Can A U.S Notary Handle Your Immigration Case?

”El Show Sin Fronteras”

Spanish Video Above Translated In English Below

To begin with, one can become a notary in the United States and then cease to be one. In other countries, becoming a notary can be quite burdensome and add prestige to the matter. So the question is, can a notary handle your immigration case?

Many people decide to start their immigration process without legal representation. This causes many errors to be made when presenting their immigration documents. Mistakes also occur when preparing them due to the complexity of the immigration process.

How Does One Become A Notary?

In other countries, going to a notary is common, even for things like buying or selling property or cases that go to court. However, in the United States, notaries have nothing to do with legal studies and can’t help with immigration cases. This is the most important point and valuable information for the community.

In one of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law’s podcast episodes, Fidel Campuzano shares how one becomes a notary.

“You fill out an application, make the payment, send it in, and then you receive your stamp… It’s one of the easiest things I’ve done in my life. I think it’s just a tutorial on what you can and cannot notarize, and that’s it.”

It’s against the law to advertise yourself as a notary in Spanish. It’s illegal because of the confusion it causes – notaries in Central and Latin America are totally different from those in the United States. In the US, you can only advertise your services as a notary if you do it in English and if you’re a notary public.

What A Notary Can Do In The U.S

What is asked of a notary is very minimal. They have to comply with certain details, but it’s very minimal. A notary can only notarize things like declarations. The only basic thing they do is to certify that the person signing the document is the person they claim to be.

That’s the only certification they do because there are other certifications and courses that you can take to help in a real estate transaction. However, that requires more education and training.

The function of a notary in the United States is only to give legal validity. It’s just giving legal validity that the person signing the document is who they claim to be and nothing more. It’s important to understand it that way because it’s not the same as being a witness as a notary of you signing something.

A notary may ask you for your documents and all that intelligence to build a case to present to immigration.

That gives the false hope that a notary can defend you before immigration. They may claim to be able to help with family petitions, visas, DACA renewals, citizenship applications, and petitions for fiancés. That predicament is scary.

Another thing to watch out for is if someone in the migrant community starts an immigration case with a notary. If you start receiving advice to omit information, it’s because that notary knows the limit and scope of their knowledge. Often, they’ll ask you to omit that information because they don’t want to present a complicated case. An official will ask for more information, and they don’t know how to prepare for it.

Do understand that if an official realizes you’re lying, it complicates the case even more.

For example, some people apply for DACA cases with notaries. They may have answered a question incorrectly or in a way that doesn’t make them eligible for DACA. It will affect them when they apply for a family petition or in the future because of how they answered that case.

What Happens When A U.S. Notary Helps In An Immigration Case?

Well, helping is something heavier than what it really seems. A U.S. notary may try to help with an immigration petition but may complicate it more than necessary. 

Some notary public might think they knew enough about the law, but it wasn’t like that. Everything is online now, and people may think they are very smart because they are bilingual and understand the forms.

When complications arise, however, a notary may not know how to respond to the immigration officer. That’s where a legal practitioner comes in, where you need to seek help from a lawyer. So, it’s very important not to be deceived by either immigration or notaries because the beginning may be easy. You easily fill out a form. Again, how will you present it once the officer reviews it and wants more information and details? That’s where a lawyer comes in.

The bottom line is that it’s not enough just to be a notary, or a citizen, or bilingual, and think you’re intelligent. Those requirements are not enough. You have to be an immigration legal professional.

Falling Prey Into Immigration Scams

Before considering spending money on a notary, consider the most common frauds and scams targeting immigrants.

For years, people pretending to be immigration lawyers have scammed many immigrant communities out of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. They fill them with the hope of obtaining their documents. This is something very sad because it not only steals time from families but also separates them suddenly. As a result, certain family members are deported.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, a notary is someone who has a license to practice law. However, it’s not the same in the United States. In fact, it would be a crime to hire a public notary to handle their immigration case. It’s a risky business and has often led to the deportation of innocent people. Lincoln-Goldfinch Law always hears about this on their phone lines, emails, and text messages.

Scams can seriously affect your immigration history, mainly because you or your family member can be deported. Lincoln-Goldfinch Law is here to serve you. They can even use smoke signals if needed, finding ways to handle your case effectively. If you have any doubts about your next step for immigration, better contact their firm.

Protect Yourself And Avoid The Pitfalls

Remember that no government agency will ask you for money to expedite your process or request personal information. Government agencies will never call you to make a payment. If you receive a call from a financial institution, we recommend confirming with your bank before providing any information.

Also, if you receive a job offer inside or outside of the United States and they ask you for money in exchange, it will likely be a scam. Remember that you first need a work permit to work legally in the United States. This work permit is only the result, that is, after making a petition, asylum application, etc.

After you have a case, you will get a work permit if approved. Work permits are not sold in the United States. You also have official websites; always use those with a URL that ends in dot-gov with a “G,” “O,” and “V.” Many people take advantage of the vulnerable situation of immigrants and deceive them by offering them loans with high-interest rates. These so-called “benefits” bring them nothing but great debts.

Make sure to go to the bank first before taking out a loan. Don’t take out loans from any other place. Never sign blank documents containing false information about your immigration status. Also, don’t let any notary or other person keep your original documents, and don’t receive legal advice from a notary.

It’s that simple. Never sign a contract without reading and understanding the conditions. If you don’t understand English, ask for it in Spanish. Most importantly, don’t hesitate to seek help from lawyers if you need assistance understanding any terms. This is crucial, especially regarding the purchase of a property, immigration or arrangements.

Get Help From An Immigration Lawyer In Texas

At Lincoln-Goldfinch Law, for example, no case is opened without being reviewed by an immigration legal guardian. Cases are opened once the immigration legal guardian has a strategy session with you and when the lawyer and the client agree. It is very important that you have the advice and guidance of a legal immigration professional if you are pursuing an immigration case.

It’s very important that you find a legal professional who deserves or is concerned about your case. Don’t just take advice from a friend, neighbor, cousin, or any other family lawyer who may not be qualified in immigration law. Each person must seek out the professional who deserves it.

Many people have already experienced fraud and still have options. Consultation or evaluation in Lincoln-Goldfinch Law is less than 10 minutes and is free, and they see possible options for you. You may be thinking negatively about legal services when a notary tells you “no” or that a notary took your case and did nothing.

It’s also possible you hired another lawyer, and they defrauded you of $15,000 or $20,000. So, if you have been a victim of fraud or false information, you may no longer have space in your heart to receive good news, even though you qualify and can do so.

That is why hiring a legal team you can trust is important. At Lincoln-Goldfinch Law, they only speak the truth. If they tell you you have options, they have reviewed, double-checked, and triple-checked them. Even before opening your case, it will always be reviewed by the immigration legal guardians. It’s very important that you have the advice you deserve.

Summary

In the United States, a notary’s role is limited to certifying the identity of the person signing a document, offering no legal representation or expertise. Attempting immigration processes without legal assistance can lead to errors and complications. Hiring a notary for such cases is illegal and can result in deportation.

Common immigration scams prey on vulnerable individuals. The best option is to seek help from qualified immigration lawyers who thoroughly review cases and provide trustworthy guidance. Legal professionals are essential in navigating immigration cases, ensuring accurate information and genuine support.

If you have additional questions about your immigration case, or your specific case, you may contact us at (855) 502-0555. After a brief 10-minute evaluation of your case over the phone, we will let you know what options you have. You can also follow us on our social networks so you don’t miss our weekly broadcasts on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.