Although Tel-Law information is periodically reviewed, it is important for you to realize that changes may occur in this area of law. This information is not intended to be legal advice regarding your particular problem, and it is not intended to replace the work of an attorney.

If you do not have an attorney, the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service can help you. Online Lawyer Referral Service information and a fill-in form is available. Or you may contact the service by phone: The number to call from the Portland area is 503-684-3763 or toll-free from anywhere else in Oregon, 1-800-452-7636.

The following information regarding immigration is brought to you as a public service by the lawyers of the State of Oregon. The material presented is general legal information intended to alert you to possible legal problems and solutions.

Immigration law can be very complicated. Immigration laws and regulations change frequently. Our immigration laws control who can come to the United States and who is allowed to stay after coming here. If you come to the U.S. with a temporary visa, you can stay here only while that visa is valid, and you can be here only for the purpose the visa was granted. For example, if you are admitted to the U.S. as a tourist, you cannot work. If you are admitted to the U.S. with a temporary working visa, you can work only for a specific employer doing a specific job. If you violate the conditions of your visa, you could be deported even before your time in the U.S. expires.

The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services-the CIS--is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It has an office in Portland at 511 NW Broadway, Rooms 117. The CIS has a program similar to Tel-Law called "Ask Immigration." A series of topics in English and Spanish are available that give a general explanation about immigration law. You can use this service by dialing 1-800-375-5283, using a touch-tone telephone. The service begins with a brief recorded announcement. The announcement will give you a list of the topics and the telephone extension numbers you must dial in order to listen to the topics that interest you.

The topics included in the "Ask Immigration" services are updated periodically. However, changes frequently occur in immigration law. Therefore, these topics may not always be completely up-to-date. You are more likely to obtain up-to-date information if you speak with one of the CIS "Information Officers."
If you would like to speak with a CIS Information Officer, you can go to Room 117 of INS' Portland District Office between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon on Friday. Depending on how many people are there when you arrive, you may to have to wait a long time before talking with an Information Officer. Some help is also available by calling 1-800-375-5283.

You can also find useful information from CIS on the Internet at www.uscis.gov.
If you need one of the forms that CIS provides to the public, call 1-800-870-3676. Expect a wait of two weeks until you receive the form if you order it by telephone. You can also get most forms by going to Room 117 of the Portland CIS District Office. You can also access and print forms from the Internet web site.

In addition, the Visa Office, a branch of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., also has recorded topics that provide information for people who want to apply for a temporary or permanent visa. To use that system, call 202-663-1225. The State Department provides information on the Internet at www.state.gov.

If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, you also may be able to get free advice about immigration law from the Immigration Counseling Service, a private charitable organization located in Portland. Their number is 503-221-1689. Other groups that provide free legal advice on immigration law include Catholic Charities Immigration Services at 503-231-4866 and Lutheran Community Services at 503-233-0042.

This information is from the Oregon State Bar's Tel-law service, a collection of recorded legal information messages prepared by the lawyers of Oregon. In addition to being online, the Tel-law service is accessible by telephone at 503-620-3000 or toll-free in Oregon only, 1-800-452-4776. A touch tone phone allows direct access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To receive a free Tel-law brochure listing the subjects available call 503-620-0222, ext. 0.