Immigration Paperwork Help, Only Lawyers and DOJ Reps Advise
You can fill out and file immigration forms yourself; USCIS says you do not need a representative. If you want someone to represent you, it can only be a US attorney or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice (DOJ) recognized organization; notary publics and people calling themselves “notarios” or “immigration consultants” cannot give you immigration legal advice or represent you in your case.
USCIS also says it will never ask you to transfer money to an individual and does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards; immigration fees are paid only through official channels.
Who can help and how far they can go
| Who | What they can do | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| US attorney | Give legal advice, represent you, file Form G-28 | Check the license with the agency that regulates lawyers in their state |
| DOJ accredited representative | Give legal advice, represent you, file Form G-28 | Check EOIR’s list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives |
| Others (including notary publics) | Limited help filling out forms, for a nominal fee only | Cannot represent you or give legal advice |
Only attorneys and accredited representatives can represent you
USCIS explains (USCIS find legal services):
- Attorneys: a member in good standing of the bar of a US state, territory or the District of Columbia, not disbarred or otherwise restricted in practicing law.
- Accredited representatives: people accredited by the DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and working for a recognized organization on the DOJ list.
- Foreign attorneys: can represent you only in matters outside the United States.
- Law students or graduates: must be supervised by an attorney or accredited representative, who files Form G-28.
- What a representative can do: advise you on which forms to file and when, what evidence to include, and what options you have; go with you to interviews; and communicate with USCIS about your case.
- Confirming representation: the representative files Form G-28 with your application, and you sign the G-28 too; USCIS generally sends case information to both you and your representative.
USCIS says people outside these categories may give only limited help filling out forms; they cannot represent you or give legal advice and can charge only a nominal fee.
Notarios and notary publics cannot give legal advice
USCIS says that in many Spanish-speaking countries a “notario” is an attorney with special legal credentials, but in the United States a notary public is authorized by the state to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths, and is not allowed to provide legal services or represent you in an immigration case (USCIS common scams).
- Don’t sign blank forms: make sure forms are complete and you have reviewed them before you sign.
- Paying to speed up your case: USCIS lists offers to expedite your case for money and promises of a quick benefit as warning signs of a scam (USCIS avoid scams).
- Suspicious emails: government email addresses always end in .gov; you can forward a suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster to confirm.
Pay USCIS only through official channels
USCIS says it will never ask you to transfer money to an individual or ask you by phone or email to pay a fee to a person, and it does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards. Online, immigration fees are paid only through your USCIS online account, whose web address ends in .gov (USCIS common scams). To open a USCIS online account, see Set Up Gov Accounts, One Each for USCIS, IRS and Your State; for phone scams impersonating the government, see Calls impersonating USCIS or the IRS will not ask you to pay with gift cards.
Where to find free or low-cost help
- EOIR lists: USCIS says EOIR provides a list of attorneys in each state who provide immigration services for free or at low cost, and a list of accredited representatives and recognized organizations (EOIR Recognition and Accreditation Program).
- EOIR list of pro bono legal service providers: for people in immigration court proceedings, it lists nonprofit organizations and attorneys who have committed to at least 50 hours a year of free legal services, and is updated quarterly (EOIR lists).
- USCIS’s own tools: you can check processing times, change your address and send an e-Request yourself on the USCIS website.
How to report a scam
USCIS says reporting immigration fraud committed by someone else generally will not affect your own application if you were not involved (USCIS avoid scams).
- FTC: call 877-FTC-HELP.
- EOIR Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program: call 877-388-3840.
- USCIS: the fraud reporting form on the USCIS website.
What this article did not check
- The EOIR accredited representative roster page itself: we could not open EOIR’s roster page when we checked on 2026-10-28, so this article links to the EOIR Recognition and Accreditation Program page.
- State rules on fees for help filling out forms: USCIS suggests checking your state’s rules; this article did not check state by state.
- Typical attorney fees: this article did not check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to hire a lawyer for immigration paperwork?
No. USCIS says you can fill out and file forms and represent yourself. If you want someone to represent you, it can only be an attorney or a DOJ accredited representative.
Can a notary public handle my green card case?
They cannot represent you or give legal advice. In the US, a notary public only witnesses signatures and administers oaths; they can give only limited help filling out forms, for a nominal fee.
How do I check whether someone is an accredited representative?
Check EOIR’s list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives; for an attorney, ask to see the license and confirm it with the agency that regulates lawyers in their state.
Someone says paying them can speed up my case. Should I believe it?
USCIS lists paying to expedite your case and promises of a quick approval as warning signs of a scam.
Will USCIS call me to ask for payment?
No. USCIS says it will not ask you by phone or email to pay a fee to a person, and it does not accept gift cards, Western Union, PayPal or Venmo.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-28. This article is not legal or immigration advice.
- USCIS Avoid Scams: https://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams
- USCIS Find Legal Services: https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/find-legal-services
- USCIS Common Scams: https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/common-scams
- EOIR Recognition & Accreditation (R&A) Program: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-and-accreditation-program
- EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers