Scammers use fear generated by pandemic

Large numbers of immigrants currently residing in the US are having a difficult time due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The processes of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) are mostly delayed and face-to-face appointments were temporarily suspended, at least until May, 2020.

Thus, millions of immigrants fear being deported for failing to renew their legal residence permits on time.

Scammers are taking advantage of this situation and offering false solutions to immigrants in order to receive money from them.

Scams to immigrants

Scammers use different methods to take advantage of immigrants.

1. Phone calls: Several recent reports show that immigrants receive phone calls where scammers tell them that their immigration processes need more documentation and that they must pay a certain amount of money in order to properly process their legal residence permits in the US.FALSE! The USCIS or any other government entity does not make telephone notifications. Normally, they send the documents by post. If you ever receive a call from a public employee, try not to give your personal information or process any payments.
2. Fear of deportation: Scammers call immigrants saying they are employees of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) and threaten to return them to their countries if they do not make a payment to avoid deportation.FALSE! No ICE employee should accept money. They must follow deportation policies established by the current government.
3. Complete Immigration Process: Scammers tell immigrants that their residency application has been accepted and that all they have to do is to pay to be able to finish processing the legal documents.FALSE! In the event that there is a fee in the immigration process, immigrants or their sponsors must pay this amount when they start the process, not at the end.

If you are not sure of the veracity of a call or an email, never process any payment. It is better to take care of our resources during the current health crisis.

Therefore, it is important to seek the help of specialized immigration experts to avoid possible rejection, fraud or scam at all costs.

Find the right path

Immigrants have typically always been the victims of scam and corruption. Many scammers are taking advantage of the current situation to unfairly earn money and use fear of deportation as a means of exploitation.

It is evident that we are going through a difficult time due to the Coronavirus, however, that does not mean that your immigration process cannot be successful.

In fact, there are many ways the US government offers to apply for legal residence for you and your family.

There is also a wide variety of certified entities that can help you organize the documentation and necessary evidence for your immigration process.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.