When “Too Good to Be True” in Immigration Really Means Fraud

Some days, practicing law feels especially meaningful. Today was one of those days—when you get to see something close to justice actually happen.

I want to share a real story that highlights a problem I see far too often: people being misled by individuals who claim they can do things that legitimate attorneys cannot.

The Promise That Should Have Raised Red Flags

Several years ago, a man well known in the local Thai community—Nimon Napang—built a business around a simple but powerful claim:

He could get work permits for people who were not legally eligible.

His clients included individuals on tourist visas, student visas, or those who had overstayed and were out of status. He presented himself as someone who knew a “special way” to get results that even lawyers supposedly could not achieve.

This is a pattern I see often.

When someone claims they can do something no licensed professional can do, it’s not because they’ve discovered a secret. It’s usually because they are willing to break the law.

What Was Really Happening

Behind the scenes, he was filing asylum applications for people who did not qualify for asylum.

By doing this, he was able to obtain work permits temporarily—but through fraudulent means.

Importantly, his clients were not told the truth. They believed the process was legitimate. They trusted him.

And for a while, it looked like it worked.

What Happens Next in These Cases

Eventually, the operation grew too large. He was arrested, prosecuted, and convicted.

After that, the U.S. Attorney’s Office began contacting many of the individuals who had received work permits through his filings.

Understandably, they were scared.

Receiving a letter from the Department of Justice is not something anyone takes lightly.

Some of those individuals came to me for help.

When Clients Are Victims, Not Criminals

In this case, my clients were fortunate.

The government recognized that they were victims—not co-conspirators. They had relied on someone who misrepresented what he was doing. They were not trying to game the system; they were misled.

They were treated as witnesses, not defendants.

That distinction matters a great deal.

An Unusual Outcome: Restitution

Here’s where the story takes an unusual turn.

In many fraud cases, the person running the scheme disappears—or moves the money out of the country before being caught.

That didn’t happen here.

A significant portion of the money remained in the United States and was seized by the government. After penalties and fines, some of those funds were used to compensate victims.

Today, I received U.S. Treasury checks for two of my clients.

They are recovering money they lost—and, in fact, more than what they paid for legal help to resolve the situation.

That doesn’t happen often.

The Bigger Lesson

I see variations of this story again and again.

Notarios, “consultants,” or preparers who claim they can:

• Get work permits for people who don’t qualify

• Speed up immigration processes that legally take years

• Deliver guaranteed results in complex legal matters

The reality is simple:

If someone claims they can do something that legitimate attorneys cannot do within the law, it’s not because they’re better.

It’s because they’re willing to commit fraud.

A Final Word of Caution

Immigration law is complex—but it is not magical.

There are no shortcuts that bypass the law without consequences.

Sometimes those consequences come years later—when it matters most.

Before trusting anyone who promises quick or “special” results, take a step back and ask:

Is this realistic?
Is this legal?
And would a licensed attorney say the same thing?

If the answer is no, it’s worth getting a second opinion before it’s too late.