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Immigration scams: warning signs and where to report them

Only attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives may give immigration legal advice, USCIS forms are available at no cost on its website, and USCIS does not take payment by gift card or by apps such as Venmo. If you have paid a scammer, report to the FTC and your state consumer protection office.

Immigration scams work because the stakes are high, the process is confusing, and the person offering help often speaks your language and charges less than a law firm. Some scammers pretend to be a government office. Some pretend to be a lawyer. Some are real businesses that have no authority to give legal advice but sell it anyway. This page sets out the warning signs that USCIS publishes, the rules that tell you who is allowed to help, and where to report.

It describes how the rules work. It cannot tell you whether a particular person is a scammer, and it cannot tell you what to do about papers that have already been filed. A licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can review those.

Sources: USCIS's Common Scams page (last reviewed 4 August 2026), USCIS's Find Legal Services page (updated 4 August 2026), 8 CFR 292.1 and 1.2 on eCFR, and state laws read on 9 October 2026.

Start with the rule: who is allowed to help

The strongest protection is a fact about the law, not a feeling about a person. Federal regulations list who may represent others in immigration matters, and then close the list: 8 CFR 292.1(e) says "Except as set forth in this section, no other person or persons shall represent others in any case." The list covers attorneys, supervised law students and graduates, certain unpaid "reputable individuals", and accredited representatives of DOJ-recognized organizations. Immigration court has a parallel rule in 8 CFR 1292.1.

The regulation also defines what counts as practising. 8 CFR 1.2 describes preparation as studying the facts of a case and the applicable laws, coupled with giving advice, and says it does not include the lawful functions of a notary public or service consisting solely of assistance in completing blank spaces on printed forms by someone whose pay, if any, is nominal and who does not hold themselves out as qualified in legal matters.

In practice: someone who chooses your form or visa category for you, tells you how to answer a question, or says what your chances are is giving legal advice. If that person is not an attorney or an accredited representative, they are not allowed to. USCIS says the same in plain words: notaries "are not attorneys and cannot represent you in legal matters, including immigration cases." Our page on notario versus immigration lawyer goes through this in detail, and who can give immigration advice sets out the whole list.

Warning signs on the USCIS Common Scams page

USCIS publishes a list of scam types. The ones below are the ones people meet most often. They are described in our words from the page as read on 9 October 2026.

  • Someone says they work for USCIS and contacts you on social media. USCIS says it contacts people only through official government channels and not through personal social media.
  • A website or email that imitates USCIS. USCIS tells people to check that an address ends in ".gov". Look-alike addresses and links to non-government sites are a known tactic, including fake emails about Form I-9.
  • A payment method the government does not use. USCIS states: "We do not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards as payment for immigration fees." Its G-1055 fee schedule page lists the ways to pay by mail: a credit, debit or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or a US bank account using Form G-1650. It adds that cash can never be used to pay a filing or biometric services fee.
  • Paying for forms that are available at no cost. USCIS says its forms are on its All Forms page and that you should not pay for them.
  • Blank or false forms. Do not sign a blank form or a form that contains false information.
  • Claims of special connections or guaranteed speed. USCIS lists promises of special government connections or guaranteed faster visas, green cards or work permits as a scam sign, and states that only USCIS decides on expedited processing.
  • Fees demanded before USCIS has announced anything. On Temporary Protected Status re-registration, USCIS says: "Do not pay for or submit any form until USCIS publishes a Federal Register notice".
  • Job offers that require payment. Overseas or email job offers, especially those requiring payment, are listed. Working in the United States requires proper authorization.
  • Offers to be a "supporter". USCIS warns about online contacts offering to be your supporter, or to connect you with one, in exchange for information or money. It states that USCIS charges no fee to file Form I-134A.
  • Diversity visa claims. The State Department runs the Diversity Visa programme and it never emails you about being selected.
  • "Notario público". USCIS warns that notaries are not authorized to give immigration legal services, and points to your state bar for attorneys and to the EOIR Recognition and Accreditation Program for accredited representatives.

One sign deserves its own line: pressure. A real office will give you the fee and scope in writing and let you take it home. See our page on questions to ask at an immigration lawyer consultation.

Government fees: what to know before anyone asks for money

Many scams rely on the reader not knowing what the government actually charges. The fees USCIS charges are set in 8 CFR 106.2, and the amount is listed on the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055). Some forms carry no fee at all. For example, under 8 CFR 106.2(a) the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) has no USCIS fee, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination (Form I-693) has no USCIS fee, and the asylum application Form I-589 is listed with no filing fee in the regulation, although an asylum fee and an annual asylum fee set by statute apply (see our USCIS fees page).

Two more rules help you check a request for money:

  • Under 8 CFR 106.1(b), USCIS fees "must be remitted from a bank or other institution located in the United States and payable in U.S. currency" and be paid by the method USCIS prescribes for the request. A request to send USCIS fees to a personal account, a phone number or a wallet app is not a USCIS payment method.
  • Under 8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(v), "Filing fees generally are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the benefit request". Scammers sometimes promise refunds of government fees. The regulation gives the decision to USCIS.

If someone quotes you a fee for a USCIS form, ask them to show you the amount on the USCIS fee schedule. A legal fee is a different thing from a government fee, and a legitimate quote separates the two.

Fake lawyers and real lawyers behaving badly

The query "immigration lawyer scams" covers two different problems.

People pretending to be lawyers. Some give a bar number that is not theirs, use the name of a real lawyer, or say they are "attorneys in another country". A foreign lawyer may represent someone only in limited circumstances; 8 CFR 292.1(a)(6) covers foreign attorneys for matters outside the United States. To check a lawyer, ask which state licenses them, then look them up on that state's bar or court register, and check the EOIR List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. The steps are in how to check an immigration lawyer's licence.

Licensed lawyers with unacceptable fee practices. Not every problem is a scam. Under Minnesota's Rule 1.5 (typical of the state rules, though each state has its own text), a lawyer may not charge an unreasonable fee, must communicate the scope and fee to the client, preferably in writing, and may not describe any fee as nonrefundable or earned upon receipt. If a lawyer's agreement says the opposite, or you are asked for money with no written terms, that is a reason to ask questions, and the state bar is the place to raise it.

People who are not lawyers but sound like one. In Texas, Government Code §406.017 makes it an offense for a notary to state or imply that they are a licensed attorney, to accept pay to prepare documents or otherwise represent another person in an immigration proceeding, or to use "notario" or "notario publico" to advertise. In New York, General Business Law §460-d bars a paid provider of immigrant assistance from giving legal advice, using titles such as "immigration consultant", taking fees for services not yet performed, and referring a customer to an attorney for a fee. In California, the Secretary of State says a person acting as an immigration consultant must first obtain a $100,000 bond and pass a background check, and keeps a public search. Registration does not make a consultant a lawyer.

What can go wrong when the helper is not authorized

The cost of a scam is rarely only the fee you paid. The problems that follow are procedural, and the regulations show how they arise.

  • A wrong or missing signature, or a wrong fee, gets the request rejected. Under 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii), a rejected benefit request "will not retain a filing date". The reasons for rejection include not being signed with a valid signature, not being executed, and not being submitted with the correct fee.
  • Whatever you sign is yours. By signing, the applicant or petitioner "certifies under penalty of perjury that the benefit request, and all evidence submitted with it... is true and correct" (8 CFR 103.2(a)(2)). That is why USCIS tells people never to sign blank forms.
  • Deadlines do not move. An RFE gives no more than twelve weeks and a NOID no more than thirty days, with no extensions (8 CFR 103.2(b)(8)(iv)).
  • Notices may go to the wrong address. If a preparer puts their own address on your form, the mail goes to them. USCIS's scam page also warns that identity theft can occur when a card is sent to an old or incorrect address.
  • No regulator. An attorney answers to a state bar and an accredited representative to EOIR. A notario answers to neither for legal work.

What to do about a filing that has already gone wrong is a legal question for an attorney or accredited representative who has read your papers, not for a web page.

Where to report

USCIS's page on reporting immigration scams (its text was last reviewed 2 November 2020, so some of its detail is dated) says to report a scam to your state consumer protection office, to local police if you lost money or possessions, and to the Federal Trade Commission, which takes reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The page links to a state-by-state list at usa.gov/state-consumer. It also states: "Reporting scams will not affect your immigration application or petition."

USCIS's Common Scams page adds:

  • Report immigration fraud to the FTC (identitytheft.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov) or to your state consumer protection office.
  • Forward suspicious emails that claim to be from USCIS to the USCIS webmaster address, uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov, and report websites or social media accounts that claim to be affiliated with USCIS to the same address.
  • Report suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
  • Report a card that never arrived through the USCIS non-delivery request page.

Complaints about an attorney go to the bar of the state that licenses them. Complaints about an accredited representative or a recognized organization are handled through EOIR under 8 CFR 1292.19. Keep copies of everything: receipts, messages, the names and numbers used, and the forms that were filed for you.

If you are under threat, in danger, or being forced to work or pay, call local emergency services. The trafficking hotline number above is the one USCIS lists.

Find an attorney or accredited representative

See attorneys and accredited representatives in the Migratio directory. Listings are shown in a neutral order with factual filters only (state, language, practice area, attorney or accredited representative). Migratio does not recommend, rank or match any lawyer.

Notaries public, notarios and immigration consultants are not lawyers and cannot give immigration legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can.

Migratio is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can advise you.

Questions people ask

How can I tell if an immigration lawyer is a scam?

Check the licence rather than the story. Ask which state licenses them, look them up on that state's bar or court register, and check EOIR's List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. Be wary of anyone who asks for payment by gift card or apps like Venmo, who guarantees an outcome, or who gives no written fee terms.

Does USCIS accept Western Union, PayPal or gift cards?

No. USCIS states: "We do not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards as payment for immigration fees." By mail, it accepts a credit, debit or prepaid card using Form G-1450 or a US bank account using Form G-1650, and cash can never be used.

Are USCIS forms free ($0) to download?

Yes. USCIS says its forms are available on its All Forms page and you should not pay for them. Filing fees are a separate matter and are set in 8 CFR 106.2; some forms have no filing fee, and many do.

Where do I report an immigration scam?

USCIS points to the Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov), your state consumer protection office (usa.gov/state-consumer), and local police if you lost money. For trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 888-373-7888. USCIS says reporting a scam will not affect your application.

Can I get my money back from an immigration scammer?

We cannot say. Recovery depends on how you paid, who took it and where they are. Reporting to the FTC, your state consumer protection office and the police creates a record, and a licensed attorney can advise on options. USCIS filing fees themselves are generally non-refundable under 8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(v).

Is a notario a lawyer?

No. A notary public or notario is not an attorney and cannot give immigration legal advice or represent you. Only an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • Notario vs. immigration lawyer: what a notary can't do — In the United States a notary public (notario público) is not a lawyer and may not give immigration legal advice or represent you. Federal rules limit representation to attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives and a few narrow categories.
  • Notario público vs. abogado de inmigración en Estados Unidos — En Estados Unidos un notario público no es abogado y no puede darle asesoría legal de inmigración ni representarle. Solo un abogado con licencia o un representante acreditado por el Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) puede hacerlo.
  • Who can legally give US immigration advice? — Attorneys in good standing and DOJ-accredited representatives of recognized non-profits can advise and represent you; a few narrow categories can appear unpaid. Notaries, notarios and immigration consultants cannot give immigration legal advice. Form preparers may only fill in blanks for a nominal fee.
  • How to check an immigration lawyer's license — Ask which state licenses the lawyer, look them up on that state's bar or court register, then check EOIR's List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. For a non-lawyer accredited representative, check the EOIR roster instead.
  • Free ($0) and low-cost immigration legal help: where it comes from — Legal help at $0 or low cost comes mainly from three official sources: EOIR's List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers (for people in immigration court), DOJ-recognized non-profits with accredited representatives, and supervised law school clinics. Government filing fees usually still apply.
  • Questions to ask at an immigration lawyer consultation — A first consult is your chance to confirm that the person is allowed to represent you, to get the scope and fee in writing, and to learn who will do the work and how you will hear about notices. The rules behind each question are quoted below, with sources.
  • USCIS fees, October 2026: every main form — As at 9 October 2026 the paper fee is $675 for the I-130, $1,440 for an adult I-485, $520 for a standard I-765, $750 for the I-751 and $760 for the N-400. Four fees rise on 16 October 2026, EB-5 fees change on 30 November 2026, and several changes are only proposed.