The wrong help can hurt. Use this information to avoid common immigration scams.
Form I-9 and Email Scams
USCIS has learned that employers have received scam emails requesting Form I-9 information that appear to come from USCIS. Employers are not required to submit Forms I-9 to USCIS. Employers must have a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for every person on their payroll who is required to complete Form I-9. All of these forms must be retained for a certain period of time. Visit I-9 Central to learn more about retention, storage and inspections for Form I-9.
These scam emails come from a fraudulent email address: [email protected]. This is not a USCIS email address. The body of the email may contain USCIS and Office of the Inspector General labels, your address and a fraudulent download button that links to a non-government web address (uscis-online.org). Do not respond to these emails or click the links in them.
If you believe that you received a scam email requesting Form I-9 information from USCIS, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. If you are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster. USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies as appropriate.
“Notarios Públicos”
In many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” (which is Spanish for “notary public”) means something very different than what it means in the United States. In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the U.S., however, notary publics are people appointed by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. A notario publico is not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration. Only an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice (DOJ)-recognized organization can give you legal advice. For more information, go to the Recognition & Accreditation Program page on DOJ’s website.
Payments by Phone or Email
USCIS will never ask you to transfer money to an individual. We do not accept Western Union or PayPal as payment for immigration fees. In addition, we will never ask you to pay fees to a person on the phone or by email. You can pay some immigration fees online only if you use myUSCIS.
Remember:
- When you send your application by mail, pay your immigration fees with a check or money order. Write “Department of Homeland Security” on the “Pay to the Order of” line.
- Applying for U.S. citizenship? You can now pay fees for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, with a credit card. To pay Form N-400 fees with a credit card, you will need G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction
- You can also pay with a credit card in any domestic field office that accepts payments. You can learn more on our Paying Immigration Fees Web page
Winning the Visa Lottery
The U.S. Department of State (State Department) manages the Diversity Visa Program, also known as the Lottery Visa or Green Card Visa.
The State Department will never email you about being selected in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
Go to the State Department’s website to read more about how they notify selectees.
Scam Websites
Some websites claim to be affiliated with USCIS and offer step-by-step guidance on completing a USCIS application or petition. Make sure your information is from uscis.gov or is affiliated with uscis.gov. Make sure your information is from uscis.gov or is affiliated with uscis.gov.
Make sure the website address ends with .gov.
Please remember that we will never ask you to pay to download USCIS forms. Our forms are always free on our website. You can also get forms at your local USCIS office or by calling 800-870-3676 and order forms over the phone. To order forms by mail, follow these instructions in English or Spanish
Job Offers
Beware of companies offering a job from overseas or by email. If you receive a suspicious job offer by email before you leave your country to come to the U.S., it may be a scam, especially if you are asked to pay money to receive a job offer.
Even if a job offer is legitimate, you are not allowed to work in the United States unless you have a permanent resident card (Green Card), an Employment Authorization Document (work permit) or an employment-related visa which allows you to work for a particular employer. Read the Working in the U.S. page.
If you are already in the United States on a student visa, talk with your foreign student advisor (designated school official) at your school before you take any job. If you are about to graduate and are applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), read the instructions on the Working in the U.S. page.
Scams Targeting Students
If you are an international student outside of the U.S. and want to come to the U.S. for education, make sure you are applying to an accredited college or university. Look for your school on the Council for Higher Education web page.
You must have a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, to travel. After you are accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, a designated school official will either give you:
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status –For Academic and Language Students, or
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status –For Vocational Students
Schools that are not accredited cannot sponsor you for an F-1 student visa.
Additional information on the Form I-20 is available on DHS’ website studyinthestates.dhs.gov or on our website on the Students and Employmentpage.
If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to us at [email protected].
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