At Pozo Goldstein, LLP, we recognize problems that can stem from dealing with fraudulent parties. If you are a victim of immigration fraud, give us a call.

The laws regarding immigration are endlessly complex – for this reason, many people will find themselves turning toward a knowledgeable attorney or provider to help them. Unfortunately, placing your trust into the wrong hands can backfire and leave a person who was attempting to honestly enter into the country without help. At Pozo Goldstein, LLP, we recognize the problems that can stem from dealing with fraudulent or unscrupulous parties. You can be confident knowing that our firm will go above and beyond in our efforts to ensure that you are given the help that you need during the complex immigration process.

Have you been victimized by immigration or visa fraud?

There are many different faces that immigration fraud can take on. For example, one common scam is an attorney or even a company who advertises themselves to be lawyers when they are not. They may take advantage of immigrants by taking on cases, taking their money and then never contacting them again. Another common scam includes individuals fraudulently pretending to be ICE agents and then pretending that they have insider ties which can help create special treatment – for a price.

Some other examples of immigration fraud include:

• Individuals / companies promising visas they cannot provide.
• Companies hiring immigrants but not paying the correct salary.
• Providing immigrants with false investment opportunities.
• Selling fake Social Security cards, passports, etc.

Just because you are not a lawful permanent resident (LPR) does not mean that you deserve to be taken advantage in this manner. There are steps that you can take to ensure that you are not victimized by fraudulent actions. For example, you can report your case to the New York State Attorney General’s Office Immigration Services Fraud Unit or to the New York County District Attorney’s Office. By enlisting the help of a knowledgeable immigration attorney, you can ensure that you are protected to the full extent of the law.

Explaining Common Immigration Scams

There are many different ways in which an immigrant may be scammed during the immigration process. This may include a company misrepresenting themselves to an immigrant from Latin American countries as “notario public.” In the United States, a “notaries public” simply means that a person has been appointed to witness the signing of documents and oaths. However, in Latin American countries, a “notarios” is someone who is parallel to a highly specialized and trained attorney. Should someone purposefully misrepresent themselves, they can scam immigrants into believing they are able to provide legal services that they are not.

Other times, local businesses will advertise that they can guarantee immigrants that they will give them an immediate green card, visa or other immigrant document – fast. Not only will they fraudulently make that guarantee, but they will charge an extra fee for filing, claiming that it’s faster to file through them then directly with the USCIS. Another common fraud utilized by scammers is to put up a website that makes visitors pay for immigration forms or instructions – claiming that they are affiliated with USCIS. These forms, however, are available for free on the official USCIS website.

Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit

In an effort to combat the fraudulent behaviors associated with identity and benefits as they relate to immigration, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has developed initiatives that are designed specifically with these issues in mind. The Identity and Benefit Fraud Unite is tasked with the investigation and disruption of both document and benefit fraud schemes alike. The efforts taken by the fraud unit are made in conjunction with other components of the Department of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Part of the unit’s charges include developing and advancing different policy initiatives, along with proposing legislative changes, all with the intent of addressing the vulnerabilities that are specific to the immigration process. In such efforts, it is the unit’s hope that fraud will be deterred because incentives for committing such actions have been reduced. This is not to say, however, that the Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit will always be spot-on with the investigations and efforts that are made. Therefore, if you are being accused of identity or benefit fraud, and you were not aware of the fraudulent behaviors with which you have been associated, we urge you to speak with an attorney from our firm immediately.

Reputable New York Immigration Lawyers on Your Side

When you are navigating through the complex immigration process, it is extremely important that you waste no time in involving a knowledgeable lawyer. While no attorney can guarantee the success of your claim, they will be able to help offer honest legal advice and provide guidance to ensure that all paperwork is filled out correctly and filed on time. At Pozo Goldstein, LLP, we are here to ensure that you are given the support that you deserve.

Together, our legal team accounts for more than 90 years of experience in the legal field, all of which is now used for the benefit of our current cases. When you work with our law office, your case will be in the hands of a team of professionals who are former immigration prosecutors, and one who is a former judge. We work together to ensure that the best possible results are obtained on your behalf. Call today to schedule your initial case consultation or take advantage of our online form to message us directly.

• Avoiding Immigration Fraud