There's a word that has already cost thousands of Brazilians in the United States their immigration case — and their money.
The word is notary.
In Brazil, a notário is an authority — a public official with legal training who passed a competitive civil-service exam. So when a newly arrived Brazilian sees a sign reading “Notary Public” on an office in Orlando, Boston, or Dallas, they read it with home eyes: “here's someone who understands the law.”
They don't.
In the United States, a notary public is authorized to do essentially one thing: witness that you are who you say you are when you sign a document. In most states, becoming a notary public takes a few hours of coursework and a fee. Zero legal training. Zero authorization to give immigration advice.
This translation mix-up is so serious and so widespread that USCIS itself and the American Bar Association run official campaigns against it — what's known as notario fraud. It's the number one fraud committed against Latino immigrants in the country.
The four roles — and what each one can actually do
1. Immigration attorney
Licensed by a state bar — in Texas, the State Bar of Texas. Can do everything:
- give legal advice about your specific situation
- choose the strategy and the form for your case
- represent you before USCIS, EOIR, and the courts
- sign Form G-28 as your legal representative
They're the only one who can look at your story and say “in your case, this is the path.” If your situation has any complexity — an irregular entry, a prior denial, a criminal record, a missed deadline — an attorney is who you talk to. Full stop.
2. DOJ-accredited representative
Not an attorney, but accredited by the Department of Justice and affiliated with a recognized organization (usually a nonprofit). Can provide guidance and represent immigrants before USCIS within the scope of that accreditation.
It's a legitimate and important role — and a lot of people don't know it exists. Worth looking into, especially if cost is a barrier.
3. Paralegal
Prepares documents under the client's direction. Organizes evidence, fills out forms, checks every field, handles certified translation and deadlines.
What a paralegal does not do — and this isn't modesty, it's the law:
- does not give legal advice
- does not choose your case strategy
- does not decide which form is right for your situation
- does not represent you before USCIS
An honest paralegal will tell you exactly that in the first conversation. A paralegal who promises a result, or tells you which visa “is yours,” is engaging in the unauthorized practice of law — and you're the one who pays for it later.
4. Notary public
Witnesses a signature. That's it.
A notary public who presents themselves as someone who “handles immigration,” who charges for “consulting,” or who fills out your form claiming to know what you need is acting illegally. This isn't a gray area. It's a crime in several states.
The warning signs — they all come from the same family
It doesn't matter how the person presents themselves. If you hear any of these phrases, walk away:
- “Guaranteed approval.” Nobody — not even the best attorney in the United States — can guarantee a USCIS decision. Whoever guarantees it is lying.
- “I have a contact on the inside.” They don't.
- “Pay everything up front, in cash, no contract.” With no receipt and no written scope, you have nothing.
- “Sign here, I'll fill it in later.” Never sign a blank form. Never.
- “You don't need to keep a copy.” You do. Of everything.
- “Leave the originals with me.” Your original documents are yours. Always.
The scam playbook is almost always the same: a high fee charged up front, an easy promise, and silence when the problem shows up. Meanwhile the deadline runs out, the wrong form gets filed, and the damage is sometimes irreversible.
How to protect yourself — in practice
Ask, without hesitation: “Are you a licensed attorney, a DOJ-accredited representative, or a paralegal?” A serious professional answers immediately, without dodging, and puts it in writing.
Verify it. An attorney's license is public record — you can check it with the state bar. DOJ accreditation is also a public list.
Require a written scope. What will be done, for how much, in how much time, and what is not included.
Keep everything. A copy of every page you sign, a receipt for every payment, a tracking number for every shipment.
Where Prime fits into this
Let's be direct, because that's exactly the point of this piece.
Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service. We are not a law firm. We do not give legal advice. We do not represent clients before USCIS. We do not choose your case strategy and we do not promise a result — because nobody can.
What we do is one thing, and we do it well: document preparation. USCIS forms filled out and reviewed line by line, evidence organized, certified translation, deadlines tracked. Machine checking machine, with a human paralegal reviewing before anything goes out.
If your case needs strategy — someone to look at your story and tell you which path to take — that's the work of a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative. And we'll tell you that to your face, even if it means losing the business.
Because the difference between an honest paralegal and a “notary” who promises the world isn't in the price. It's exactly here: in knowing what we can't do, and saying so.
Educational information, not legal advice. Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service — document preparation. For formal legal guidance on your case, consult a licensed attorney in Texas or a DOJ-accredited representative.