Professional Licensure & Credential Verification
GloPath never recommends individual attorneys or agents. Instead, we give you the exact statutory method and official government register to confirm that anyone you pay is currently active and disciplined-free.
Universal Scam Red Flags (Never Ignore These)
If an attorney, consultant, or real estate agent exhibits any of these behaviors, stop communication immediately.
No legal practitioner can guarantee a visa outcome. Consular and immigration decisions are sovereign government determinations.
Licensed attorneys are required by their bar associations to maintain segregated IOLTA / Client Trust Accounts with transparent invoicing.
The United States has NO nationwide license for non-attorney immigration consultants. Only licensed attorneys or DOJ/EOIR accredited reps may legally charge for advice.
Never wire earnest money or purchase funds directly to a seller, broker, or agent. Only wire to an independently verified notary, title company, or escrow agent.
Official Verification Registers
Search by destination country to access the statutory regulatory roster.
State Bar Association Directories
Statutory Regulator:
Individual State Supreme Courts & State Bar Associations
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Request the attorney's State Bar number and state of licensure. Search that state bar's official attorney registry to confirm Active status and check public disciplinary history.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •CRITICAL: Non-attorneys calling themselves 'notarios' or 'immigration consultants' (illegal for paid legal advice in the US)
- •Guaranteed approvals or promises of 'special connections' with USCIS/consulates
- •Demands for upfront payments via cash, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- •Refusal to provide a bar license number or formal representation retainer agreement
DOJ/EOIR Recognition & Accreditation Roster
Statutory Regulator:
Department of Justice / Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Non-attorneys in the US may ONLY assist with immigration for a fee if they belong to an officially recognized nonprofit and are listed on the DOJ/EOIR Roster of Accredited Representatives.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Operating from a commercial storefront without DOJ/EOIR non-profit accreditation
- •Charging private commercial legal rates without a non-profit fee schedule
- •Not listed on the official justice.gov/eoir roster
Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Register & SRA
Statutory Regulator:
Immigration Advice Authority (IAA - formerly OISC) / Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Check the IAA online register for adviser level (Level 1, 2, or 3) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Solicitors Register for UK solicitors. Under UK law (Immigration and Asylum Act 1999), advising without regulation is a criminal offense.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Providing immigration advice without an IAA registration number or SRA roll number
- •Offering to bypass English language tests or tuberculosis screening
- •Guaranteeing Home Office turnaround times
College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Statutory Regulator:
College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Search the CICC public register using the consultant's name or RCIC ID (e.g. R512345). Confirm status is 'Active'. For Canadian lawyers, verify through the provincial law society (e.g. Law Society of Ontario).
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Claiming to be an 'authorized agent' without an active RCIC or Provincial Bar license
- •Job offer guarantees packaged with work permit filing fees
- •Refusal to submit the official IMM 5476 Use of a Representative form to IRCC
OMARA Register (Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority)
Statutory Regulator:
Department of Home Affairs / OMARA
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Search the OMARA register for the 7-digit Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN). Australian legal practitioners holding an unrestricted practicing certificate may also provide advice.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Unregistered offshore agents promising permanent residency visas
- •Charging fees without providing the mandatory Consumer Guide and Agreement for Services
- •Payment directly to personal bank accounts instead of a designated client trust account
Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA)
Statutory Regulator:
New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
Search the online register by license number or adviser name to check current license class (Full, Provisional, or Limited) and disciplinary tribunal records.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Unlicensed offshore advisers (New Zealand law requires licensing even if advising from abroad, unless exempt)
- •Promises of accredited employer job offers for sale
National / Regional Real Estate Licensing Boards
Statutory Regulator:
Ministry of Housing / Local Real Estate Licensing Commission
How to Verify Step-by-Step:
1. Verify active broker/agency license with destination country's Ministry of Housing/Commerce. 2. Verify membership in recognized associations (e.g. FIABCI, API in Spain, APEMIP in Portugal, NAR International Realtor). 3. NEVER wire deposits or purchase funds directly to an agent or developer; always utilize an independent, unaffiliated notary, title company, or licensed escrow attorney.
Specific Warning Signs:
- •Demands to wire reservation fees or deposits directly to private personal bank accounts or crypto wallets
- •Pressure to sign contracts without independent local legal review
- •Agent insists on acting as your 'attorney' or recommends their own in-house lawyer without external review
- •No physical office or verifiable track record with local registry
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