NY A10491

Requires immigration assistance service providers to obtain a 2-year Certificate of Registration from the Department of State and renew it every 2 years before providing services.

Mandates providers maintain a surety bond, contract of indemnity, or irrevocable letter of credit of $50,000 (or 20% of annual fees if exceeding $250,000 in compensation) to protect customers.

Establishes registration application requirements including personal information, business details, agent for service of process, and criminal history disclosure.

Increases civil penalties from $7,500 to $20,000 per violation (up to $25,000 for certain violations) and creates criminal penalties ranging from Class A misdemeanor to Class D felony for specific violations.

Requires the Department of State to maintain a publicly accessible, monthly-updated list of registered providers and establishes procedures for complaint investigation and registration revocation/suspension.