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Before paying anyone for U.S. immigration help, verify the individual—not just the company name—through an official attorney-licensing record or the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Recognition and Accreditation Program. Then confirm that the person is authorized for your forum (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration court, or the Board of Immigration Appeals), obtain a written agreement in a language you understand, and keep receipts and copies. A title such as “visa consultant,” “notario,” or “immigration expert” does not establish legal authority.
What “authorized” means in U.S. immigration matters
This guide applies to services for U.S. immigration cases. The rules below come from U.S. federal agencies and U.S. state or territorial licensing authorities; another country may use entirely different credentials and forums.
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| Provider type | What can establish authority | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney | A license from a U.S. state, territory, or other relevant U.S. jurisdiction, with the lawyer currently active and in good standing | Full name, licensing jurisdiction, current status, disciplinary or administrative information shown by that authority, and the forums in which the lawyer says they will act |
| DOJ-accredited representative | Current accreditation listed by DOJ and work for the recognized organization named in that record | Whether accreditation is partial (USCIS only) or full (USCIS and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), including immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)) |
| Consultant, document preparer, travel agent, “notario” | A business registration or job title alone does not create authority to give immigration legal advice or represent someone in immigration court | Do not treat marketing language, a website, business card, or social-media account as proof of legal authorization |
EOIR’s guidance states: “Notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants, and travel agents are not allowed to practice law.” Read the agency’s explanation of who may represent you before EOIR at Can Someone Represent You Before EOIR?. A non-attorney may perform clerical or translation work in some situations, but that is different from selecting a legal strategy, advising on eligibility, or appearing as your representative.
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DOJ recognition is also not a quality seal. Recognition permits an organization to provide immigration services through accredited non-attorney staff under federal rules; DOJ says it should not be read as an endorsement. An organization that provides services only through attorneys does not need DOJ recognition. DOJ reported approximately 850 recognized organizations and 2,290 accredited representatives in August 2023. Those figures describe the program at that time, not current totals, service quality, or the prevalence of fraud. The program’s definitions and limits are explained in the Recognition and Accreditation Program FAQ.
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How to verify an immigration lawyer or representative
1. Get the identity and intended role in writing
Ask for the individual’s complete legal name, professional role, the U.S. jurisdiction that issued an attorney license (if applicable), the organization employing or supervising the person, and every forum in which they claim they can act. Ask who will personally advise you, who will prepare forms, and who will sign or file anything. Do not rely on a firm name when the individual doing the work is unnamed.
Save a copy of the person’s written answers. A provider who refuses to identify the actual adviser, changes names, or insists that a vague title is enough has not given you information needed for a meaningful check.
2. Check an attorney through the licensing authority
Use the licensing authority for the jurisdiction the lawyer identifies. Confirm the exact name, active license, and good-standing status in the authority’s current record. EOIR’s Attorney Licensing Verification page links to jurisdiction resources and notes that some jurisdictions require a telephone inquiry rather than an online search.
- Start with the attorney’s name and claimed jurisdiction, not a search result or advertisement.
- Match the record’s name to the person you met; watch for similar names, initials, and misspellings.
- Read the status wording. “Active,” “eligible,” or “in good standing” has a specific meaning in the relevant jurisdiction; a profile that is suspended, inactive, resigned, or otherwise restricted does not establish current authority.
- Record the date you checked and save or print the record if the site permits. Licensing databases can change.
- If the authority directs you to call, use the telephone number on its official website and ask what the status means and whether any restriction affects the proposed work.
A listing on a government page is a starting point, not a substitute for the licensing authority’s current record. The authority that issued the license controls the status.
3. Check a non-attorney representative on DOJ lists
For a non-attorney, use DOJ’s current Accredited Representatives list and Recognized Organizations list described in the DOJ program FAQ. Confirm both entries:
- The person’s name appears as an accredited representative.
- The accreditation is associated with the organization the person says they represent.
- The organization itself is recognized and its name and contact information match what you were given.
- The accreditation is current, rather than expired, withdrawn, or otherwise absent from the current roster.
Accreditation belongs to the recognized organization. A representative cannot take organization-specific accreditation and practice independently after leaving that organization. Ask to see how the person’s current work relationship matches the roster entry.
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4. Match accreditation level to your case
| Accreditation | Permitted federal representation | Typical mismatch to catch |
|---|---|---|
| Partial | USCIS matters only | The provider offers to represent you in immigration court or before the BIA |
| Full | USCIS and EOIR matters, including immigration court and the BIA | The provider claims full authority but the roster shows partial accreditation |
If removal proceedings, an immigration-court filing, or a BIA appeal is possible, ask specifically whether the person can appear in that forum. EOIR requires attorneys and fully accredited representatives to register through eRegistry before filing an appearance in immigration court or before the BIA. See Register or Update eRegistry. USCIS-only accreditation cannot be treated as immigration-court authority.
5. Verify the provider against the actual task
Write down what you need before comparing providers: a family petition, adjustment of status, naturalization application, humanitarian filing, response to a notice, immigration-court defense, or a BIA appeal. Ask each provider which forms, legal analysis, evidence review, translations, filings, hearings, and follow-up are included. A person may be authorized for one forum but not another, or may be authorized yet decline a particular case type.
Do not infer court authority from the ability to prepare a USCIS form. Conversely, do not assume that a lawyer licensed in one U.S. jurisdiction will handle every matter without confirming the lawyer’s planned role and any forum-specific requirements.
What must be in the agreement before you pay
Require a written contract before money changes hands. USCIS guidance in Welcome to the United States advises immigrants to get a written contract that states the services and cost. Request English and, when needed, a version in the client’s native language or a reliable explanation before signing.
Essential scope terms
- The client’s name and the provider’s legal name, address, telephone number, and email.
- The individual who will advise or represent the client and the organization, if a representative is working through one.
- The exact case or benefit sought and the agencies or courts covered.
- Each included task: eligibility analysis, form preparation, evidence checklist, translation, filing, responses to requests for evidence, interview preparation, hearings, appeals, and case-status communications.
- Tasks expressly excluded, such as court appearances, motions, appeals, or work after a denial.
- Who will perform the work and whether assistants or interpreters will have access to personal documents.
- How the client receives copies of every submitted form, exhibit, receipt notice, decision, and important communication.
Price and payment terms
- State the provider’s service fee separately from government filing fees, biometrics fees, translation charges, postage, and other expenses.
- Identify the total price, installment dates, payment method, and what triggers an additional charge.
- Explain whether a payment is refundable, what happens if the client ends the relationship, and how unused funds are handled.
- Obtain a dated receipt for every payment. Avoid untraceable cash when a safer method is available.
USCIS forms are available without charge from USCIS. A provider may charge for professional services, but a claim that a person must buy an “official” form from the provider is a warning sign. Keep the signed agreement, receipts, messages, and copies of all filings in a location the provider cannot control.
Protect original documents and signatures
Show originals when verification is needed, but keep your passport, birth certificate, identity documents, and immigration records whenever possible. If an original must be held temporarily, the agreement should identify it, explain why, and state when it will be returned. Never sign a blank form, an incomplete form, or a form containing information you know is false. Read every completed page, request an explanation of unfamiliar answers, and retain a complete copy before filing.
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Once authority is verified, compare providers on documented fit rather than a promised outcome or the lowest quote.
| Comparison point | Questions to ask | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Is this an attorney with an active license and good standing, or a DOJ-accredited representative tied to a recognized organization? | Licensing record or DOJ roster entry, checked date, and organization relationship |
| Forum and scope | Can this person act before the agency or court involved, and is that work included? | Written list of forums, filings, hearings, and exclusions |
| Specific work | Who prepares, reviews, translates, files, and responds to notices? | Detailed service description in the contract |
| Total cost | What is the service fee, what government charges are separate, and what events cost extra? | Itemized quote, payment schedule, and receipts |
| Communication and records | What language is available, how quickly are notices forwarded, and how do you obtain the file? | Contract language, communication policy, and copy-delivery terms |
| References | Can the provider give references or explain relevant experience without promising your result? | Names or written information you can independently verify; never treat testimonials as proof of authorization |
Do not label a fee “fair” or “unfair” without current, local, comparable information. A lower price may omit court appearances, evidence review, or responses to government requests; a higher price may include those tasks. Compare identical scopes.
Warning signs of immigration scams
Pause the transaction and independently verify everything if a provider:
- Guarantees approval, a visa, a green card, citizenship, or a particular processing time.
- Claims a special relationship with USCIS, secret access, or a way to move your case ahead of others.
- Uses a government-looking website, logo, email address, or form to make a private service appear official.
- Demands payment to an individual by telephone, email, gift card, cryptocurrency, wire, or another method that prevents you from confirming the recipient.
- Asks for a blank signature, tells you to hide facts, or prepares information you know is inaccurate.
- Refuses a written contract, receipt, copy of a filing, or explanation of the person who will represent you.
- Insists on keeping original identity documents indefinitely.
- Says official USCIS forms must be purchased from the provider or that USCIS contacts people through a personal social-media account.
USCIS describes scam patterns and the Alien Registration Requirement at Alien Registration Requirement and Avoid Immigration Scams. The agency warns that official forms are free and does not use personal social-media accounts to contact people. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also explains common tactics in Avoiding scams that target immigrants and its Scams Against Immigrants consumer material.
A practical pre-payment checklist
- Write down the exact immigration benefit, deadline, agency, and possible court involvement.
- Get the adviser’s full name, role, license jurisdiction or accreditation, and organization.
- Check an attorney with the issuing licensing authority, or check a representative and organization on DOJ’s current rosters.
- Confirm that the authority covers the forum and every task you are paying for.
- Request a written contract in a language you understand.
- Compare the itemized service fee with separate government fees and possible extra charges.
- Ask how you receive copies, who controls the file, and when originals are returned.
- Read every form, correct errors, and refuse blank or false information.
- Pay through a traceable method and obtain a receipt.
- Save the verification record, contract, receipts, messages, forms, and notices outside the provider’s system.
If you suspect fraud or unauthorized practice
Stop signing and paying until the provider’s authority and the accuracy of every filing are clear. Preserve advertisements, websites, messages, contracts, receipts, payment records, and copies of submitted forms. If documents contain false information, obtain qualified legal advice promptly because correcting a filing can be time-sensitive.
USCIS directs people who have been cheated by an immigration consultant to local or state law-enforcement or consumer-affairs authorities and to the FTC. The FTC’s reporting process and contact instructions are available through its current consumer guidance at Avoiding scams that target immigrants. Use the current agency pages when reporting because procedures and contact details can change. If a licensed attorney may have violated professional rules, contact the attorney’s licensing authority using the official contact information on its website.
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