Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the most frequent questions we are asked at the Berkshire Immigrant Center. If you don’t see the information you need, please Contact Us.
Interested in visiting the Center? See Hours & Location.
Do I need an appointment to talk and/or see someone?
Yes, appointments are necessary. Having an appointment adds a personal 1-on-1 consultation and allows us to give you the best possible advice for your specific case and to answer any specific questions you may have. Visit our Appointment page to get started.
Are BIC’s services free of charge?
There is a charge for BIC services. Visit Services & Fees to see a full list of all BIC legal services & fees.
If you are in financial hardship, we may be able to offer a payment plan or a lower fee depending on your situation. Please contact our office for more information.
Do I need to pay the appointment fee every time I need additional advice or need an appointment?
BIC counselors always start with an initial consultation. If you have more questions or if you would like to consult about a different case, an additional appointment fee is needed. Visit Services & Fees to see a full list of all BIC legal services & fees.
If your initial appointment was more than 3 months ago, a new initial consultation is necessary.
What are the days and times that BIC operates?
Berkshire Immigrant Center is open Monday-Thursday from 9am-3:00pm, with a break from 12-1pm. BIC is closed on most holidays. Please visit our Location & Hours page for a full list of holiday closures.
I need to book an appointment, but BIC’s times of operation do not work for my schedule.
We understand that our regular hours of operation may not work for you. Please visit our Contact Us page to connect with our staff to find a time that works for both you and our counselors.
I don’t live in Massachusetts. Can I still book an appointment with someone at BIC?
Yes, the Berkshire Immigrant Center can assist clients from most of the eastern part of the U.S. For remote clients, we offer phone and Zoom appointments.
To find immigration-specific legal assistance that might be closer to you, visit immigrationlawhelp.org
What type of immigration issues does BIC help with?
BIC assists with a range of immigration services such as: Adjustment of Status, Consular Processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization, Green Card Renewals, Family-based petitions, Naturalization/Citizenship, Temporary Protected Status (TPS). We also help complete and file most USCIS forms. Visit Services & Fees to see a full list of all BIC legal services & fees.
BIC is handling my case but I’ve not heard any news about my case. What should I do?
Once you’ve had an Initial Consultation and decided you want BIC to handle your case, you must provide your counselor with all the necessary documents and pre-pay any necessary fees. We cannot begin work until you have taken these steps.
Depending on your case, it should take 2-3 weeks to completely finish filling out your forms. However, please understand attention to detail is our most important priority so some cases may take longer. Your counselor will know more after learning what assistance you need.
BIC filed my application but I have not heard from USCIS. What should I do?
If your case has been filed and you still have not heard from USCIS, please visit the USCIS website for estimated processing times. egov.uscis.gov/processing-times
Can I trust BIC to keep my information private and confidential? How does BIC use my information?
The Berkshire Immigrant Center is not the federal government, we are a nonprofit legal services organization and the trust and confidence of our clients is important to us. Personal information remains private and confidential; we never sell client information. We do not share client information unless authorize by the client to do so.
Does BIC have immigration attorneys?
While BIC does not offer immigration attorneys, we do offer US Department of Justice (DOJ)-accredited representatives.
What is a DOJ accredited representative?
Accredited representatives are non-attorney professionals who have demonstrated to the DOJ that they have the appropriate education and experience in immigration law to provide immigration legal services.
BIC was unable to help me with my case. What now?
If a BIC counselor is unable to assist you with your case, we can refer you to other confidential immigration and human service organizations that may be able to offer the assistance or support you need. Visit Resources for a few initial recommendations.
I have an issue that is non-immigration related. Can BIC assist me with this?
BIC will need to review your issue during a consultation appointment to determine how best to help. Depending on your specific need, we can refer you to other local organizations. Visit Appointments to schedule a meeting with a BIC counselor.
Does BIC offer English classes?
We offer Citizenship classes for those who are applying for citizenship and those who have a citizenship interview scheduled. Visit Classes to learn more.
Is there a fee for BIC’s Citizenship classes?
Citizenship classes are free of charge at BIC, please join us! Visit Classes to learn more.
Do you provide interpretation?
Let us know upfront what language(s) you speak. We have Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Russian in-house, and can often find interpreters for other languages if given enough notice.