There are many immigrants the U.S. who are seeking legal advice and guidance from reputable sources regarding various immigration matters. The trouble is, while there are plenty of them available, including Kuck Immigration Partners in Atlanta, there are also scammers out there looking to take your money and provide you with assistance that doesn’t actually benefit you. Whether you are looking to obtain permanent residency or want help with applying for an employment-based visa, be sure the person you are seeking help and assistance from is qualified to provide it you.
Sadly, there are many individuals out there who claim they work for a legitimate law firm or non-profit that can help you, but in actuality, they are looking to take advantage of you.
How can I avoid getting caught up in an immigration scam?
- Don’t accept help from someone who can promise you the world. What we mean by this is if someone is making promises to you that seem farfetched or too good to be true, there is a good chance they are. Many immigration matters such as filing an application for a green card or submitting a petition for a family-based visa involve lengthy processes that take time and money. Rather than risk giving someone hundreds of dollars and losing out on your opportunity to obtain the documentation you are seeking, come speak with a licensed attorney who specializes in only immigration law, like the lawyers at our firm.
- Use the internet and “Google” to search for the lawyer’s name. If you cannot find it right away, or the attorney does not have an actual website, then find someone else to help. Using rating services like Avvo.com, Google reviews, and Facebook Reviews, can help you get qualified and experienced immigration assistance.
- If you receive an email stating you were selected in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, it is a scam. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) will never send correspondence about being selected for this through email.
According to Time, “more than 11 million people applied for the annual U.S. visa lottery” in 2014 alone which indicates there are plenty of individuals who are looking to obtain their visa or green card so they can live and work here in the U.S. legally. The fact is, scammers are aware of this which is why they prey upon vulnerable individuals who are desperate for help or simply want assistance with the process but aren’t aware of how to file the paperwork on their own.
- Always check to ensure that the correspondence you are receiving through email is from uscis.gov or is affiliated with uscis.gov. Be sure the web address ends with .gov. If you are asked to pay to download USCIS forms, it is a scam. USCIC will never ask to you to pay to download forms as they are always free to retrieve.
- If you get a phone call purporting to be from “immigration,” USCIS, ICE or even the IRS or Social Security, asking for money, or threatening you with legal action or deportation if you do not comply with their request quickly, call a qualified immigration lawyer first. Generally speaking, NO government agency asks for money, and 99.9% of these calls are scams.
If you have an immigration-related question or need some help in getting specific forms filled out and filed, put your trust in Kuck Immigration Partners. You can contact us now by calling 404-816-8611 to set up your consultation, so that we can discuss your matter in more detail and explain the many ways we can help you.
