Avoid Immigration & Notario Fraud

Written By Kevin Hopper

How to Avoid Fraud

Only go to an attorney or Department of Justice accredited representative if you have immigration questions. Notaries or Notary Publics are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. Attorneys from other countries who are not licensed by a state in the United States cannot give legal advice.

Lawyers must have a license from a U.S. state to practice law

ASK TO SEE THEIR LAW LICENSE!

  1. Accredited representatives have to be accredited and work for an agency recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Ask to see their accreditation documents and confirm they work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization and their accreditation is not expired.
    Look them up here: Executive Office for Immigration Review | Recognition & Accreditation (R&A) Program

  2. Check the EOIR list of currently disciplined practitioners. Executive Office for Immigration Review | List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners

 

Never sign an application without:

 

  • Reviewing all information on an immigration application before signing.

  • If it is in English, insist on the responses being translated or read to you in your primary language! (You have a duty to read everything you sign!)

  • Never sign a blank form.

  • Verify that the information is correct! Do not sign a form with any false information.

  • Ask for copies of everything you sign.

  • Do not pay with cash. Ask for a receipt for all payment.

  • Check the USCIS Fees to be sure they are quoting the fees accurately.

  • Do not give original documents, but give only copies of documents.

  • Be skeptical of social media and other advertisements promising quick or new immigration relief. o SEE Common Scams | USCIS

  • If the advice sounds too good to be true, get a second opinion before filing an immigration application.

SOURCES: Know Your Rights: Avoid Immigration Fraud | National Immigrant Justice Center and Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law (UPIL) | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Top 5 questions you should ask when hiring an immigration lawyer.

  1. What is your experience handling cases similar to mine?

  2. What are my chances of success in this case?

  3. How much will your services cost, and what is your fee structure?

  4. How will you keep me updated on my case, and how can I reach you?

  5. Can you provide references or examples of similar cases you've successfully handled?

 

KNOW THE SCAMS

Various governmental agencies track scams that are commonly occurring. Visit these links to learn more.

Avoid Scams | USCIS

Common Scams | USCIS

USA.gov’s Common Scams and Frauds

Federal Trade Commission:
How To Avoid Immigration Scams and Get Real Help | Consumer Advice

 
 
 

Do you believe you have been a victim of Notario/Immigration Attorney Fraud or Bad Immigration Advice?

REPORT IT!

People living in New Mexico can report to:

Report Immigration Scams | USCIS – report scams to USCIS

If you lost money or other possessions in a scam, report it to your local police, too. To learn more about where to report fraud and scams, visit USA.gov’s Common Scams and Frauds webpage.

You can always report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.

Report Immigration Attorney Fraud or Malpractice or Unauthorized Practice of Law to the New Mexico Supreme Court Displinary Board: See For the Public - Disciplinary Board of the NM Supreme Court. You can also research an attorney to see if there are ongoing complaints.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stop Notario Fraud

stopnotariofraud.org

 
Kevin Hopper

The power of words and pictures has always been immense. From cave paintings and stained glass to the advents of the printing press, photography, television and of course, the Internet.

Words and pictures are everywhere. Lucky for me, I have a talent for crafting and combining them into powerful and effective communication.

I grew up fascinated with photography, then fine art and graphic design. I also stumbled upon my writing talent when a college professor accused me of plagiarism (the highest form of flattery?). A career in advertising seemed the obvious track, so that was my initial route. However, my diverse skillset and ravenous appetite for learning new applications, tools and programs pushed me into journalism, art direction, digital publishing, UX/UI, AI, etc. This constant technological multiplicity keeps me both engaged, challenged, and admittedly, a bit overwhelmed.

Yet what remains constant? Words and pictures.

Regardless of industry, words and pictures are important. This is something that every successful company demands, and armed with the ability to craft both into effective communication, it is a thrill for me to perform.

My career path has been far from standard, but it has opened my creative mind to a multitude of applications and perspectives. Along the way, I have worked with and for some extraordinary people from all walks of life. I celebrate diversity in all forms and continue to seek and solve new communication problems via my design entity Hoppervision.

When time allows, I create artwork, take photos, cook impulsively, collect vintage furniture and snowboard when possible.

Let’s talk creativity in terms of solving your communications issues…

…over a taut espresso, of course!

https://hoppervision.com
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