Avoid Misleading Online Businesses and Fees

In recent weeks, USCIS has received a large number of applications prepared by an online business that charges users to complete their USCIS forms. In most cases, the charge for preparing an application is the same as the USCIS filing fee. When applicants pay these businesses online using an electronic check, the applicant is only [...] Read more »

What You Should Know about Common Immigration Scams

If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure that the person you rely on has authorization to give you legal advice. Only an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized organization can give you legal advice. The Internet, newspapers, radio, community bulletin boards and storefronts are filled with [...] Read more »

New Jersey Woman Admits Defrauding Dozens of Immigrants by Posing as a Federal Official

A Kearny, N.J., woman who posed as a government official pleaded guilty today to a 23-count superseding Indictment, admitting that she orchestrated a scheme to defraud dozens of immigrants out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by pretending she could help them become United States citizens, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Rosa Blake, a/k/a [...] Read more »

Six Charged In New Jersey With International Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

NEWARK, N.J. – Six alleged members of an international alien smuggling scheme face federal charges for bringing hundreds of aliens from Brazil, India, and elsewhere into the United States, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The Complaint charges Nacip Teotonio Pires, a/k/a “Ze Maria,” a/k/a “Baraso,” 47, of Newark; Rubens Da Silva, a/k/a [...] Read more »

New Jersey Man Admits Lying To Become A United States Citizen

An Edison, N.J., man admitted June 7 that he committed a crime when he lied in order to become a citizen of the United States, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Alaa El Saadawi, 40, entered a guilty plea to one count of making a false statement to and concealing a material fact from the [...] Read more »

How Do I Use the Premium Processing Service?

What is it? Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications. Specifically, USCIS provides 15 calendar day processing to those who choose to use this service or USCIS will refund the Premium Processing fee and the relating case will continue to receive faster processing. The processing period that is used to [...] Read more »

USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2010 Beginning April 1, 2009

Petitioners Are Reminded to Follow Regulatory Requirements U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2010 (FY 2010) cap on April 1, 2009.  Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of the petition; not the date that the petition is postmarked. The [...] Read more »

11 Arrested, Indicted in Multi-State Operation Targeting Visa and Mail Fraud

Federal agents arrested 11 individuals in 6 states Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspected visa and mail fraud. Matthew G. Whitaker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, announced the operation, which was carried out by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Iowa, California, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and [...] Read more »

22 charged with massive international Visa scheme

22 foreign nationals and U.S. citizens have been indicted for massive immigration-related fraud. Read more »