This week, the Office of the Attorney General\u2019s \u201cConsumer Caution Corner\u201d focuses on the issue of scams against immigrants: There are scams that target people who are trying to immigrate to the U.S. You can lose money in those scams. These scams also can hurt your chance to immigrate. Learn how to avoid a scam.<\/p>\n
How can I avoid scams in the immigration process?<\/strong> Never pay for government forms from the U.S. government. Government forms are free.<\/p>\n Get immigration information from U.S. government websites. You might see a website that looks like it is from the government. Make sure that the website address includes .gov. That means the website is from the U.S. government.<\/p>\n What else can I do to protect myself?<\/strong> How can I get help with immigration? <\/strong> What if I paid someone who did not help me? <\/strong> Each week, the OAG\u2019s Consumer Protection Education Program aims to provide consumers and businesses with the \u201cknow-how\u201d to identify and protect themselves from unfair trade practices and marketplace schemes. If you would like to file a consumer complaint, please pick up a form at the OAG (on Capital Hill) or request one by email from consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org. After completing the consumer complaint, please submit it by email or in-person.<\/p>\n We cannot act as your private attorney. If you need legal assistance, we will recommend that you contact a private attorney or legal aid organization. We cannot give legal advice or act as your private attorney. (Michael J. Cyganek, Special to the Saipan Tribune)<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael J. Cyganek is consumer counsel of the Office of the Attorney General.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week, the Office of the Attorney General\u2019s \u201cConsumer Caution Corner\u201d focuses on the issue…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2626,14798,14800,86],"class_list":["post-247043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-attorney-general","tag-consumer-caution-corner","tag-ftc","tag-oag"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247043\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDo not go to a notario, notario p\u00fablico, or a notary public for legal advice. In the U.S., notarios are not lawyers. They cannot give you legal advice.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Never sign a form that is blank. Never sign a form that has false information in it.
\n\u2022 Do not let anyone keep your original documents, like your passport or birth certificate.
\n\u2022 Keep a copy of every document you turn in. Keep a copy of every letter you get from the U.S. government.
\n\u2022 You will get a receipt when you turn in your forms. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service will give it to you. Keep the receipt. You will need it to check on your application.<\/p>\n
\n1. Immigration can be complicated. It can feel frustrating until you find the right kind of help.
\n2. Get free immigration forms: visit uscis.gov\/forms
\n3. Call USCIS at 1-800-870-3676
\n4. Learn who can help you and where to find help: Pick up the free brochure from the Federal Trade Commission, called \u201cI Need Immigration Help. Who Can Help Me?,\u201d which is available at the OAG (on Capital Hill). Or find the brochure online at ftc.gov\/immigration.<\/p>\n
\nImmigration scams are illegal. Report what happened to the OAG and\/or the FTC:
\n\u2022 Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357
\n\u2022 File a consumer complaint with the OAG and\/or with the FTC available online at ftc.gov\/complaint<\/p>\n