Using nothing more than a Notary stamp or a sham legal degree, con artists in Western and Eastern Washington are charging unsuspecting clients extortionate fees for services they are not qualified to complete. Many victims report waiting months or years for clearance from immigration officials regarding paperwork that was never filed, or filed incorrectly. These unfair practices not only affect the livelihood of immigration fraud victims, but may jeopardize their ability to remain in the country.
It is important to understand the severe consequences of engaging in business with unlicensed attorneys or unregistered immigration assistants and it is essential in today’s global market to understand the local restrictions placed on any one profession.
The Washington State Immigration Assistant Practices Act of 1989 defines in law who may provide assistance to those in need of immigration services, and what exact services may be offered.
The law requires registration whenever someone provides the following services:
- Writing customers’ answers/responses to questions on government forms
- Translating answers to questions on a form
- Helping to request documentation such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. from government agencies
- Making referrals to immigration attorneys if you are in need of additional services
Note: Any person that takes money, or expects to be paid, for help on immigration matters is considered an immigration assistant and must be registered with the Washington Secretary of State, unless that person is already licensed as an attorney.
Signs of Trouble
You are guaranteed certain rights as a consumer in this state. The following are signs that those rights may have been violated. Please contact us immediately if your immigration assistant:
Advertised as a "Notario Publico" or "Notary"
Is not registered with the Secretary of State as an Immigration Assistant
Did not provide a written contract
Encouraged you to file a certain petition or document
Claims to receive special treatment from immigration officials
Kept your original documents
Charged you for services you did not receive
Guaranteed results
Threatened your immigration status for refusing to pay more money
An immigration assistant MUST provide every customer with a written contract for service in English and in the customer’s native language. Each contract must include:
Costs for all services
An assurance that all original documents will be returned
A disclaimer that the immigration assistant is not an attorney and may not perform legal services
A notice that the customer may cancel the contract within 72 hours of signing
Specifically, the law forbids immigration assistants from:
Claiming that they can get “special favors” from immigration officials
Advising you regarding the type of petitions you should file with immigration service agencies
Guaranteeing successful results
Charging services you did not receive
Refusing to return documents
Providing any legal advice on immigration
Using misleading professional titles like “Immigration Consultant”, or “Notary Public/Notary Public"
Please call us at 1-800-551-4636 if you suspect a violation of the Immigration Assistant Practices Act.
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Washington Notary v. Latin American Notary
In many Latin American countries, a Notario Publico is a legal professional that obtains specialized training to ensure the legality of contracts or government documents. In the United States, a Notary Public is only licensed to certify that a person who signs papers is, in fact, the person he/she claims to be. Notary Publics have NO special training in the law other than how to check a person’s identification and witness the signing of papers. They can NOT explain legal terms in the documents, and they can NOT tell you whether the document will help you gain legal status.
In Washington, an immigrations assistant that uses the word Notario to advertise their services is breaking the law. Criminals understand the complexity of local laws and specifically target new immigrants that will not think to question the translation of the terms. Remember, there are significant differences between what a Notary means in English and what a Notary implies in Spanish.
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Locating Legitimate Services
To find a registered immigration assistant, contact:
The Washington State Secretary of State at (360) 725-0377 or visit their web site at
www.secstate.wa.gov, but remember, registration does not guarantee the proper knowledge or experience so ask for references!
To find a licensed immigration attorney, contact one of the following and ask for a list of attorneys that specialize in immigration services:
Some nonprofits will offer legal assistants for reduced or waived fees. If you are a senior citizen or low income, you may also locate legal assistance at:
Once you have located a registered, licensed, or accredited professional be sure to ask them for several client references.
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