Fraudulent US immigration agencies closed in New York
August 21 2009 by Mark Johnstone
US visa fraud clamp down in New York
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has closed down three US visa agencies in the state. The move comes after suspicions were raised that they were involved in fraudulent US immigration services.
The decision was made to close the firms, which all offered services including completing federal forms, filing legal briefs and providing legal advice to thousands of immigrants, after it was found that they were defrauding their clients.
The firms are being asked to pay $118,000 in damages and penalties and a further three firms, who have also been accused of fraud, are being sued.
Coumo told newsday.com, "The consequences of bad legal advice can be absolutely devastating," for people making expensive and time-consuming visa applications, often leaving them without the visas they desperately need to continue being able to live or work in the US.
One woman who was defrauded paid out $17,000 to obtain green cards for her three adult children, but received nothing.
The firms being closed down are Immigration Solutions and Systems in Manhattan and All Immigration Services and Alisandra Multiservices on Long Island. The firms deny they defrauded their customers, with one claiming their, “violations were technical in nature."
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