North Carolina · Immigration consultant scams
Immigration consultant scams in North Carolina
If a non-lawyer took your money in North Carolina — under the guise of immigration consultant scams — North Carolina law is on your side. Here's how the claim works.
Reviewed July 2026 by the FakeLawyerReport editorial team
Why this is illegal in North Carolina
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.
North Carolina's UPL statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-4, § 84-8; § 10B-20 (notaries)
North Carolina prohibits anyone not licensed by the NC State Bar from practicing law or holding themselves out as an attorney. Notaries are expressly barred from using 'notario público' or offering immigration advice.
Penalties in North Carolina
Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 120 days); the State Bar can also seek injunctions and civil penalties.
What you can recover
- A full refund of every dollar you paid.
- Statutory or civil damages under North Carolina's consumer-protection laws.
- Attorneys' fees in most cases — often no out-of-pocket cost.
- Referral to a licensed North Carolina attorney to try to fix the underlying case.
How to report immigration consultant scams in North Carolina
- File with North Carolina State Bar — the state bar's UPL committee.
- File a consumer complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General.
- Submit your case on this site for a free confidential review with a licensed North Carolina attorney who handles UPL recovery.
Related resources
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