The National Association of Foreign Attorneys, currently known as NAFA, is the primary organization to help foreign professionals in academic services, in primarily ten (10) different higher education careers, with the necessary resources and tools available for practice within of the United States and the American labor market. This is a 'sine que non' requirement: a condition essential to be able to work following your career while in the United States.
NAFA and its services in homologation, validation of degrees, academic programs and postsecondary education has been used and highly recommended by many prominent figures and academic institutions in various fields, including law, education, political science, engineering, business administration, medicine, among others. Those whom join NAFA become members with the aim of continuing a successful career of experience in the United States and around the world.
A part of the academic service process is homologation, also known as certification of foreign equivalence, including the degree revalidation.
Another part of the process in NAFA academic services is in it's training program. continuing legal education (CLE) and advancement for the benefit of attorneys. Included are the advanced studies and legal research of the administration of justice around the world, including assistance with non-discriminatory access to the legal systems of developing countries.
NAFA's mission is to provide services in legal reciprocity between foreign and local lawyers equally under US rule of law. Implementation of formal legal education includes requiring continuous and equitable access to the legal system.
In pursuit of our mission, this Association regularly interacts with the supreme courts on behalf of each member of NAFA, including various government bodies, organizations, and bar associations in addition to the national courts and the 33 State Supreme Courts. Additionally, NAFA has a partnership with the Human Rights Commission of the AICAC-HR Court. UNPAM and the NAFA Association provide financial support for approvals to individual NAFA members and immigrants around the world.
The National Association for Foreign Attorneys (NAFA) is a global organization based in Miami, with a reputation in international relations. NAFA was founded to help lawyers validate their degrees in the US and train lawyers in developing their international legal practice.
Since 1993, this Association has founded several projects related to the law in the United States for the benefit and services of foreign lawyers.
NAFA is recognized and authorized by the Florida Department of Education as a postsecondary institution
(private independent school). UNPAM is recognized and authorized by the Puerto Rico Department of Education
as an authority licensed to grant foreign credential evaluations, or as an organization providing services in the evaluation or certification of foreign equivalence, with a detailed process known as homologation. This is the main contrasting difference between UNPAM and other credential evaluation agencies.
NAFA is a member of NAFSA (Association of International Educators).
| Table of Contents | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Membership | |
| 1.1 | Benefits | |
| 1.2 | Prerequisites | |
| 1.3 | Required Documents | |
| 1.4 | Step Summary | |
| 1.5 | Tuition and Costs | |
| 1.6 | Notable Alumni & Members | |
| 1.7 | A Message from the NAFA President | |
| 2 | Certification | |
| 2.1 | Foreign Attorneys | |
| 2.2 | Graduates | |
| 2.3 | Notary Publics | |
| 3 | NAFA Administrative Process | |
| 4 | 2024 Student Handbook | |
| 5 | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | |
NAFA membership includes the following benefits to each member:
• It is the first step to start any administrative and curricular procedure with the Association.
• Current events and news related to the practice of law in the United States.
• Offer of free virtual courses and additional studies
The value of the membership is $195.00 USD for the entire year and is included for two [2] years when you register to for the programs in homologation, revalidation, and studies.
We offer limited scholarships annually for NAFA members who enroll in our complete academic program.
For more information, read our blog article detailing more benefits.
| NAFA National Hotline | Support - questions and answers. Call or email for help with paralegal and notarization questions from our professionals. |
|---|---|
| New laws | Email Alerts with details of new laws. To remain in compliance when state's paralegal, practitioner, and notary laws change. |
| Paralegals and Notaries | Weekly Newsletter - Stay up to date with our weekly email with the latest news and trends from the industry and the guild. |
| Monthly membership - workshops and career opportunities |
Newsletter with information on free workshops, job opportunities. Receive useful training and job tips. |
Notice: It is not a requirement to be a United States Citizen or United States Resident to be able to perform these academic programs and obtain homologation of your career. And the entire process and studies can be perform in your own language.
• Requires being a graduate from a foreign country outside the United States.
• Registered students or affiliates must meet their monthly payment commitments
so as not to interrupt any study progress or homologation process.
• As part of the NAFA and AICAC-HR regulations, it is the responsibility of each foreign professional to adhere
strictly adhere to the accepted standards of legal ethics and live in accordance with the general principles of
proper conduct in this country. The performance of the duties of the legal professional will be governed by the
specific fees defined herein.
Antes de continuar con cualquier proceso, NAFA se reserva el derecho de revocar o suspender cualquier solicitud de homologación o revalida de titulo. Para obtener más información y detalles, consulte el artículo de nuestro blog para obtener nuestro Manual y reglamento del estudiante NAFA.
| Foreign Professionals (General) | |
|---|---|
| The following are the necessary documents to be submitted by foreign professionals to determine eligibility for the certification and validation process. For foreign attorneys and lawyers: please review our Career Pathway section to review the list of documents required for foreign lawyers. |
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| Required Documents | Document Type |
| 1. Application and/or Determination of Equivalence (read more)
In order to receive this equivalence certification with NAFA, you must begin the process by downloading, archiving and submitting the files to the right, following the instructions on the form. |
• NAFA forms Download (.pdf): - REGISTRATION FORM - STUDY AGREEMENT and PAYMENTS |
| 2. Current address (read more)
If the applicant's address changes during the processing period, it is the applicant's duty to notify the Admission Committee – BAR in writing. All correspondence will be mailed to the address provided. |
|
| 3. Proof of citizenship or foreign residency status (read more)
If the applicant is not a citizen born in the United States, the applicant must present a copy of his or her certificate of naturalization, or instead a permanent resident card or visa. It is your burden of proof to demonstrate acceptable status. If an applicant is claiming to be an “alien who is authorized to work lawfully in the United States,” then he or she must present evidence that his or her visa status to which allows the applicant to practice law or otherwise work in the legal profession in the United States. |
• Photocopy / Scan of: - Passport - Birth Certificate - Residence Card |
| 4. Transcripts, grades and subjects from your country's formal education. | • Photocopy / Scan OR • Certified Copy(s) |
| 5. Degree or transcript from your country (read more)
Curriculum from your country, catalogues, syllabi or similar documentation that provides a description of the courses offered and the program requirements formal education assisted by the applicant |
• Copies of the Original OR • Certified Copy(s) |
| 6. Titles, licenses, certifications, or registration card(s) | • Copies of the Original OR • Certified Copy(s) |
| 7. Information about the university(s) (read more)
Please include whether and how they provided the applicant's training (for example, whether the institutions are private or public, dates of creation, accreditation of information). |
• Photocopy / Scan |
| 8. Testing results / standing for admission, licensing and/or certification exams from all professional associations (e.g. bar association, FSMB, etc.). (read more)
If the applicant is admitted to practice law or medicine in any jurisdiction, evidence of membership and proof of good standing and conduct must be provided by said bar association or medical board or bar and directed to the US state supreme court. |
• Photocopy / Scan OR • Certified Copy(s) |
| 9. Professional curriculum vitae, resume, or resume | • One (1) copy of the most current resume |
| 10. Letters of recommendation (read more)
Applicants must submit letters from four (4) or more persons who are licensed to practice in any foreign jurisdiction in the country in which the applicant is licensed to practice [their country]. If the applicant is not authorized to practice, then letters of recommendation from the educational institution in which the applicant received their legal education must be submitted. In this case, said educational institution must recommend and express the knowledge and most recent achievements of the applicant. Letters must be recently written and cannot appear to be a generic form letter [not all the same]. |
• Letters written and signed by four (4) people with professional licenses |
| 11. Any other documentation, which the applicant considers helps the Evaluation and Equivalence Committee (e.g. additional studies, workshops, appointments, etc.) |
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| 12. Translations, or in all documents that are in a foreign language must be translated into the English language - notarized translations. |
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To complete the process of approval and revalidation of your law practice with NAFA we need ALL the documents and meet the following requirements:
Documents required for foreign attorneys, please visit the Career Patheways section, with more information attached here.
It is always strongly recommended to start the application with NAFA first, as soon as possible. This is due to the average term for cases that take between ten (10) to twelve (12) months on average to complete the homologation and revalidation process.
We appreciate the opportunity to facilitate our assistance in obtaining your certification and revalidation to practice your career in the United States (or any other of the 32 recognized states). Due to the complex process of homologation and revalidation of in the United States, the percentage of intrinsic costs to be disbursed by NAFA ASSOCIATION is 72% of the total amount already paid.
| NOTE: Do you think this homologation and revalidation of your lawyer career through NAFA to practice in the United States is very expensive? Make a simple comparison with this factor here: |
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The administrative board and faculty of NAFA ASSOCIATION - instructs fellow foreign professionals - to make a comparison of the cost in the United States of studies to graduate and receive a degree.
The requirement established by the ABA for national colleges, which regulates law schools - universities in the US, requires passing studies with a minimum of 84 credit hours (a minimum of 24 subjects) the average cost at US universities
The average cost at a U.S. public university for a law student, for example, is $1,000.00 per college credit (some universities incur higher costs up to $2,400 per credit). This less expensive tuition represents a total cost of $84,000.00 USD per person measured between the costs of in-state and out-of-state residents. In addition, the costs of books, transportation, lodging, online class registration, etc. must be added to this subtotal, almost always reaching the amount of more than one hundred and twenty thousand ($120,000.00) dollars and 4 more years, depending on the university.
In contrast, NAFA Association's cost of $12,600.00 USD for foreign lawyers and foreign professionals to standardize and revalidate their practice in the United States through NAFA's academic programs, represents a fraction of the regular US cost. With NAFA-UNPAM, it is equivalent to ten (10%) percent of the cost of studying for a professional future career in the United States. A relatively small investment that will pay significant dividends for one person. In retrospect, because most undocumented immigrants are not eligible for student loans, they are forced to pay tuition as out-of-state residents and out of pocket.
| Academic Year 2023 - 2024 Tuitions and Fees Comparison Table |
||
|---|---|---|
| Graduate school in USA | NAFA Association | |
| Credit hours received | 84 | ≥ 120 |
| Cost per credit hour | $1,000.00 | $100.00 |
| Academic cost | $84,000.00 | $12,000.00 |
| Equivalence Application Package | - | $250.00 |
| Annual Membership Fee | - | $195.00 |
Effective January 2024: The cost of higher education in the United States will increase, the cost of English language translations and UNPAM university equivalencies of your country's credentials will increase, as well as the cost of educational materials, teachers, office services and fees to be paid to the authorities when applying for admission to the practice. That is why we are forced to increase the costs of our homologation, revalidation and studies services to also practice law in some other academic careers in the United States. For this reason and starting in January 2024, the total cost of certification and revalidation to practice in the United States will be a total of $24,000.00 USD.
Fortunately, however, is that some people may qualify for SCHOLARSHIPS that will be awarded by federal funds from the Department of Education's VR Programs. Additionally, you will have access to private loans SEM-1 - Earnest Student Loans - Variable rates starting at 1.78% APR (including the 0.25% Auto Pay discount). See https://www.earnest.com/_/student-loans/select.
Prior to the beginning of each new semester, NAFA offers an orientation for new students and members and colleagues to guide them through scholarships and grant eligibility through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Beginning this year of 2023 and 2024, together with my new legal team, and with the support of the AICAC-HR Court, UNPAM University, and the NAFA Law Association, we will launch several action campaigns in education, human rights, international arbitration and investigations with complaints in relation to the totalitarian socialist communist regimes on the continent and the Caribbean.
Maintaining a high level of motivation to achieve a good future through a good education in the current climate of all nations on this Continent is a difficult but not impossible task, it depends on everyone. It is not every day that we manage to solve the problems that arise; Doubts and insecurities arise, conflicts break out with other people and other countries.
But a good education creates a good leader and ruler who always has to be at the right time to raise education, morale, opportunities and find the formula to unravel the moments of blockage and guide every citizen and colleague to see the light at the same time before we finally reach the ends of our tunnel.
"Ignorance kills people. That is why it is necessary to kill ignorance." - José Martí
Sincerely,
Dr. Humberto H. Pachecker
nafa@nafalaw.com
3200 US Highway 27 South Ste #302
Sebring, FL 33870
863-451-5082 | 863-345-0618
1-888-282-2241