Immigration Lawyers in New York

About Immigration Law in New York

Immigration matters are handled entirely in the federal system, not New York state courts. Removal proceedings for New York City are heard at EOIR immigration courts, including locations at Federal Plaza, Broadway, and Varick Street in Manhattan.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) operates multiple immigration courts in New York City, including the Federal Plaza, Broadway, and Varick Street locations.

Under New York's Green Light Law, any New York resident age 16 or older can apply for a standard, not-for-federal-purposes driver's license regardless of immigration status, and the DMV may only share license-holder data with an agency that primarily enforces immigration law if compelled by a judicial warrant or court order.

Only a New York state court such as Family Court, not a federal court, can make the predicate factual findings a child needs to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, including that reunification with one or both parents isn't viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

New York City has three federal immigration courts — Broadway, Federal Plaza, and Varick Street — each run by the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review. Which court hears a given case depends on how and where it was filed, not on a person's home borough or a lawyer's office location.

The Federal Plaza immigration court sits at 26 Federal Plaza, 12th Floor, Room 1237, New York, NY 10278.

The Varick Street immigration court is located at 201 Varick Street, 5th Floor, Room 507, New York, NY 10014.

USCIS field offices serving New York City do not accept walk-in visitors. Every in-person visit — including interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and case-specific help — requires a scheduled appointment confirmed on an official USCIS notice. USCIS instead offers online tools to request appointments, check case status, and update an address, which can resolve many questions without an office visit at all.

New York City runs a free, citywide immigration legal-help hotline (1-800-354-0365) through the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, plus community-based MOIA Legal Support Centers, open regardless of immigration status.

MOIA coordinates with city agencies to help immigrant crime victims and witnesses obtain the local certification a U or T visa application requires — a city-level step separate from USCIS's federal review of the visa itself.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, New York State Unified Court System, Advisory Council on Immigration Issues in Family Court, U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (verified 2026-08-01)

Frequently Asked Questions