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How to find a real accredited representative, not a notario

Use the free tool — Immigrant Paper Decoder

A notario is not a lawyer

In the United States, a notary public — often called a "notario" — is not a lawyer. A notario cannot give you immigration advice, cannot tell you what form to file, and cannot represent you in front of USCIS, ICE or an immigration judge. Only two kinds of people are allowed to do that: a licensed attorney, or a person accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice who works at a recognized organization.

Who is actually allowed to help you

• A licensed immigration attorney.
• A DOJ-accredited representative working at a recognized organization.

If someone offers to "help with your papers" but is not one of these two, that is a warning sign — even if they call themselves a notario, consultant, or immigration specialist.

How to find a real accredited representative

• Search the U.S. Department of Justice's official roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives, by state and city: DOJ EOIR roster.
• Look for free civil legal help in Florida, including immigration help, through FloridaLawHelp.org.

If your letter is about an immigration-court hearing

If you have a Notice to Appear or a Notice of Hearing, this matters even more. If you do not show up at your hearing, the judge can order removal without you there — this is called an "in absentia" order (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)). Because of this:

• Confirm the date, time, address, and whether the hearing is in person or by video. Call the EOIR automated case information line, 1-800-898-7180, or check the EOIR case portal using your A-number.
• Go to every hearing — even if you do not yet have a lawyer or accredited representative.

Signs a letter or caller is a scam

USCIS and ICE do not ask for payment by gift card or wire transfer, and they do not threaten arrest over the phone. If a letter or caller does either of these things, that is a sign of a scam. Do not ignore the letter anyway — verify it yourself:

• USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283. You can also check a receipt number online at egov.uscis.gov.
• EOIR automated case information: 1-800-898-7180.
• Learn more about recognizing and reporting immigration-services scams: USCIS — Avoid Scams.

If the letter mentions a child, a medical condition, domestic violence, or being a victim of a crime, tell an attorney or accredited representative about this at your first meeting — it can matter to your case.

What to do next

This page is general information, not legal advice — it does not tell you what to file or what to say to an officer. A free tool can read your own letter and tell you in plain language what it is, the date that matters, and what happens if it's missed — you paste the text, and nothing you paste is stored. You can leave out your A-number. Then bring your letter to a real accredited representative or attorney found through the DOJ roster or FloridaLawHelp.org above.

Immigrant Paper Decoder explains a document in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. It never tells you what to file or what to say to an officer. Only an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can advise you — find one on the Department of Justice roster or through floridalawhelp.org. A notary public is not a lawyer. Nothing you paste is stored.