CUNY Citizenship Now

New York

Immigrant Affairs Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office

http://manhattanda.org/resources-victims-immigration-fraud
The Immigrant Affairs Unit helps immigrants who have been victims of various types of crime. They prosecute individuals and immigration services providers who represent themselves to be attorneys, or who provide legal advice when they are not allowed to do so. Visit this page to find out more about this unit.

Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General's Office

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/civil_rights/immigration_fraud/about.html
The Civil Rights Bureau of the Attorney General's office investigates individuals and businesses who engage in the unauthorized practice of law and defraud immigrants seeking permanent residence or citizenship. They also enforce laws to protect New Yorkers from discrimination. Visit this page to find resources, such as tips to avoid being a victim of immigration services fraud.

Nationwide

How and Where to File Complaints Against Notarios and Immigration Consultants

http://www.aila.org/stopnotariofraud
The American Immigration Lawyers Association website provides valuable information on filing complaints against fraudulent immigration services providers.

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=26773
The American Immigration Lawyers Association designed this guide with information, names, telephone numbers and addresses to help consumers take action against fraudulent immigration services providers.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office

http://manhattanda.org/victimservices/immigrant_affairs.shtml
Here you will find some examples of frauds/scams that the Immigrant Affairs Program investigates.

Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General's Office
http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/civil_rights/immigration_fraud/victim.html
Here you will find a description of common forms of immigration fraud, such as notario fraud and the unauthorized practice of the Law.

The Dangers of “NOTARIO” Fraud

http://www.abanet.org/publicserv/immigration/notario/consumer_warnings.shtml
The American Bar Association website lists the dangers of notario fraud and explains how notario fraud operates.

Know Your Rights!

www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/civil_rights/immigration_fraud/pdfs/brochure_english.pdf <pdf>
This brochure contains tips to protect yourself from immigration services fraud.

Department of Consumer Affairs

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/civil_rights/immigration_fraud/pdfs/immservprov.pdf <pdf>
Learn how to recognize legal immigration services providers in New York.

USCIS brochure

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/civil_rights/immigration_fraud/pdfs/Don't Be a Victim of Immigration Fraud Brochure - English Version.pdf <pdf>
Find out how to make the right decision when you choose an immigration services provider.

USCIS Finding Legal Advice

http://www.uscis.gov
The USCIS website has valuable information to find the best legal advice and to protect yourself from immigration services fraud.

U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review Notice

http://www.justice.gov/eoir/press/09/NotariosNoticeNational072209.pdf <pdf>
The U.S. Department of Justice released this notice to prevent immigrants from becoming victims of immigration services fraud.

Protect Your Dreams!

http://www.aila.org/content/fileviewer.aspx?docid=24019&linkid=169368
This brochure explains the rights of clients of attorneys and accredited representatives and offers tips to avoid being the victim of immigration services fraud.

Protect Yourself from Immigration Consultant Fraud

http://cliniclegal.org/sites/default/files/Protect%20Yourself%20from%20Immigration%20Consultant%20Fraud_2010.pdf <pdf>
If you are thinking about turning to an immigration consultant or immigration assistance service provider for immigration assistance, you are encouraged to take these important precautions to protect yourself from immigration fraud.

How to Avoid Immigration Services Fraud

The NYS Consumer Protection Board has developed a guide to help immigrants avoid common scams perpetrated by dishonest providers of immigration services. The guide is available in:

• English <pdf>
• Spanish <pdf>
• French <pdf>
• Haitian Creole <pdf>