An immigration consultant is a non-attorney who is licensed and bonded under California Business and Professions Code §22440 et seq. to assist clients with immigration paperwork. A notary public who is also a bonded immigration consultant may charge a fee of up to $15 per person per set of forms for entering data onto immigration forms.
An immigration consultant — even one who is also a notary — may NOT:
• Give legal advice
• Advise a client on which immigration form to file
• Explain the legal consequences of any immigration action
• Predict the outcome of any application
Only a licensed attorney may provide immigration legal advice.
Exam Tip: The $15 fee cap applies per person per set. "Set" means a group of related forms submitted together as one filing. A notary who is not a bonded immigration consultant may not charge any fee for assisting with immigration forms — doing so constitutes unauthorized practice.
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