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Immigration Scams. Consumer.gov. What is an immigration scam?. If you are immigrating to the U.S ., you might hear about several kinds of scams: websites that look like U.S. government sites, but are not people who charge for government forms that are free
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Immigration Scams Consumer.gov
What is an immigration scam? • If you are immigrating to the U.S., you might hear about several kinds of scams: • websites that look like U.S. government sites, but are not • people who charge for government forms that are free • people called notarios, who charge fees but cannot give you legal help • These scams cost more than money. These scams can take away your chance to immigrate legally.
What is a notario? • In the U.S., notarios, notarios públicos and notary publics are not lawyers. • They will say they can help, and tell you to pay them. But they can not help you with immigration. • Sometimes a notario can ruin your chance to immigrate legally.
What is an accredited representative? • This is a person who: • Is authorized by the U.S. government to help you with immigration • Does not have to be a lawyer • Can give you legal advice on your immigration • Immigration lawyers also can help you
Avoid immigration scams: • Do not pay for immigration forms. • Get advice from U.S. government websites. • Make sure the website address ends with .gov. • Do not pay a notario for legal advice.
Avoid immigration scams: • Never sign a form that is blank • Never sign a form that has false information in it • Do not let anyone keep your original documents • Keep a copy of every document you turn in
Get the right immigration help • Get free immigration forms: • visit uscis.gov/forms • call the USCIS Forms Request Line: 1-800-870-3676 • Learn who can help you and where to find help: • Go to ftc.gov/immigration
What if I paid but did not get help? • Report what happened to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). • Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 • Go online: ftc.gov/complaint
Immigration Scams Consumer.gov