§ 460-a. Definitions and applicability. For the purpose of this article the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. “Immigrant assistance service” means providing assistance, for a fee or other compensation, to persons who have, or plan to, come to the United States from a foreign country, or their representatives, in relation to any […]
§ 460-b. Immigrant assistance service contracts. 1. No immigrant assistance service shall be provided until the customer has executed a written contract with the immigrant assistant service provider. The contract shall be in a language understood by the customer, either alone or with the assistance of an available interpreter, and, if that language is not […]
§ 460-c. Required notices. 1. Posting of signs. Every provider shall post signs, at every location where such provider meets with customers, setting forth information in English and in every other language in which the person provides or offers to provide immigrant assistance services. There shall be a separate sign for each language, and each […]
§ 460-d. Prohibited acts. No provider shall: 1. Give legal advice, or otherwise engage in the practice of law. 2. Assume, use or advertise the title of lawyer or attorney at law, or equivalent terms in the English language or any other language, or represent or advertise other titles or credentials, including but not limited […]
§ 460-e. Retention of documents. A provider shall retain copies of all documents prepared or obtained in connection with a customer’s request for assistance for a period of three years after a written contract is executed by the provider and the customer, whether or not such contract is subsequently cancelled.
§ 460-f. Surety requirement. Every provider shall maintain in full force and effect for the entire period during which the provider provides immigrant assistance services and for one year after the provider ceased to do business as an immigrant assistance service provider, a bond, contract of indemnity, or irrevocable letter of credit, payable to the […]
§ 460-g. Action. An individual who is harmed by a provider as a result of a provider’s violation of this article may bring an action in his or her own name against a provider to enjoin such unlawful act or practice, an action to recover his or her actual damages or twenty-five hundred dollars, whichever […]
§ 460-h. Enforcement. Upon any violation of this article, an application may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the state to a court having jurisdiction to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the respondent of not fewer than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of […]
§ 460-i. Violations. Any violation of any provision of this article shall be a class A misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided however, a second or […]
§ 460-j. Other remedies. The civil and criminal remedies set forth in this article shall not preclude any individual or entity or government authority from seeking relief under any other statutory or common law right to relief.
§ 460-k. Additional civil penalty for consumer frauds committed against users of immigrant assistance services. 1. (a) In addition to any liability for damages or a civil penalty imposed pursuant to sections three hundred forty-nine, three hundred fifty-c and three hundred fifty-d of this chapter, regarding deceptive practices and false advertising, and subdivision twelve of […]
