Immigration service providers charge fees for immigration-related services. They are not lawyers.
Service providers cannot:
- Give you legal advice
- Draft legal papers
- Review documents to assess if they are legally valid and comply with the law
- Represent you before immigration authorities (unless they are a representative with the federal board of immigration appeals)
- Promise you government action, such as granting:
- Visas
- Passports
- Citizenship
- Residency
- Any other immigration status
In New York City, immigrant service providers must disclose the services they can and can’t provide.
File a Complaint
You can report an immigration service business that is committing fraud or using deceptive practices.
Examples include:
- 10-year visa scams
- Offers to buy ID cards to prevent deportation
- False promises of government action
You can report this anonymously.
You can also report a business that did not:
- Disclose that they are not lawyers
- Complete a written contract before providing services Inform you of your right to cancel the contract in 3 business days without penalty
- Give you a copy of each document prepared for you
- Post a sign describing consumers' rights
- Post a bond of $50,000
What Happens Next
If you don't include your address or email with your Service Request, you won't receive follow up. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will consider your complaint a tip.
If you include your address, DCWP will mail you a complaint form. You must complete and return it to DCWP. If you provide your email address, you'll get the form by email instead. Check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.
