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The wrong kind of immigration help can hurt. Learn who can help. Know where to find the right immigration help and where to turn if you’ve been harmed by someone unauthorized to provide immigration legal services.
On June 18, 2024,
President Biden announced a series of immigration actions using the authority
granted to him by our existing immigration laws. These actions will help
certain undocumented individuals in the United States.
On August 19, 2024, DHS implemented Keeping Families
Together, a process for certain noncitizen spouses and noncitizen stepchildren
of U.S. citizens to request parole in place under existing statutory authority.
For more information, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/keepingfamiliestogether
- You SHOULD consult with a licensed immigration attorney in good standing to learn more about the process and whether you may be eligible.
- BE PATIENT and take the time to find the right help. The wrong advice could harm your chances of staying in the United States, getting lawful status, or becoming a U.S. citizen.
- DON’T BE FOOLED by notarios and other consultants who promise immediate results or special solutions in order to steal your money. Many unscrupulous individuals will cost more than licensed attorneys! If you are unsure if someone is qualified to help, ask for proof of their credentials and retain a copy of that evidence.
The immigration process is often a long, expensive, and complicated process. For these reasons, many immigrants in need of immigration legal services may look to providers other than qualified immigration lawyers for help. While there are well-meaning community representatives and other individuals eager to help you, not all of them mean well, and the harm caused by even a small mistake could be costly for you and your family.
In many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” refers to an individual who has had a lot of legal training, while in the United States, a notary’s function is simple and straightforward: provide impartial witness to the signing of official documents to prevent fraudulent acts. These individuals may not always go by the name notario and the name may differ from community to community. However, in many cases, these individuals may often refer to themselves as immigration consultants or immigration experts.
While there are a number of states that allow individuals to perform very limited immigration functions, the risk of using these services is high and can result in devastating consequences for you and your family. Our goal is to educated consumers on the risks of accepting help from unlicensed professionals and to provide you with tools necessary to select the best help for you and your family. We encourage consumers to get qualified immigration assistance to avoid being scammed.
This website is hosted and support by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Immigration Fight Notario Fraud Project.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from Becoming Victims
Don’t become a victim of dishonest immigration consultants known as “notarios”. Learn how to protect yourself and those around you with advice from these immigration attorneys.
UPL Video: Combating Notario Fraud
This video is presented by the AILA South Florida Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee to help immigrants navigate the complex immigration system and learn how to determine if they are working with a qualified immigration attorney and how to avoid notario fraud.