Attorney General Masto, Secretary Of State Miller, Warn Nevadans of Immigration Services Scams

November 24, 2014

Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller are advising Nevadans to beware of immigration scams, after President Obama’s announcement of his new executive action on immigration.

“Scammers take advantage of people anytime new federal or statewide programs are announced,” said Masto. “The wrong help can hurt. People should know their rights and that they can always turn to my office for help.”

“If you plan to enlist a document preparation service to complete your immigration paperwork, first ensure that the company is registered with my office,” said Miller. “Many document preparers advertise themselves as ‘notarios,’ which should not be confused with ‘notaries public.’ Notarios in Mexico serve a specific legal function which is not recognized in the United States. My office remains vigilant about protecting consumers taken in by scam artists.”

The new executive action on immigration has not yet been implemented.

Get Help:
Individuals who have questions regarding the President’s immigration plan can find more information through the USCIS website www.uscis.gov.

Consumers seeking assistance can visit a nonprofit organization recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). To find a BIA accredited organization that provides legitimate immigration services visit the search page.

To find a licensed attorney in Nevada, visit the State Bar of Nevada, which regulates attorneys in this state. Find more information on avoiding immigration scams at the USCIS website.

Tips to protect Nevadans from becoming victims of fraud:

Confirm whether the President’s new immigration actions have gone into effect and been implemented before taking steps to submit an application to USCIS.
Never pay a fee for an expedited application. Notaries and attorneys cannot expedite your application for a fee. No one can guarantee you will get approved for specific benefits. If someone makes such a guarantee, don't employ his or her services.
Only attorneys or BIA -accredited representatives can give you advice on which forms to submit to apply for a new program.
Only you, an attorney, or a BIA-accredited representative can represent you before USCIS and inquire about the status of your request.
An immigration service provider that does not employ attorneys may not give you legal advice, threaten to report you to immigration authorities, promise to obtain special favors from immigration authorities, instruct you to provide false information to immigration authorities, or charge you for a referral to someone qualified to assist you with immigration matters.
Although Notaries Public may perform duties of attorneys in Spanish-speaking countries, Notaries Public in the United States cannot practice law, give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice. Do not hire them for legal advice.
Remember, before you sign any immigration form, you must understand it and agree to the truth of it. If a form is not written in your language, and you don't understand it, do not sign it. Anything you sign that is not true and accurate may be considered fraudulent by USCIS, and this will have serious repercussions.
If you do go to an immigration service provider to have your paperwork filled out, the provider must do the following: give you a contract (which may be cancelled at any time) written in English and in a language you understand describing the services they will provide and the fees they will charge, post signs clearly indicating they are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice, give you a copy of any documents filed with the government, return any original documents belonging to you, and give you a copy of your file on demand without a fee. To determine if a business is a registered document preparation service with the Secretary of State’s office, click here to search the database.
It's always safest to pay for any service you obtain by money order, check, or credit card. Do not pay with cash. Note, too, that USCIS filing fees must be paid by those methods.
Remember that just because someone may be of your same race/ethnicity and/or speaks your language does not necessarily mean they have your best interest at heart. Scammers exploit the trust and friendship that exist in groups of people who have something in common.

Complaints:
If you are victim of an immigration services scam, report it the following agencies Federal Trade Commission, State Bar of Nevada, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.

Individuals who misuse or are suspected of misusing the term “notario” should be reported to the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-450-8594 (press option 6 to reach the document preparation services division). Reporting scams will not affect your immigration application or petition.

###