Immigration support work puts you in a position of profound trust. People share their deepest fears, their family histories, their vulnerabilities. They trust you with information that could change—or destroy—their lives.
That trust creates ethical obligations that go far beyond technical competence.
The Obligation of Honesty
The first ethical duty is honesty—even when it's difficult.
This means: - Telling clients when you don't know something - Being clear about the risks, not just the possibilities - Never promising outcomes you can't guarantee - Explaining when they need an attorney, even if it means losing the work
Many untrained helpers fail here first. They want to provide hope. They want to keep the client. They blur the line between optimism and accuracy.
The Obligation of Boundaries
Not everything should be handled by a non-attorney immigration professional. Recognizing these limits is an ethical requirement:
- Criminal issues affecting immigration status
- Removal defense
- Complex waiver cases
- Matters requiring court appearances
- Situations requiring legal advice
Staying within your scope isn't a limitation—it's a protection. For you and for your clients.
The Obligation of Confidentiality
Client information is sacred. Full stop.
You don't discuss one client's case with another. You don't share details with family members without permission. You don't use client stories as examples without careful anonymization.
Confidentiality violations can expose clients to danger. In immigration, that danger can be existential.
The Obligation of Competence
Perhaps the most fundamental ethical obligation is competence itself.
If you're going to help people with immigration matters, you must: - Understand what you're doing - Stay current on changes - Recognize your limitations - Document properly - Follow proper procedures
Winging it isn't acceptable. Not in this field. Not with these stakes.
Living the Standard
Ethics aren't rules you follow reluctantly. They're the foundation of professional practice.
When you internalize these obligations, you don't experience them as constraints. You experience them as the natural expression of respect—for your clients, for your profession, and for yourself.