Before you pay anyone for help with immigration papers
A printable from Immigration Scams. Fill it in by hand. Nothing you write is collected by this website.
Before you pay anyone for help with immigration papers
Only a lawyer or a Department of Justice accredited representative may give you immigration legal advice.
Check first (about five minutes):
- I asked for the person's full name and, if a lawyer, their State Bar number
- Lawyer: I found them on apps.calbar.ca.gov, or called 1-800-843-9053
- Accredited representative: I found them and their nonprofit on the Department of Justice roster (justice.gov/eoir)
- Consultant: I found them on specialfilings.sos.ca.gov. They still may not give legal advice
Stop if they:
- Call themselves a "notario" or "immigration expert"
- Charge for blank forms (official forms are free)
- Promise a result or say they have friends at immigration
- Charge to "get on a list" for a program that has not started
- Ask me to sign a blank form or a form that is not true
- Want to keep my original papers
- Want cash only, gift cards, money transfer or a payment app
Always:
- Get a written contract in my language before any work
- Get a receipt for every payment
- Get a copy of every form filed for me
- Pay USCIS fees only through Pay.gov or on Form G-1450 or G-1650 sent with my form
- Remember: I can cancel a consultant contract within 72 hours and get all my money back
If something went wrong: report it to the State Bar (calbar.ca.gov) and the California Attorney General (oag.ca.gov/report). You do not need to be a citizen to report.
Legal help: CLSEPA, 650-326-6440 ยท donotlosehope.com/guides/immigration-scams/
From Immigration Scams. Facts checked October 21, 2026. Free information, not legal or medical advice.