Complaints: To file a complaint against an attorney: State Bar of California (800) 843 9053 www.calbar.

.org Authority over lawyer discipline in each state lies with the supreme court of that state. Please check with the respective state bar association if an attorney is not licensed in CA. To file a complaint against a non-attorney consultant: California Attorney General (800) 952-5225 www.ag.ca.gov California Department Consumer Affairs (800) 952-5210 www.dca.ca.gov of

For more information, contact the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (Chinese): (800) 520-2356 (Cambodian): (800) 867-3126 (Korean): (800) 867-3640 Ting Vit (Vietnamese): (800) 269-7395

IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT FRAUD

1145 Wilshire Blvd. 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 977-7500 Fax: (213) 977-7595 www.apalc.org

The printing and translation of these brochures were made possible with generous donations from:
The purpose of this brochure is only to provide general information on the law, which can change. If you have a specific legal problem, you should consult a lawyer who has expertise in this area of law.

Los Angeles County Bar Association Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association Korean American Bar Association

July 2007

Immigration Consultant Fraud Verify whether an Immigration Consultant is Legitimate

To verify whether a consultant has posted a bond as required by law, you can check: By phone. Call the Secretary of States Trademarks & Special Filings Agency at (916) 653-4984. You will need to give the name of the immigration consultant, the business name, and the surety bond number By internet. http://www.sos.ca.gov/busines s/sf/bond_search/

Attorney vs. Consultant

An attorney must have a license to practice law from any state. Federal law allows an attorney licensed in any state to provide legal assistance and represent you before the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). You have a right to: request to see an attorneys license (state bar number) Verify the attorneys license with the State Bar where it is issued to make sure the license is valid

How to Protect Yourself:

Before you pay for services, do your research! Do not be afraid to ask questions Do not sign anything that you do not understand Always ask for a written contract describing the services Contracts must be in English and in your own language if you do not understand English Never sign any blank papers Always get a receipt for any payment Avoid paying in one lump sum; try to ask for payment plans

An immigration consultant may assist only with preparing legal documents. Consultants are NOT attorneys. They may not provide legal advice or represent you in court. California law requires consultants to: Pay a $50,000 bond to the Secretary of State and must provide proof upon your request (non-profit agencies charging low fees are exempt from the bonding requirement) Return all documents to clients Provide a full refund within 72 hours of signing a contract if you want to cancel for any reason (cancellation must be in writing)

Always get proof of filing a copy or government filing receipt whenever anything is submitted in your case Keep copies of all documents submitted Keep detailed records of all payments and receipts

If someone promises something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is! No one can guarantee what USCIS will decide. Attorneys or immigration consultants cannot promise a particular outcome. Guarantees or special promises of connections with USCIS are good indicators to alert consumers of possible fraud!