blog-hdr.gif

Integrity Legal

«
»

28th Jan 2010

USCIS Issues Brochure About Immigration Consulting and Fraud

Posted by : admin

On this blog, we frequently take the time to point out the fact that only a US licensed attorney or other accredited representative can represent clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), the National Visa Center (NVC), or the US Embassy in Bangkok. Recently, USCIS has promulgated a brochure for consumers regarding US Immigration and fraud perpetrated against unwitting immigrants. Unfortunately, there are those who claim to be US Immigration experts when they are in fact unlicensed to practice United States law. These people claim all sorts of titles in order to sound as though they have a right to practice American Immigration law. The fact of the matter is that there are only two types of representatives that USCIS or the Department of State recognizes as legally able to represent clients.

The first category of authorized representatives is Attorneys. To quote directly from the brochure, USCIS requires the following in order for an attorney to act as a representative for clients in an Immigration matter:

An attorney must be in good standing with a U.S. state bar association (or U.S. possession, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia) and may not be under any court order restricting their practice of law. The best way to protect yourself is to ask the attorney to show you their current attorney license document. Write down the information and contact the state bar admission office to verify the accuracy of the information.

In a further quote from this brochure, USCIS explains what an individual or organization needs in order to be recognized as an accredited representative in immigration matters:

An accredited representative must work for an organization that has permission from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to provide legal advice on immigration matters. The organization will have an order from the BIA that gives the accredited representative permission to assist individuals with their immigration applications and petitions. The best way to protect yourself is to ask the accredited representative to show you the BIA order. Write down the information and contact the BIA to verify the accuracy of the information.

There it is, from USCIS itself, there are only two ways to verify that one calling himself an attorney is actually certified or licensed to practice Immigration law. Those seeking Immigration advice would be wise to undertake the above measures in order to be certain that their representative is able to effectively represent their interests. So-called visa agents, Immigration Consultants, legal advisors, and/or anyone calling themselves a “lawyer” should be able to provide either a license to practice law in a US state or territory, a US bar membership card, or a letter of permission from the Board of Immigration Appeals, anyone who cannot produce one of these documents is not authorized under US law to practice in the area of United States Immigration. This brochure went on to note that only an American attorney or an accredited representative is entitled to submit a form G-28 to the USCIS service center. Anyone who prepares an application without including this G-28 document should be asked why they are not submitting it.


Tags: , , , , , , , ,

more Comments : 29

29 Responses to “USCIS Issues Brochure About Immigration Consulting and Fraud”

  1. The Fiancee Visa in 2010 | Legal Information says:
    February 7, 2010 at 9:15 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  2. Fiancee Visas for Thai Loved Ones | Legal - Source Central says:
    February 25, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  3. K1 Fiancee Visas | Legal - Blog Scoop says:
    February 26, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  4. The K1 Visa in the year 2010 | Legal - InfoBuzz says:
    February 27, 2010 at 2:35 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  5. The United States Fiancee Visa in 2010 | Legal says:
    February 28, 2010 at 10:11 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  6. US K1 Visas | Legal - Article Flash says:
    March 2, 2010 at 8:34 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  7. The K1 Visa in the year 2010 | Legal - Idea Sky says:
    March 5, 2010 at 10:32 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  8. United States K1 Visas in the Year 2010 | Legal - Topic Pulse says:
    March 6, 2010 at 3:18 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  9. American K1 Visas | Legal - Guide Source says:
    March 6, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  10. US K1 Visas | Legal - Report Source says:
    March 7, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  11. The K-1 Fiance Visa in 2010 | Legal says:
    March 7, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  12. The American Fiancee Visa | Legal - Infowire says:
    March 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  13. The American Fiance Visa in 2010 | Legal - Report Pulse says:
    March 8, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  14. K1 Fiancee Visas | Legal - Report Universe says:
    March 9, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  15. The American Fiancee Visa | Legal - Educated Articles says:
    March 10, 2010 at 12:57 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  16. The Fiancee Visa in 2010 | Legal says:
    March 10, 2010 at 5:02 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  17. The K1 Visa in the year 2010 | Legal - Guide Source says:
    March 11, 2010 at 12:40 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  18. The K-1 Fiance Visa in 2010 | Legal says:
    March 13, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  19. United States K1 Visas in the Year 2010 says:
    March 13, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  20. The K1 Visa in the year 2010 | Legal - Top Source says:
    March 14, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  21. Fiancee Visas for Thai Loved Ones | Legal - Scoop Central says:
    March 15, 2010 at 12:25 am

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  22. Fiancee Visas for Thai Loved Ones | Legal - Blog Zone says:
    March 15, 2010 at 6:18 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  23. US K1 Visas | Legal - Report Pulse says:
    March 16, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  24. The K-1 Fiance Visa in 2010 | Legal - Blog Zone says:
    March 18, 2010 at 3:20 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  25. United States K1 Visas in the Year 2010 | Legal - Article Flash says:
    March 19, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  26. The K1 Visa in the year 2010 | Legal - Repository Central says:
    March 20, 2010 at 6:38 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  27. The Fiancee Visa in 2010 | Legal - Blog Scoop says:
    March 21, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  28. K1 Fiancee Visas | Legal says:
    March 22, 2010 at 7:26 am

    [...] and, if approved, forwards it on to the National Visa Center. The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

  29. Yeast Infection Treatment for Idiots » The American Fiance Visa in 2010 says:
    March 31, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    [...] approval, sends the case file on to the National Visa Center (NVC). The US State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) conducts a security clearance and then sends the case to the Embassy or Consulate with proper [...]

Leave a Reply

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisement. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.