Beware of Fraud
We want to bring to your attention an incident where someone attempted to impersonate the Berkshire Immigrant Center.
Unfortunately, fraudulent activity in the immigration legal field is very common. Many individuals present themselves as "notarios" or immigration “consultants” when they are not authorized to practice immigration law.
If you receive any suspicious calls or messages claiming to be from us, do not respond. Instead contact us directly or visit us in person to confirm. To protect yourself, always verify that you are communicating directly with us. We will only contact you from our official phone number 413-445-4881 or from email addresses ending with @berkshireic.org.
Who Is Authorized to Help You?
Before making any payments or sharing personal information, always make sure the person you are working with is authorized to provide legal services. They must be either:
a licensed attorney (you can search their name on the official website of the bar association in the state where they claim to be licensed), or
an accredited representative authorized by the Department of Justice (DOJ) (you can check the list on the official DOJ website).
What is an Accredited Representative?
An accredited representative is a non-attorney who is authorized by the DOJ to provide immigration legal services. They are trained and approved to offer legal advice and representation in immigration matters, but unlike “consultants” or “notarios,” they operate under strict federal oversight.
Accredited representatives must work for a recognized organization (also approved by the DOJ). There are two types of accreditation, which determine where representatives may provide legal support:
Partial Accreditation: Representation before USCIS (not in court).
Full Accreditation: Representation before USCIS, immigration courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
At the Berkshire Immigrant Center, our caseworkers are partially accredited representatives.
Accredited Representatives vs. Immigration Attorneys
Advising: Both can provide legal advice, prepare applications, and represent clients before USCIS. Attorneys (and fully accredited reps) may also appear in immigration court and appeals.
Cost: Services from accredited reps at nonprofits like BIC are generally more affordable.
Scope: Attorneys handle many areas of law; accredited reps focus only on immigration.
Training: Attorneys attend law school and pass the bar. Accredited reps are trained through DOJ-recognized organizations and must renew accreditation every 3 years.
Oversight: Attorneys are regulated by state bars; accredited reps by the DOJ.
Mission: Attorneys may work in private practice or nonprofits. Accredited reps must work for DOJ-recognized nonprofits.