2014 California Code
Business and Professions Code - BPC
DIVISION 8 - SPECIAL BUSINESS REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 19.5 - Immigration Consultants
22442.5

(a) An immigration consultant who provides immigration reform act services shall establish and deposit into a client trust account any funds received from a client prior to performing those services for that client.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Immigration reform act” means any pending or future act of Congress that is enacted after the effective date of this section but before January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, the federal act known as the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” (S. 744, 2013), that authorizes an undocumented immigrant who either entered the United States without inspection or who did not depart after expiration of a nonimmigrant visa, to attain a lawful status under federal law. The State Bar shall announce and post on its Internet Web site when an immigration reform act has been enacted.

(2) “Immigration reform act services” means services described in Section 22441 that are provided in connection with an immigration reform act.

(c) The immigration consultant providing immigration reform act services for the client may withdraw funds received from that client only in compliance with either of the following:

(1) After completing one or more of the itemized services described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 22442, and only in the amount identified as the cost of that service or those services pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 22442.

(2) After completing one or more of the documents listed, and only in the amounts listed, pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 22442.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 574, Sec. 5. Effective October 5, 2013.)