Immigration Consultant

A California Immigration consultant provides vital services for a wide range of individuals. The process of immigrating to the United States can be somewhat complicated, so working with a knowledgeable and experienced Immigration Consultant can be very beneficial.

Registered immigration consultants can assist their clients in completing an immigration application fully and accurately, provide their clients with a checklist of needed documents and then assemble and submit the completed application package on their client’s behalf to the USCIS. This work is a meaningful and rewarding way to support your community.

The income for a registered immigration consultant can vary depending on a number of factors, including location, experience, and business development skills. In today’s market space, the income of many consultants is growing due to easy and affordable access to things such as website design, social media marketing, and paid online advertising campaigns that can be launched more quickly and affordably than ever before.

Income may range from $50,000 on the lower end and up to $250,000 or more for a skilled practitioner. Common pricing per application typically ranges from $250 to $1800 depending on the form type and complexity.

California Immigration consultants are legal, but you must be very careful to stay within the boundaries of the job description. Fraudulent immigration services have been a major concern in California and throughout the rest of the United States.

Unfortunately, dishonest individuals and organizations have misrepresented themselves and offered harmful “advice” to immigrants. Now, California has laws in place to protect immigrants from being exploited.

The Immigration Consultants Act (ICA), which was enacted in 1986, sets specific rules and regulations for people acting as immigration consultants. In California, registered immigration consultants can help their clients understand and complete federal or state forms. However, they cannot give advice on how a client should answer the questions on these forms.

Consultants can also help clients secure important documents, including their birth certificates, and they can submit paperwork on a client’s behalf to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

California Immigration consultants cannot under any circumstances offer legal advice or represent their clients in court. The main responsibility of an immigration consultant is to help the client understand the process and complete the paperwork, not to influence the client’s case in any way.

The ICA also sets specific requirements for consultants before they can begin offering services. For example, consultants must register with the state of California and pass background checks, as well as file an immigration surety bond.

Obtaining professional training from a qualified organization or training facility will help you to protect yourself and your clients.

There are several steps you must take to become registered. All immigration consultants need to file an Immigration Consultant Disclosure Form with the California Secretary of State. This form includes your name and contact information as well as a disclosure of any convictions.

You may be denied if you have felonies or certain misdemeanor charges. Failure to disclose a conviction will result in a denial. The form also asks for your employer’s information if you’re employed.

You’ll also need to submit your fingerprints and pass a background check. The total cost for these checks will vary depending on where you live in the state.

Consultants must submit their driver’s license and passport photo as well. Lastly, you’ll need to post a $100,000 surety bond, which protects clients from errors or fraud. Once you obtain the bond, you’ll submit a Surety Bond for Immigration Consultants form, which costs $30.

California law sets specific requirements that registered immigration consultants…