With all of the excitement surrounding President Obama’s executive action announcement, we are likely to see a spike in fraud by notaries and unauthorized consultants who promise immediate action in order to steal people’s money. There are many organizations and websites dedicated to stopping notario fraud, as the issue is particularly problematic in areas where there are concentrated populations of immigrants. And while there is a lot of well-deserved excitement around President Obama’s announcement, the truth is that not everyone will be eligible. It is important for applicants to speak with a qualified immigration attorney, ask questions, and report notarios trying to take advantage of you or your family. This handy guide provided by the American Immigration Lawyers Association is helpful.
So who is authorized to help immigrants with their legal matters? The short answer is only a licensed lawyer or accredited representative is authorized to assist you with your immigration case. Immigration lawyers are the only representatives who have completed extensive education and training before being licensed to practice law. You should always check whether an immigration lawyer is in good standing by contacting the state bar or state Supreme Court. The link for California is provided here. AILA maintains a website that answers many Frequently Asked Questions regarding accredited representatives and notarios. Applicants are encouraged to visit their site to protect themselves.
