Immigration procedures are often complex. They require forms, interviews, biometric tests, documentation, in short, the paperwork is incessant. It is not uncommon for unscrupulous people to take advantage of this for their own benefit, either by charging for errands that are free of charge and for which there is free help, or seeking to steal your information for nefarious reasons.
To avoid becoming a victim, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recommends seeking legal help. Also, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice. “Only an attorney or authorized representative working for an organization recognized by the Justice Department (DOJ) can give you legal advice,” warns USCIS.
It is normal that when you go to make an immigration application you have questions such as where to start the process or who you can trust to help you. It’s best to start with the USCIS resource web page, where you can find processing times, how to report a change of address, or check the status of your case.
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The webpage will give you the same information you would get by speaking with a representative, and it’s available 24/7 from your cell phone, tablet, or computer. You can also ask Emma.
In the upper right corner of the USCIS website you will see a link with the message “Need help? Ask Emma.” Click on this link and you will be able to talk to her. Emma is a virtual assistant who speaks English and Spanish. It can also help you navigate the website.
Other Resources that you can find on the website of uses are the page of Form Filing Tips and of public linkwhere you’ll find a list of upcoming local events you can attend for information.
If you can’t find answers to your questions after visiting the online resources page, call USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.
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The USCIS website also offers tools to help you avoid scams. One of them is the mailbox USCIS Webmasterwhere you can send any email that seems suspicious to you.
If you have witnessed a scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 877-FTC-HELP, or you can file a complaint online, and also report it to local or state authorities.
Another site where you can get information to avoid fraud is the American Bar Association (ABA). This organization warns against people who present themselves as qualified to offer legal advice or immigration-related services to those who are not qualified. Such representations may include false statements such as that:
The individual is a solicitor, or attorney
The individual is authorized to represent immigrants before USCIS or before the immigration courts
The individual is qualified to assist in the preparation of legal paperwork;
The individual is a paralegal
The individual has a judicial license
The individual is a notary public.
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Being lied to by someone about their qualification to offer legal advice can have serious consequences. In many cases, the work performed by such individuals results in missed deadlines, the submission of incorrect or incomplete forms, or the filing of false claims with the government.
This could expose you to losing opportunities to obtain legal residency, you could be unnecessarily deported, or you could be subject to civil and/or criminal liability for filing false claims. Plus it can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
The term public notary it is particularly problematic because it lends itself to confusion and deception. While a notary public in the United States is only authorized to witness the signing of documents, in many countries of Latin America (Y Europe) refers to a person who is licensed as a lawyer or who is authorized to represent others before the government. The problem arises when a person with a license as a notary public in the United States uses it to make believe that she can provide services for which he is not certified.
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It is important that you have survey these tips, and if you do not feel safe, seek legal help or use the tools provided by USCIS.
With information from USCIS. This article does not constitute or replace legal advice.
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United States: How and when to contact the Immigration Service
The United States announced changes to the exam to obtain citizenship
If you are a refugee or asylum in the United States, you could bring some relatives with that same visa
Source-www.infobae.com