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DOJ-accredited representative: what it means

An accredited representative is a non-attorney whom the U.S. Department of Justice, through its Recognition and Accreditation Program, authorizes to represent people in immigration matters before DHS and, with full accreditation, before the immigration courts. They may only do so through a recognized organization, which must be a non-profit, federally tax-exempt entity.

In Spanish it is

Representante acreditado (DOJ)

Also written as: accredited representative · recognized organization · R&A program

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

Verified on October 16, 2026

2 official sources

See the whole dictionary

The full explanation

It is the safe way to get low-cost immigration help: the Department of Justice publishes the official roster by state. Anyone who is not on that roster and is not a lawyer is not authorized to represent you.

An example

A notary offers to "fix Jaime's papers". Jaime checks the Department of Justice roster, does not find the notary on it, and goes to a recognized organization in his city instead.

You will see it in…

The Department of Justice's official roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives
aquitucasa's help pages, under “Safe immigration help”
Organizations' signage (“DOJ Recognized Organization”)

Words that go with it

You will rarely see this word alone. These are the ones that show up with it on the same papers.

More guides that use “DOJ-accredited representative”

Still confused by a paper?

A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through it. Agencies usually charge little or nothing, many work in Spanish, and they do not sell you anything.

What a housing counselor does See free help

Official sources

We sum up what these official sources say, in plain words. We add no rules they do not state; when a rule changes, the definition and its date change.

1. U.S. Department of Justice, EOIR · Recognition and Accreditation Program (external site) · in English · Verified on October 16, 2026
2. U.S. Department of Justice, EOIR · Recognition & Accreditation roster reports (external site) · in English · Verified on October 16, 2026