Who are CLINIC Affiliates?

CLINIC’s Affiliate network represents the vibrant diversity of local groups defending immigrants and facilitating their integration. Our Affiliates include libraries, affordable housing nonprofits, refugee service organizations, domestic violence survivor assistance programs, labor unions, and more. Affiliate agencies provide authorized immigration legal representation from attorneys and/or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives at the partial or full level. While hundreds of attorneys work in the network, most staff are accredited representatives. Staff range in their years of legal experience, areas of expertise and non-English language options. These individuals provide the bulk of the direct, charitable legal services to communities across the country.

Are there different types of CLINIC affiliation?

All organizations receiving CLINIC benefits are referred to as Affiliates. CLINIC no longer differentiates between Subscriber and Member organizations.

What are the eligibility requirements for CLINIC affiliation?

To be eligible to apply for CLINIC affiliation, an organization must have held valid 501 (c) 3 or 501 (c) 5 IRS tax designation for at least 12 months prior to applying. Additionally, the organization must be authorized to provide immigration legal services.

How is a program authorized to provide immigration legal services?

A program can be authorized to provide immigration legal services in two ways:

1. The program has immigration attorneys on staff (or as regular volunteers)
2. The program is Recognized by the Department of Justice and has at least one Accredited Representative on staff or as a volunteer.

My organization is not yet Recognized by the Department of Justice, but we plan to apply soon. Can we apply for CLINIC Affiliation?

Currently, only agencies who have already obtained authorization are eligible to apply for CLINIC Affiliation. Organizations who are working toward authorization through DOJ Recognition can apply to join CLINIC’s Capacity Building Institute. You can find out more information here.

If we submitted our DOJ R&A application, but are awaiting a decision, can we apply to join as Affiliates?

No. To be eligible for affiliation, a DOJ R&A application cannot be in process. This includes renewal applications. Please wait until you receive approval from DOJ before applying to join CLINIC as an Affiliate.

If we have authorization through attorneys and also want to pursue DOJ R&A, can we apply to join as Affiliates?

Yes. As long as your organization has authorization to provide immigration legal services, you are eligible to join as Affiliates. Benefits include access to DOJ R&A application support.

How do I apply for CLINIC Affiliation?

If you are interested in becoming an Affiliate, please use the Information Request Form and select "I am interested in learning more about joining the CLINIC Network.”

What happens if a CLINIC Affiliate loses authorization to practice immigration law?

If an organization who has authorization through attorneys on staff no longer employs an attorney, they are considered unauthorized and will move to Inactive Status.

If an organization who has authorization through DOJ Recognition and Accreditation loses its DOJ Recognition and/or all of their Accredited Staff, they are considered unauthorized and will move to Inactive Status.

What is the difference between Active and Inactive status?

Affiliates with authorization to practice immigration law have Active status and have access to all Affiliate benefits. Organizations who do not have authorization to practice immigration law have Inactive status and will not have access to Ask the Experts or Case Escalation forms.

What happens if our program loses authorization in the middle of the year? Can we renew our Affiliation before regaining authorized status?

If your program loses authorization to provide immigration legal services, it is your responsibility to notify us using the Affiliate Support Form. Organizations can remain inactive for up to one year before they must regain authorization. If authorization is not obtained within the one-year period, affiliation may be terminated for the rest of the year without a refund.

If we do not renew our Affiliation, and we want to re-join CLINIC in the future, what is the process? Will we have to go through the application process again?

If your agency has been an Affiliate within the past 2 years, we can reactivate your Affiliation without having to reapply. Your organization will have to provide proof of authorization. If it has been more than 2 years since your organization has been an Affiliate, you may need to reapply. Please contact us using the Information Request Form.

What are CLINIC affiliation benefits?

Training and Technical Assistance

• Technical support for substantive immigration law questions.
• Technical support for Department of Justice Recognition and Accreditation.
• Technical support on sustaining and improving an immigration program.
• Legal and program management tools, toolkits, practice advisories, training manuals, and other resources to enhance your practice and better serve clients. 
• Discount registration for CLINIC trainings and annual Convening.
• CLINIC’s monthly e-newsletters.

For more information about CLINIC's training and technical assistance, please watch this video.

Advocacy Support

• Strategy guidance on state and local legislative issues.
• CLINIC’s Topline Immigration Policy, or TIPs Updates.
• CLINIC Affiliate Advocacy listserv.
• Monthly State and Local newsletter.
• E-Advocacy Action Alerts.
• Case escalation support

Other Benefits

• Affiliates-only section of CLINIC's website for resources and support.
• CLINIC's web-based Job Board to advertise and search for the best applicants in the country.
• Discount pricing for various case management software.
• Consultations with experts on immigrant and community integration initiatives.
• Periodic flow-through funding opportunities.

FastVisa and Equifax Discounts for CLINIC Affiliates

CLINIC Affiliates seeking case management solutions and support can now enjoy discounts with both FastVisa and Equifax Immigration Case Management. We continue to pursue additional case management discount options in our effort to support our network.

Do you have agreements with case management software companies to offer discounts?

Equifax Immigration Case Management and FastVisa provide discounts to CLINIC Affiliates. Contact them directly to find out more.

Who is considered an authorized legal service provider?

Authorized legal service providers are staff members who are legally eligible to offer immigration legal services without supervision. This includes:

• Attorneys who are licensed in any state
• Accredited Representatives at organizations that are Recognized by the Department of Justice

We have attorneys on staff (or as volunteers) who don’t provide immigration legal services. Do they count as an authorized legal service provider?

No, they do not count as an authorized legal service provider for the calculation of annual dues.

We work with law students and/or law school graduates who are not yet licensed. Do they count as authorized legal service providers?

No, they do not count as an authorized legal service provider for the calculation of annual dues.

Will all staff members at my agency have access to the same benefits?

Authorized Legal Service Providers (defined above) will have access to all CLINIC Benefits. They are the only staff members who will have access to Ask the Experts and Case Escalation. All other staff members at an agency who are not authorized legal service providers will have access to all CLINIC benefits except for Ask the Experts and Case Escalation.

Are we required to include all our authorized legal service providers in our affiliation? For example, we have 15 on staff, but we only need two of the attorneys to receive benefits.

Although Affiliate dues are based on the number of authorized legal service providers, we encourage you to list all immigration legal staff to ensure they receive access to Affiliate benefits.

How much is CLINIC affiliation?

Yearly affiliation dues range from $1,800 to $3,600, depending on the number of Authorized Legal Service Providers at an agency. To learn more, go here.

What price does our program pay if we join CLINIC in the middle of the year?

Programs that join after June 1 will pay half of the price of their tier for the remainder of the calendar year. Full dues will be paid at the beginning of the following year.

Is the tiered pricing structure fixed for the whole year? What if our number of staff changes during the year?

If the number of your staff changes during the year, moving you to a different tier, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form so that we can adjust your dues accordingly.

Do you offer payment plans for affiliation dues?

No, dues must be paid in full at the time of joining the network or at the time of renewal.

Can we pay Affiliate dues by check?

No, we are only able to process payments via credit card or ACH.

Do you offer scholarships?

Unfortunately, CLINIC does not offer scholarships for Affiliate Dues at this time.

How do new staff members at Affiliate agencies gain access to Affiliate benefits?

New staff members will need to create a username and password. Once created, email us at info@cliniclegal.org to activate your account in our system.

How can my organization change our Primary Account Manager or Secondary Account Manager?

To change this contact information, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form.

I am an Affiliate, but I can’t see the Affiliate Portal, access ATE, access discounts for trainings. What should I do?

Make sure you are logged in. If you still can’t see it, email us at info

If you have more questions that were not answered here, please contact us using the Affiliate Support Form.

Is our program required to sign the Affiliate Agreement?

All Affiliates are required to sign the Affiliate Agreements. If an agency has questions or concerns, please contact us through the Affiliate Support Form.