Warning: that $400 "relocation specialist" nearly got me deported back

Back in 2022, right after I fled Caracas, I paid a so-called relocation consultant $400 to help with my asylum paperwork and resettlement steps. Big mistake. He gave me a generic checklist he clearly printed for everyone, and one form he filled had my old address from Venezuela, which triggered a red flag with the immigration office here in Medellin. I caught it three days before my interview because a neighbor who worked at a legal aid clinic spotted the error on my copy. That $400 could have covered three months of bus fares and groceries while I waited for work authorization. Has anyone else gotten burned by paying for services that promised shortcuts, or did you find a legit low-cost advisor worth recommending?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_bailey6520d agoMost Upvoted

Damn that sucks!! Scammers love targeting people in tough spots. Check with local churches or community centers, they usually know who's actually legit.

milar4620d ago

Wait, did your friend actually fall for one of those? Cause my buddy almost did last year, he was so desperate for rent money and some "loan officer" kept asking for gift cards. Ended up losing like 200 bucks before he checked with his church.