In the U.S., only two groups may lawfully give immigration legal advice: licensed attorneys and accredited representatives working for an organization recognized by the Department of Justice (DOJ/EOIR). With narrow exceptions, no one else may do so. A separate trap is the word "notario": in many Latin American countries, a notario público is a lawyer, but in the U.S. a notary public is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice on immigration.

Status as of July 12, 2026. In periods of heightened enforcement, demand for help rises — and so does fraud. The basic rule does not change: official USCIS and EOIR forms are free on .gov sites, and only an attorney or an accredited representative of a DOJ-recognized organization may advise on immigration. No one can guarantee a result or a "special relationship" with USCIS — that is a sign of a scam.

Two groups may lawfully advise and represent on immigration. The first is attorneys — members of their state bar in good standing; the bar can discipline, suspend, or disbar a lawyer. The second is accredited representatives — not bar attorneys, but authorized by DOJ and working for an EOIR-recognized nonprofit (such organizations may charge fees but must accommodate those who cannot pay). In addition, supervised law students and "reputable individuals" (who may not charge) can assist. Neither a notario, nor an immigration consultant, nor a "visa agent" is authorized to advise on immigration.

How to verify an attorney or accredited representative

Verification is done through official registries:

  • an attorney is checked with their state bar, which tracks licenses and discipline and can confirm good standing; you can ask to see the bar card or certificate of good standing and note the admission number;
  • an accredited representative is looked up in the DOJ Recognition & Accreditation Roster (on justice.gov/eoir) — they should be listed as "active";
  • both are checked against the EOIR List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners, which shows those suspended or barred from practice before the immigration courts and the BIA.

Who is a notario, and why does it matter?

In Latin American countries, a notario público is usually a lawyer or someone with legal training. In the U.S., a notary public only certifies signatures and has no authority to give legal advice on immigration. This confusion is the basis of the classic "notario scam": a person pays someone who cannot handle their case and ends up not with help but with a damaged case.

What are the signs of a scam?

Warning signs include: charging for blank official forms (USCIS and EOIR forms are free on .gov); promising a guaranteed result or a "win" in the green-card lottery; claims of a "special relationship" with USCIS; asking you to sign a blank form or one with false information; keeping your original documents; and websites that look like USCIS but whose address does not end in .gov. USCIS does not call demanding payment.

Where do you report a scam?

Fraud and the unauthorized practice of immigration law are reported to the EOIR Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program: by phone at 877-388-3840 or by email at EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov. A complaint can also be filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and with your state attorney general or state bar.

Where can you find trustworthy free or low-cost help?

EOIR maintains a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers, and USCIS has a Find Legal Services page; both lead to a legitimate attorney or accredited representative. How immigration scams work overall is covered in the Immigration Scams section; which decisions especially call for a verified attorney is covered in the Self-Deportation spoke.