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Is a letter asking for gift card payment from USCIS or ICE a scam

Use the free tool — Immigrant Paper Decoder

Signs that this is a scam

USCIS and ICE do not ask for payment by gift card or by wire transfer. They do not threaten arrest over the phone. If your letter or the person who called you does any of these things, it is very likely a scam:

• Asks you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or over the phone
• Threatens immediate arrest or deportation if you don't pay right away
• Comes from a "notario" or an immigration consultant, not an attorney

What not to do

Do not pay anyone by gift card, wire transfer, or over the phone. Do not give money or personal information to someone who called or wrote to you out of nowhere. Do not ignore the letter, even if it looks like a scam — you still need to check what it really is.

How to verify it yourself

Don't call any number printed on a suspicious letter. Use the official channels instead:

• USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283
• Check a USCIS receipt number online at egov.uscis.gov
• If it claims to be about immigration court, call the EOIR automated case line, 1-800-898-7180, or check the case portal — see EOIR / justice.gov

Learn more about recognizing and reporting immigration scams at USCIS — Avoid Scams.

Who can really help

In the United States, a notary public ("notario") is not a lawyer and cannot give immigration advice. Only an attorney or a person accredited by the Department of Justice at a recognized organization can help you with your case. You can search the DOJ EOIR roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives by state and city, or find free civil legal help through FloridaLawHelp.org.

What to do next

Paste the letter into Immigrant Paper Decoder. It reads your own document and gives you a plain-language explanation of what it is, the date that matters, what happens if it's missed, what not to do, and how to find a free or low-cost accredited representative near you. Nothing you paste is stored, and you can leave out your A-number. This tool is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice — confirm every date and payment request with the official number, and talk to an accredited representative or attorney before responding to anyone who contacted you.

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.