Some public notaries offer services to immigrants for which they are not certified; that is, they commit fraud and affect the lives of people who want to carry out a procedure before the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office.

“[Notaries] are people who present themselves as qualified to offer legal advice or services related to immigration or other legal matters, but who, without such qualifications, often victimize members of immigrant communities,” warns the American Bar Association (ABA).

No notary can perform the legal procedures of a lawyer: they are not authorized to represent immigrants before USCIS or courts; they cannot assist in the preparation of a will or legal document; nor can they offer legal assistance of any kind, and they do not have a judicial license.

“False statements about a person’s qualifications to offer legal advice can have serious consequences for immigrants,” adds the ABA. “In many cases, the work performed by these individuals results in missed deadlines, the filing of incorrect or incomplete forms, or the submission of false applications to the government.”

Furthermore, immigrants often spend hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars on payments for what they believe are the services of a licensed attorney.

The ABA reminds the public that a notary public in the United States is only authorized to attest The signing of forms is not for completing the legal process, as immigrants believe. A report by TypeInvestigations revealed how notary fraud has affected migrant families, causing losses of thousands of dollars. “Some companies, which are otherwise legitimate tax preparers or notaries public, may misrepresent the services they are legally authorized to offer, blurring the line between discussing immigration options and providing legal advice for which they are not licensed,” the investigation states.“Scammers can abscond with victims’ money after failing to provide promised services they weren’t authorized to provide, or even threaten immigrants with extortion.” The investigation reveals that, since 2015, dozens of people in Illinois have filed complaints with the State Attorney General’s Office regarding immigration fraud. Losses have reached up to $200,000, according to information obtained by the publication, which cites the case of two women from Chicago and Melrose Park, Illinois. “According to ten complaints, the scammers targeted individuals between 2022 and 2023, allegedly charging between $6,000 and $25,000 for assistance with permanent residency applications, and sometimes warning them that if they spoke about their practices, they risked deportation,” the investigation states. The result was that the immigrants did not receive the benefits they paid for and face financial losses and legal problems. immigration authorities.

Some victims fell into the trap based on recommendations from acquaintances who had pending paperwork, but who also ended up being scammed.

Immigrant advocates suggest seeking help only from certified attorneys, not notaries public.