Avoid Immigration Scams

Licensed Immigration Attorneys

Only licensed attorneys admitted to the bar of any U.S. state can give you immigration legal advice and represent you before USCIS, immigration courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

• ✓ Ask for their state bar number and verify it at the state bar website
• ✓ Search the BIA's accredited representative list at justice.gov
• ✓ Ask if they are a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) at aila.org

💰 Usually paid. Fees vary widely — see the fees section in the research.

BIA-Accredited Representatives

People who are not lawyers but have been officially approved by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to give immigration legal advice and represent clients. They typically work for nonprofit organizations.

• ✓ Check the official BIA accredited list at justice.gov/eoir/recognition-and-accreditation-roster

💰 Usually free or very low-cost (through nonprofits).

Recognized Organizations (Nonprofits)

Nonprofit organizations that have been officially recognized by the Department of Justice to provide immigration legal services. They employ BIA-accredited representatives.

• → immigrationadvocates.org — national directory of free/low-cost legal help
• → Your local Catholic Charities office
• → International Rescue Committee (IRC) — rescue.org
• → RAICES — raicestexas.org (focuses on Texas and Latin American communities)
• → National Immigration Law Center — nilc.org
• → Your local legal aid organization
• → Law school immigration clinics (law students supervised by licensed attorneys)

1. The Green Card Lottery Scam

The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery is free and can only be entered at the official U.S. government website: dvlottery.state.gov. Many websites charge $25–$200 to "submit your application" for you — this is a scam. They may or may not actually submit your entry, but they are taking your money for something you can do yourself for free.

⚠️ Red flag: Anyone charging money to enter the DV lottery.

✅ What to do: Enter yourself at dvlottery.state.gov — it is free.

2. The Fake Win Notification Scam

You receive a letter, email, phone call, or text message telling you that you "won" the green card lottery. The U.S. government does NOT notify winners by letter, email, or phone — you can ONLY check your DV lottery status yourself at dvlottery.state.gov using your confirmation number. Anyone who contacts you to say you won is running a scam, and they will ask for money to "process" your winning status.

⚠️ Red flag: Any unsolicited notification that you won the lottery.

✅ What to do: Check only at dvlottery.state.gov. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

3. The 'Special Connections' Scam

Someone claims to have a special relationship with USCIS, an immigration judge, or a government official and promises to get your case approved quickly for a fee. No one has these connections. USCIS decisions are made by officers reviewing documents — they cannot be influenced by outside payments. This is not only a scam but potentially bribery, which is a federal crime.

⚠️ Red flag: Claims of 'special connections' to speed up your case for money.

4. The Guaranteed Result Scam

No legitimate immigration attorney can guarantee that your case will be approved. USCIS and immigration courts make decisions based on law and evidence. Anyone who guarantees you a green card or visa approval is either lying or planning to disappear with your money. Even the best lawyers cannot guarantee results.

⚠️ Red flag: 'Guaranteed approval' or 'we will get you a green card, no matter what.'

5. The Blank Form Scam

The scammer asks you to sign blank immigration forms and promises to fill them in later. Signing a blank form is extremely dangerous — the scammer can write anything on it, including false information that could result in fraud charges against you, which can permanently bar you from ever getting legal status.

⚠️ Red flag: Being asked to sign blank forms.

✅ What to do: Never sign any form that is not completely filled out and that you have read and understood.

6. The 'New Law' Scam

Scammers tell you there is a "new law" that will give amnesty or make it easy for you to get a green card quickly — but you must pay now to register before the deadline. These "new laws" are almost always completely made up. Real immigration law changes are announced by the government and covered by legitimate news organizations.

⚠️ Red flag: Urgency around a 'new law' or 'special amnesty program' that requires immediate payment.

7. The Document Holding Scam

The scammer takes your original documents — passport, birth certificate, green card — and then uses them as leverage to continue charging you money or to force you to stay under their control. Once they have your documents, it can be very hard to get them back.

⚠️ Red flag: Anyone who wants to keep your original documents.

✅ What to do: Never give original documents to anyone except in official government settings (USCIS, the consulate). Give copies.

8. The DACA or TPS 'Upgrade' Scam

Scammers tell DACA or TPS holders that they can get them a green card directly from DACA or TPS status, or that they know of a special program. DACA and TPS do not directly lead to green cards. Any money paid for this "upgrade" will be lost.

⚠️ Red flag: Claims that DACA or TPS can be converted directly to a green card.

9. The Asylum Coach Scam

Someone offers to write your asylum story for you, fabricating persecution that did not happen or exaggerating events. This is extremely dangerous — if USCIS or an immigration judge determines your asylum claim contains false information, your case will be denied and you may be permanently barred from future immigration benefits and face criminal charges for fraud.

⚠️ Red flag: Anyone offering to 'create' or significantly embellish your asylum claim.

10. The Fee Deposit Scam

The scammer collects your USCIS filing fees (sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars) but never actually files anything. By the time you realize what happened, the scammer is gone. Your deadline may have passed, making your situation worse.

⚠️ Red flag: Paying filing fees to an individual or small office rather than directly to USCIS.

✅ What to do: All USCIS fees must be paid directly to USCIS by check or money order made out to 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security.' Never pay through a third party.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Report scams and fraud nationally.

State Attorney General

Each state has an attorney general's office that investigates consumer fraud. Search '[your state] attorney general report fraud.'

USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS)

Report immigration fraud specifically to USCIS.

Local Police

Report theft — your right to report a crime does not depend on your immigration status.