Know Your Rights: Avoid Immigration Fraud

Private Attorneys: Call the American Immigration Lawyers Association at 1-800-954-
0254 for a referral.

Attorneys or Accredited Representatives at Board of Immigration Appeals-Recognized Non-Profit Organizations: A list of these organizations can be found at https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/

Only go to an attorney or Department of Justice accredited representative if you have immigration questions. Notaries or Notary Publics are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. Attorneys from other countries who are not licensed by a state in the United States cannot give legal advice.
Lawyers must have a license from a U.S. state to practice law – ask to see their law license.
Accredited representatives have to be accredited and work for an agency recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Ask to see their accreditation documents and confirm they work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization and their accreditation is not expired.
Never sign an application with false information.
Review all information on an immigration application before signing.
Never sign a blank form.
Ask for copies of everything you sign.
Be skeptical of social media and other advertisements promising quick or new immigration relief.
If the advice sounds too good to be true, get a second opinion before filing an immigration application.

The U.S. government (including Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and State Department) will never contact you via WhatsApp or social media.
With limited exceptions, such as people who are released from detention and told they must check in with ICE via telephone, the U.S. government generally does not contact individuals by phone.
If you receive an unexpected message or phone call from someone who claims they are an immigration officer or other government official, do not respond or share personal information. Do not wire or transfer money to pay a “processing fee” or for any other reason.
If in doubt, consult an attorney or accredited representative before taking any action.

You cannot apply for lawful permanent residency because you have been in the United States for a long time unless you have lived here continuously since January 1, 1972.
If you apply for employment authorization or lawful permanent residence or other immigration benefits when you do not qualify, the Department of Homeland Security may start removal proceedings against you, which may result in your deportation.
A lawful permanent resident may lose this status if he/she commits a crime or if he/she is outside the United States for more than six months without advance permission from the Department of Homeland Security.

People in Illinois and Chicago should report immigration fraud to the following offices:

Attorney General of Illinois
https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Rights-of-the-People/civil-rights/Immigration/
1-800-386-5438 or 1-866-310-8398 (Spanish)

Cook County State’s Attorney Consumer Fraud Complaint Form
https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/consumer-fraud-complaint-forms

City of Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
BACP Consumer Protection Services
Call 311, use CHI311 mobile app, or 311.chicago.gov (Chicago Police)

Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission
https://www.iardc.org/Home/FileComplaint

People in Indiana should report immigration fraud to the following office:
Attorney General of Indiana
www.in.gov/attorneygeneral
1-800-382-5516

For additional resources, see StopNotarioFraud.org

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