedule a consultation. |
Who We Are
CARECEN's legal department provides advice, application preparation and attorney representation in a variety of immigration cases to low-income immigrants. We require all potential clients to receive a legal consultation during walk-in service hours, which may vary depending on the service desired. Consultation generally costs $30 but is free for certain services, including DACA. Our service hours are subject to change. Please visit our website for our current legal service schedule: www.carecen-la.org
CARECEN is committed to providing high-quality, affordable immigration legal services.
We have a no-charge consultations for most cases. We do not charge any fees for DACA and Naturalization consultations. Persons seeking assistance with VAWA and/or U-VISA applications should visit our VAWA/U-VISA page. Fees for further legal services are based on the type of case and are discussed during the initial consultation. After that, clients can set appointments for follow-up services.
Fees for consultations and follow-up services are minimal compared with those charged by private immigration attorneys. However, they are crucial to defraying our basic costs, and they help keep CARECEN's doors open.
You may be required to gather documentation depending on the kind of case for which you believe you qualify. To see which documents can help with different cases, please consult our PREPARING FOR YOUR CASE page. Having the required documents on the day of your initial consultation can speed the process significantly.
CARECEN's focus is on immigration assistance. Criminal, family and other types of cases may be referred to other organizations.
Who We Serve
| Area(s) |
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| Additional Service Area Info | Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area |
| Language(s) Spoken |
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| Cirumstances and languages in which interpreters are provided | Persons who are unable to communicate in English, Spanish or French must come to our office with an interpreter who is not a relative or domestic partner in order to receive services. |
| Income Guidelines | Low income, very low income or poverty level In rare cases that present a potentially precedent-setting legal issue, CARECEN may accept a case above the basic income eligibility level. All case acceptance assessments are made after a full legal consultation. |
| Is this organization accessible by wheelchair? | Yes |
| Does this organization provide access for the hearing impaired? | Yes |
Type of Help
| This group provides the following types of services based on your legal needs and its resources: |
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| Description of Services | We provide legal advice, application preparation and attorney representation in a variety of immigration cases. This includes VAWA self-petitions for battered immigrants , U Visa applications for victims of crime, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (including representation for youth with criminal history), family petitions, waivers of inadmissibility for unlawful presence, Temporary Protected Status, NACARA, and asylum. We also assist in all aspects of the naturalization process, including greencard renewals, consultation regarding naturalization eligibility and N-400 naturalization application preparation. We offer citizenship classes and individual tutoring to naturalization applicants. CARECEN also represents a limited number of immigrants in removal/deportation proceedings. We do NOT assist with employment-based immigration, tourist or student visas. |
| Emergency Instructions | CARECEN does not currently represent immigrants in ICE/DHS custody. CARECEN may consult with relatives of detainees regarding immigration status but will not represent detained immigrants. |