At Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), the immigration legal team blends expertise with empathy. Through individualized case work as well as legal clinics, the team continues to help clients from various countries take crucial steps toward security and stability.
Recently, we spoke with Jessica Soares during one of the legal clinics at LSSNCA’s Greenbelt office, which supported more than 40 Afghan clients eligible to apply for green cards.
The team works with clients to gather documents and prepare applications before each clinic. On clinic day, clients come into the office for a final review to ensure everything is ready for filing.
“The clinics are really fun,” Soares said. “We get the whole team together and connect with our clients. It’s an opportunity to learn more about their needs and link them to other services we offer.”
These gatherings not only help complete applications but also foster trust and open doors to other support — from mental health resources to community benefits — often resulting in long-term services.
“Often clients hire us for one thing, and we end up helping with several others,” Soares said. “Our team goes above and beyond because we care.”
A few examples include:
- The Sultani* brothers first came to LSSNCA seeking family reunification. The team helped to find a foster family placement for the boys as they await reunification. Over the years, the legal team has guided them through each stage of their immigration case — from work permits and asylum applications to filing for green cards.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) refused to reissue a green card for Rose*, a lawful permanent resident. Lacking official proof of her status, she faced obstacles with school and travel.
“We stepped in to help. Our team filed an online application for a replacement green card and requested an emergency appointment with USCIS,” Soares recalls.
After years of waiting, USCIS finally issued her green card in August.
Comprehensive Immigration Legal Services Now Available for the Broader Community
As of June 1, 2025, LSSNCA has broadened its immigration legal services, making reasonable -cost assistance available to the wider community.
LSSNCA’s legal team provides a full spectrum of immigration representation, including:
- Court and defense: Representation in removal (deportation) proceedings, Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) cases, and motions to reopen or reconsider.
- Employment-based immigration: Employment authorization documents (work permits), work visas such as H-1B and employment-based green cards (EB-2, EB-3).
- Family-based immigration: Adjustment of status (green card), immigrant visas, fiancé(e) petitions and inadmissibility waivers.
- Humanitarian-based immigration: Asylum (including protection under the Convention Against Torture), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) cases, U-visas and T-visas.
LSSNCA charges a $90 consultation fee, keeping services accessible while maintaining high professional standards.
High Quality, High-touch Care at a Reasonable Cost
LSSNCA combines the care of a nonprofit with the expertise of a top immigration law firm.
“We are customer service based. We will give you [an appointment in] two weeks, be available to answer questions, [and] give you the attention you need. We have translators and interpreters available. We are embedded in the community, and we can connect you with other services like mental health support and benefits. We work with the community to help you with other needs as well.”
A Team Fluent in Many Languages
To better serve diverse immigrant communities, LSSNCA staff has multilingual expertise including Spanish, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, and Urdu.
This linguistic and cultural knowledge ensures clients can communicate in the language they’re most comfortable with — building trust and clarity throughout complex legal processes.
“Unlike private firms, we offer reasonable fees without compromising on quality. Clients benefit from shorter wait times — cases are often filed within about two weeks of receiving documents and a retainer. The team is also equipped to handle all USCIS filings virtually, serving clients across the United States and around the world.” Soares concludes.
To learn more or to request a consultation, visit the LSSNCA Immigration Legal Services page.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of LSSNCA clients.
