Maryland · Immigration consultant scams
Immigration consultant scams in Maryland
If a non-lawyer took your money in Maryland — under the guise of immigration consultant scams — Maryland law is on your side. Here's how the claim works.
Reviewed July 2026 by the FakeLawyerReport editorial team
Why this is illegal in Maryland
Unlicensed 'consultants' who fill out USCIS forms, give visa advice, or promise green cards are practicing law without a license. Victims routinely recover refunds and damages.
Maryland's UPL statute: Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §§ 10-101, 10-601 to -606
Maryland bars anyone not admitted to the Maryland Bar from practicing law or holding themselves out as authorized to do so. The AG's Consumer Protection Division regularly prosecutes immigration-related UPL.
Penalties in Maryland
Misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000 for a first offense; up to 5 years and $10,000 for repeats), plus civil penalties.
What you can recover
- A full refund of every dollar you paid.
- Statutory or civil damages under Maryland's consumer-protection laws.
- Attorneys' fees in most cases — often no out-of-pocket cost.
- Referral to a licensed Maryland attorney to try to fix the underlying case.
How to report immigration consultant scams in Maryland
- File with Maryland Judiciary — Attorney Listing — the state bar's UPL committee.
- File a consumer complaint with the Maryland Attorney General.
- Submit your case on this site for a free confidential review with a licensed Maryland attorney who handles UPL recovery.
Related resources
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