A growing number of asylum seekers cannot get help with complex applications for temporary protection visas (TPVs) because two of the biggest refugee legal centres in Australia are stretched to the limit.

The Federal Government re-introduced TPVs in April, and has received 4,000 applications for the visas.

Lawyers are worried that many applications will not be processed fairly because thousands of asylum seekers cannot speak fluent English and legal services are too busy to help them.

Sydney's Refugee Advice and Case Service is stretched to the limit and has a big waiting list.

The centre's executive director, Tanya Jackson-Vaughn, said she estimated there were 9,000 asylum seekers in New South Wales who needed protection.

"We have 1,000 people on our waiting lists and we've seen 300 people so far and we've helped them with statements," she said.

"There is an 80-page form in English that is not provided in their own language that needs to be filled in ... all in English."

David Manne from Melbourne's Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre estimates that thousands of people could be eligible for temporary protection visas.

He said a big proportion of those people would be unable to get the help they needed because refugee legal centres had too many cases to look at, and had lost federal funding.

"The paperwork required by the Government here under these stringent requirements in many cases will be the difference between someone being able to present their claims and facing dangers under deportation," Mr Manne said.

Government says Labor to blame for backlog of cases

Ms Jackson-Vaughn said in addition to concerns about TPV applications, many of the centre's clients were distressed that they did not have the right to work under bridging visa restrictions.

But a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said 26,000 bridging visa holders had been approved for work rights.

The minister's office blamed Labor for a huge backlog of asylum seeker cases, and said 25,000 cases were still to be assessed when the Abbott Government came to power in 2013.

Twenty-one-year-old asylum seeker Ali (not his real name) fled Afghanistan three years ago, and is now living in Sydney.

He said he was not allowed to work on a bridging visa, but was uncertain about potentially being transferred to a TPV.

"I don't see any difference between bridging visa and TPV, the only difference would be I'd be able to work... there's no promise that I can stay here," he said.

If the Government invites him to apply for a Temporary Protection Visa, he would be able to work, but would have to re-apply for the visa in three years.

He said he could not go home because he fears he will be killed by the Taliban.

"I'd love to go back when it's safe for me," he said.

"If I go now, I'll be killed by the Taliban - not just me, they will kill all my family."