Fake Visa and Green Card Services on LinkedIn
LinkedIn professionals seeking work visas or skilled migrant pathways are targeted by fraudulent immigration consultants who use the platform's professional credibility to charge large fees for services they cannot legally provide.
Part of: Fake Visa & Green Card Services
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
LinkedIn is a natural habitat for skilled professionals navigating international career moves, including work visa applications and employer-sponsored residency programmes. Fraudulent immigration consultants position themselves on LinkedIn as specialists in exactly these pathways, using the platform's professional veneer to charge fees for advice and services that require licensed attorneys.
The intersection of career and legal process on LinkedIn makes victims particularly vulnerable — they are making high-stakes decisions about their lives and careers and may not know that the 'consultant' they are paying has no legal authority to advise them.
How this scam works on LinkedIn
A LinkedIn profile presents an individual as an 'immigration consultant' or 'visa specialist' with a polished professional history. They send InMails or connection requests to foreign national profiles working in relevant industries, offering to assist with employer-sponsored visa applications or residency pathways.
After collecting substantial fees, the consultant submits incorrect or incomplete applications, delays indefinitely, or simply stops responding. Victims who complain may be told their application was denied due to their own circumstances rather than the consultant's failures.
Common red flags
- LinkedIn connection request from a 'visa consultant' following engagement with immigration-related content
- Profile claims expertise in employer-sponsored visas without listing bar admission or BIA accreditation
- Consultation fee collected before any credential or authorisation verification is provided
- Large upfront fee with no clear scope of work or written contract
- LinkedIn profile has no verifiable connection to an immigration law firm or accredited organisation
- Guarantees of success — no legitimate immigration practitioner can guarantee approval outcomes
How to protect yourself
- Verify any LinkedIn immigration consultant's credentials against official bar admission databases or BIA accreditation records
- Request a written contract specifying services, fees, and timelines before paying any amount
- Check the practitioner's LinkedIn profile for verifiable connections to accredited organisations
- Confirm your employer's HR or legal team endorses any external immigration consultant before engaging
- Use only licensed attorneys for employer-sponsored or residency-related immigration work
How to report it
- Report the LinkedIn profile using the three-dot menu — select 'Report' and describe the fraudulent service
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the Department of Justice's EOIR if the practitioner is unaccredited
- Report to your state bar association if the individual is providing legal services without a licence
Frequently asked questions
Is an 'immigration consultant' on LinkedIn the same as an immigration attorney?
No — in the US, only licensed attorneys and BIA-accredited representatives are legally authorised to provide immigration legal advice for compensation. In other countries, similar distinctions apply. Always verify specific credentials before paying for immigration assistance.