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OnAsylum

Guide

Staying safe

This page is about protecting yourself, your documents, and your money while you go through the process. If you're looking for how this website protects your privacy while you browse it — quick exit, browsing history — that's a separate page: Safety & privacy.

Protecting your documents

  • Photograph or scan every important document — identity papers, birth and marriage certificates, medical records, anything supporting your case — before you need it, not after.
  • Keep copies somewhere you can reach even if you lose the originals: a trusted family member or friend outside the situation, a secure cloud account with a strong, unique password, or both. Don't rely on a single physical copy in a single bag.
  • Never let anyone — including someone offering to "help" with your case — keep your original documents. A legitimate attorney or accredited representative has no need to hold onto your originals long-term.

Paid-consultant fraud

In the US specifically, this is common enough to have its own name — "notario fraud." In several Spanish-speaking countries, a notario público is a highly qualified legal professional; in the US, a "notary public" is only authorized to witness signatures. People exploiting that difference charge for immigration help they aren't legally qualified to give, sometimes causing damage to a case that can't be undone. The same basic pattern — someone offering paid help they aren't actually qualified to give — shows up in other countries too, just without the specific name.

  • In the US, only a licensed attorney or a Department of Justice–accredited representative can legally give immigration legal advice. A notary public cannot.
  • Official government application forms are free. Don't pay someone just to hand you a form.
  • Never sign a form that's blank, or one with information about you that isn't true.
  • Be skeptical of anyone who guarantees an outcome — no honest attorney can promise you'll be approved.
  • Verify credentials before paying anyone: in the US, check a lawyer's license with their state bar, or confirm DOJ accreditation directly rather than taking someone's word for it.

Communicating safely while your case is pending

  • If you're leaving a situation involving surveillance or a government you don't trust, consider what's on your phone and social media accounts before you travel — old posts, location history, and contact lists can matter in ways that aren't obvious until later.
  • Be cautious about discussing the details of your case or your location in public posts while it's still pending.
  • If you're corresponding with an attorney, a legal clinic, or our team, use a communication channel you trust and control — not a shared or borrowed device where someone else might see it later.

If something feels wrong

Trust that instinct. A legitimate legal helper doesn't pressure you to decide immediately, doesn't demand payment in cash or gift cards, and doesn't ask you to sign something you haven't had explained to you in a language you understand. If you're not sure whether something is legitimate, ask our team before you pay or sign anything.