Don’t become a victim of scams! If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person offering this guide is licensed to practice as a licensed immigration attorney.
While the administration of President Joe Biden is considering reforming certain immigration laws to regularize the status of up to 11 million undocumented immigrants in the nation, so far there is no defined and official plan. However, that doesn’t stop scammers from sharpening their hooks to attract people desperately seeking to regularize their immigration status.
Scammers who promise to help immigrants gain citizenship are always gaining traction when Congress presents new opportunities, and new executive action is likely to inspire a significant increase in scams across the country.
One of the most common forms of fraud is that of the “notario”, who can provide certain limited legal services in several Latin American countries, but in the United States is not authorized to provide legal services or advice.
Not only can immigration schemes and notarial fraud cost victims their savings, poorly handled cases can also destroy all chances of obtaining immigration benefits and can even lead to deportation.
Notaries promise green cards and legal services at a fraction of the price, but the risk is not worth it. In addition, there are trusted organizations accredited by the United States Department of Justice that dedicate resources to helping immigrants on their path to citizenship.
Language barriers often prevent communities from accessing valuable information that leads them to seek help from scammers, and fear of deportation can also prevent victims from coming forward for help when scammed.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
Before seeking the advice of an immigration attorney, first verify that it is accredited and thoroughly review its record, as it depends on whether your case is not affected in the future.
Visit the following links in the tri-state region to verify your attorney’s credentials.
NY
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices/search?3
NEW JERSEY
https://portalattysearch-cloud.njcourts.gov/prweb/PRServletPublicAuth/-amRUHgepTwWWiiBQpI9_yQNuum4oN16*/!STANDARD?AppName=AttorneySearch
CONNECTICUT
https://www.jud.ct.gov/attorneyfirminquiry/AttorneyFirmInquiry.aspx
For the rest of the states, visit the website of the American Bar Association.
Remember that there are certain procedures that you can do yourself online, such as:
Check the status of your case.
Current case processing times.
Change of address.
DID YOU RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS EMAIL?
Forward it to the USCIS Webmaster email box.
HAVE YOU BEEN A WITNESS OF IMMIGRATION SCAMS?
Report to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-FTC-HELP. You can also file a complaint online.
USCIS launched a new online form in March 2020 to help the public provide the agency with information about immigration fraud. The new online form is designed to facilitate the reporting process and gather the information that investigators need.
Visit USCIS Report Fraud to learn more.
–
