Very often, people who are seeking help for immigration problems think that they don’t need the help of an immigration attorney in the Dallas TX area. The sad fact is that there any number of scammers willing to prey on those who don’t understand the necessity for qualified legal help in immigration matters and who claim that they can provide help easily for a seemingly low price.
If you are looking for help with an immigration question or problem, these are some of the more common immigration scams you may encounter:
1 – Immigration Attorney Dallas TX area: Telephone Scams
Scammers may contact you by phone, pretending to be officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You must be especially cautious of these types of scams if you are asked for any type of personal information like your social security number, passport number or other identifying numbers or if you are asked for payment over the phone. The USCIS will never ask you for phone payments for any reason.2 – Immigration Attorney Dallas Area: Website Scams
If you search online for immigration information, you will find a number of websites that offer immigration publications and forms for a price. The names of the websites may sound official, but the real USCIS website, www.uscis.gov, does not charge for forms and information. Additionally, you must never enter personal information, especially social security numbers or other identifying numbers, on these scam websites3 – Immigration Attorney In Dallas TX area: Neighborhood Business Scams
In neighborhoods with a large immigrant population, there are often local businesses that claim to specialize in expediting immigration paperwork – for a fee. There is no fast route for processing immigration applications; applications submitted directly to the USCIS by the applicant or his/her attorney will be processed at the same speed as those submitted for a fee by a neighborhood scammer. 4 – Immigration Attorney Dallas TX area: Visa Lottery ScamsThe Department of State makes 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) available once a year in a type of visa “lottery” to a random selection of applicants meeting strict eligibility requirements. It is a common practice for scammers to take advantage of this time of year by sending emails to people claiming that they have “won” the visa lottery and that to claim their visas, they must supply a form of payment to the scammer. If you receive one of these emails, you should know that the State Department never contacts DV recipients by email.
5 – Immigration Attorney Dallas Area: Notario Publico Scams
A “notario publico” is a Spanish term for a notary public, but the meaning of the term “notary public” is different in the United States and in Latin American countries. In the U.S., a notary public is appointed by the state to witness the signing of important documents and to administer oaths. In Latin American countries, a notario publico is an attorney with special legal credentials. If you see someone advertising themselves in the U.S. as a “notario publico” and offering advice, for a fee, on questions of immigration law, they are not qualified to practice law in the U.S. or to give you any type of legal advice.To get real legal help for your immigration problems, contact an experienced immigration attorney in the Dallas TX area. Call The Law Office of Nathan Nathan Christensen P.C. at (972) 497-1017. If you prefer, you can visit us online at immigrationlawyerdallastx.com to fill out our online contact form and to find helpful information.