Warning signs of an immigration scam

This page is for anyone in California who is about to pay someone for help with immigration papers, or who already did. It is about spotting and reporting scams. It is not legal advice. For what to do if immigration agents come to your door, see If immigration agents come.

How can I check someone in five minutes?

Ask for their full name. If they say they are a lawyer, also ask for their State Bar number. A real helper will not mind. Only a lawyer, or a person accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice who works for a recognized nonprofit, may give you immigration legal advice.

1. If they say they are a lawyer: search their name or bar number on the State Bar of California attorney search. Make sure the license is active and look for any discipline. You can also call the State Bar at 1-800-843-9053. If they are licensed in another state, check that state's lawyer directory.
2. If they say they are an accredited representative: look for their name and their nonprofit on the Department of Justice recognition and accreditation roster. The roster has a list sorted by state.
3. If they say they are an immigration consultant: search their last name or business name on the California Secretary of State Immigration Consultant Search. It shows if their bond is active. Remember that even a listed consultant may not give legal advice.
4. If you cannot find them anywhere: do not pay and do not sign. Look for free help from a nonprofit instead.

What are the warning signs?

Stop. Check before you pay anyone who:

• Calls themselves a "notario," "notary," "immigration expert" or "immigration specialist" and is not a lawyer
• Will not give you a written contract, or a contract in your language
• Charges you for blank immigration forms. Official USCIS forms are free
• Promises a green card, work permit or visa, or says you are sure to win
• Says they have special contacts inside immigration who can speed things up
• Charges you to "get on a list" or "save your place in line" for a new law or program. Until a new program actually starts, there is no list and no line
• Asks you to sign a blank form, or a form with false information on it
• Wants to keep your original passport, birth certificate or other papers
• Wants payment right away, in cash only, or by gift card, money transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency
• Uses a website or email that does not end in .gov and says it is the government
• Calls, texts or emails you about a "problem" with your case and asks for money or personal information
• Says they are from immigration or another government office and asks for payment or personal details by phone, text or email. Government agencies do not do that

What do I do if it already happened?

It is not your fault, and you are not alone. Scammers are good at sounding trustworthy. You can still act. Here is what to do:

1. Gather your papers. Collect everything on the list of papers to keep.
2. Get a second opinion on your case. Ask a lawyer or accredited representative to look at what was filed for you. A bad or false filing can harm your immigration case, so do this soon.
3. Report it. You can report to more than one place:
   • The person said they were a lawyer, or gave you legal advice without being one: file a complaint with the State Bar of California. It is free. Forms come in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. The State Bar says it does not ask about immigration or citizenship status.
   • Any immigration scam in California: report it to the California Attorney General. You can also contact your county District Attorney.
   • Any scam, anywhere in the U.S.: report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. On October 21, 2026 that site said it could not take reports because of the federal government shutdown. If it is still down, report to the Attorney General first.
   • You lost money or property: you can also report it to your local police.
4. Ask about getting money back. California law lets people hurt by a consultant sue for damages, and a court can order the consultant to pay back clients. Breaking the consultant law is also a crime, with a fine of $2,000 to $10,000 for each client hurt (Business and Professions Code 22445). A lawyer can tell you if this fits your case. For step by step help, see What to do if a notario or immigration consultant cheated you.

Who is allowed to give me immigration advice?

Only two kinds of people may tell you which form to file, what to say, or whether you qualify for something:

• A licensed lawyer. In California, you can look up any lawyer with the State Bar of California. A lawyer licensed in another state can also do immigration work, and you can check them in that state's lawyer directory.
• An accredited representative. This is someone who is not a lawyer but has been approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. They may only work through a nonprofit that the Department of Justice has recognized.

Everyone else, including notarios, notaries and immigration consultants, can only do limited paperwork tasks.

What may an immigration consultant do in California?

Paperwork help only. California holds consultants to strict rules.

A consultant may:

• Type your answers onto a government form, but not tell you what to answer
• Translate your answers
• Help you get supporting papers, like a birth certificate
• Mail or submit the finished forms for you, when you ask
• Refer you to a lawyer or accredited representative

A consultant may not:

• Give legal advice, or tell you which form or which program fits you
• Represent you in immigration court
• Promise a result, or say they have special friends or influence at immigration
• Charge you a fee just for sending you to someone else
• Take your money for a new law or program that does not exist yet

A consultant working legally in California must also:

• Have a $100,000 bond on file with the California Secretary of State and pass a background check
• Post a large sign in the office, in English and in the language of their clients, that says they are not a lawyer and lists their fees
• Give you a written contract, in English and in your language, before doing any work. The contract must list each service and its cost and say they are not a lawyer
• Let you cancel the contract within 72 hours of signing
• Give you a signed receipt for every payment
• Give you a copy of every form they fill out for you
• Give back your original papers, like a passport or birth certificate

These rules are in California Business and Professions Code sections 22440 through 22449. A nonprofit worker who helps with forms for free, or for a small fee, does not have to post the bond.

How do I pay government fees safely?

Pay the government directly. Many immigration forms have a filing fee. That fee goes to the government, not to a helper.

• USCIS takes payment through Pay.gov when you file online. For a paper form, pay by credit, debit or prepaid card on Form G-1450, or from a U.S. bank account on Form G-1650. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders or cashier's checks for paper forms unless you qualify for an exemption (USCIS Filing Fees, checked October 21, 2026).
• USCIS says it does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal or gift cards for immigration fees, and will never ask you to pay fees to a person on the phone or by email.
• USCIS filing fees are final. You usually cannot get them back, even if your case is denied, so be sure the form is right before you pay.

What papers should I keep?

Keep them yourself, in a safe place at home, not with your helper:

• The written contract, in English and in your language
• A receipt for every payment
• Copies of every form filed for you, and every letter from USCIS or the immigration court
• The person's name, business name, address, phone number and any ads or business cards
• Texts, emails and voice messages from them

Never hand over your only original document. If an office truly needs an original, ask for a copy of it and a written receipt.

Who can help?

Honest help exists, and some of it is free. These are public offices and nonprofit legal programs. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): immigration help for people with low income who live in San Mateo or Santa Clara County. 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. 650-326-6440. Ask about any cost when you call. clsepa.org/services
• Nonprofits funded by the State of California for immigration help: the California Department of Social Services lists them by region, including groups in Redwood City and San Jose. cdss.ca.gov/immigrationcontractors
• Free and low cost immigration lawyers near immigration courts: Department of Justice List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
• Find legal aid by zip code: LawHelpCA and Immigration Law Help
• Check a lawyer or report one: State Bar of California, 1-800-843-9053. calbar.ca.gov
• Report a scam in California: California Attorney General. oag.ca.gov/report

What should I check before I pay anyone?