Avoid Immigration Fraud

Obama’s recent announcement regarding Immigration policies imposes a hopeful pathway for undocumented individuals to attain citizenship status. As a result, it is more probable that individuals will be interested in learning more information regarding the policies and procedure one will have to undergo in order to attain citizenship. This post aims to provide helpful tips on how to confirm that you are speaking to the right people and be aware of scams and frauds.

The files attached to the bottom of the post are provided in both English and Spanish and list important tips to remember when attempting to seek out immigration services. For instance some of the tips include the following,

• Ask for a copy of ALL documents submitted to the government on your behalf.
• Make sure the individual you speak to is a licensed attorney or an accredited representative when receiving legal advice. Otherwise that individual is not entitled to give you advice therefore what they say is invalid.
• Ask and confirm that the written contract you are provided with by the attorney is in a language that you can understand. The contract should include an explanation of the specific services you will be receiving and the total cost you will be expected to pay.

In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides additional tips and sources on avoiding scams on their page. Some of the tips provided by the USCIS include the following,

• USCIS does not charge you a fee to download forms. Visit the Forms page get free forms and learn more about filing fees.
• USCIS requires you to pay a filing fee for most forms. Please see the list of fees on the website.
• If you're working with an attorney, check with the state bar association to verify that the attorney is eligible to practice in—and is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of—any U.S. state, possession, territory or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. 

A source that is also provided on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is the Common Scams page.