Another reason the world needs more immigration attorneys
Travis Loller published a piece today on Central American/Mexican immigrants who have been swindled by notaries who charge enormous fees in exchange for promises of fast visas and other USCIS documents. It’s really sad, but true. A notario publico in Central America has extensive legal training and is authorized to represent people in these types of matters. Unfortunately it takes only a few dollars and a single form in most states to become a U.S. notary. I met several people when I was living in D.C. who had paid (or knew someone who had paid) $5k-10k for assistance with their documents only to end up in deportation hearings or with a denied application. And now with USCIS fees going up, you can just imagine how many people will turn to notaries with the often mistaken belief that immigration attorneys are more expensive. In fact, a relatively uncomplicated case can cost $1500 (plus USCIS fees) versus 3-4 times that much at the notary’s office.
