November 24, 2014
*Version en español debajo*
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.
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