AnalysisHouse Bill 2155 adds a new prohibition and penalties against Notaries who engage in the unauthorized practice of immigration law. Under ARS 12-2701, the "unauthorized practice of immigration and nationality law" is defined as: (a) The act of any person appearing in any case, either in person or through preparation or filing of any brief or other document, paper, application or petition on behalf of another person or client before or with the immigration and naturalization service, or any officer of the immigration and naturalization service, the executive office for immigration review or the board of immigration appeals, without authorization under [the immigration and nationality law practice act ARS 12-2701-12-2704]. (b) The study of the facts of a case and the applicable laws, coupled with giving advice and auxiliary activities, including the incidental preparation of papers, without authorization under [the immigration and nationality law practice act ARS 12-2701-12-2704], but does not include the lawful functions of a notary public, nonprofit organization or service consisting solely of assistance in the completion of blank spaces on printed immigration and naturalization service forms by a person whose remuneration, if any, is nominal and who does not hold himself out as qualified in legal matters or in immigration and naturalization procedure."
Read House Bill 2155.