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USCIS and Immigration scams

Last updated September 18, 2026

The short answer

USCIS scams demand payment by phone, gift card or wire for immigration fees, threaten deportation, or sell services only a lawyer or accredited representative can provide. USCIS never calls to demand money, and every real fee is paid at uscis.gov or by the methods on the official form instructions.

Immigration fraud is among the most damaging categories in this wiki, because the loss is rarely just money: a case filed incorrectly by someone unqualified can cost a person their status. Two things make immigrants unusually exposed — a genuine, high-stakes process they cannot afford to get wrong, and in many cases a reluctance to contact authorities. Scammers rely on both. The "notario" problem compounds it: in many Latin American countries a notario público is a qualified lawyer, and in the United States a notary public is not.

How USCIS and Immigration scams work

  1. 1

    Fee demands by phone

    A caller claiming to be USCIS says a fee is outstanding or a problem with your case requires immediate payment, often by gift card, wire or payment app, with deportation threatened if you refuse.

  2. 2

    Notario and consultant fraud

    Someone without legal qualification charges to prepare immigration filings. Errors and misrepresentations in those filings can cause denials, bars, or removal proceedings, and the harm is often irreversible.

  3. 3

    Fake visa lottery wins

    An email says you won the Diversity Visa lottery and must pay a processing fee. Real DV results are only available at dvprogram.state.gov by entering your confirmation number, and the US government notifies winners there, not by email.

  4. 4

    Fake USCIS websites and forms

    Sites charging for forms that are free at uscis.gov, or collecting personal data under the appearance of an official filing.

Warning signs

  • A caller demands an immigration fee by phone, gift card, wire or payment app
  • You are threatened with deportation or arrest unless you pay now
  • Someone who is not a lawyer or accredited representative offers to prepare your case
  • A notary public presents themselves as qualified to give immigration advice
  • An email says you won a visa lottery and owe a fee
  • A site charges for forms that are free at uscis.gov
  • You are told your case will be expedited for an extra payment

Examples

The notario filing

A family pays $3,500 to a notario to prepare an adjustment-of-status application. The filing contains a misstatement about prior entries that the family did not understand and did not review. The application is denied and the misstatement creates a bar that a lawyer later spends two years and far more money attempting to address.

The lottery that wanted $819

An email announces a Diversity Visa win and requests $819 in processing fees by wire to a "US Consular Services" account. Real DV results are checked only at dvprogram.state.gov with a confirmation number, and the State Department does not email winners or collect fees that way.

What to do

  • Use uscis.gov for everything. Forms are free there and case status is checked with your receipt number.
  • Only use a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative. Verify at justice.gov's accredited roster.
  • Never pay an immigration fee by gift card, wire or payment app.
  • Check visa lottery results only at dvprogram.state.gov.
  • Report notario fraud even if you are worried about your status — several states and the FTC take these reports and protections exist for victims.

Report it to USCIS and Immigration

Report immigration scams at uscis.gov/avoid-scams, which also lists state-by-state reporting options. USCIS never demands payment by phone.

Our step-by-step guide: USCIS

Getting your money back

Money is the smaller part of the harm here. If an unqualified preparer filed for you, consult a licensed immigration attorney urgently to assess what was submitted and whether it can be corrected or withdrawn — timing matters a great deal, and some errors can be addressed before a decision that would otherwise be difficult to undo. Free and low-cost help is available from DOJ-accredited representatives, listed at justice.gov. Report the preparer to your state attorney general and the FTC; many states have specific notario-fraud statutes, and reporting does not depend on your own status.

Frequently asked questions

Does USCIS ever call to ask for money?

No. USCIS does not telephone people demanding payment, and it does not accept gift cards, wires or payment apps. Fees are paid at uscis.gov or by the methods listed in the official instructions for your specific form. Any call demanding immediate payment is a scam.

What is notario fraud?

In many Spanish-speaking countries a notario público is a qualified lawyer. In the United States a notary public is not, and cannot lawfully give immigration advice or prepare filings. Notario fraud is someone trading on that confusion — and the damage is often to the case itself, not just the fee.

How do I check if I won the visa lottery?

Only at dvprogram.state.gov, using the confirmation number you received when you entered. The State Department does not email winners and does not collect fees by wire or gift card. Every "you have won the visa lottery" email is a scam.

Other companies scammers impersonate

Scams reuse their scripts across brands. If you were contacted about USCIS and Immigration, these are the guides worth reading next.

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