Attorney General Ellison sues businesses and their owners for defrauding customers by falsely advertising visa services
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Owners of Nueva Vision Latinoamerica LLC charged thousands of customers for promised ‘family reunification’ visas they did not deliver, then used proceeds on luxury cars, designer handbags, and cosmetic surgery while customers and their families suffered
December 22, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today sued Christian Palacios, Juan Diego Guevara Sanchez, and companies they own, including Nueva Vision Latinoamerica LLC (“Nueva Vision”), alleging they defrauded thousands of customers in Minnesota and across the country by falsely advertising their non-immigrant tourist visa services. The suit is a result of more than 100 consumers reporting predatory business practices that prompted the Attorney General’s Office to launch an investigation into the defendants’ business practices.
In the lawsuit, Attorney General Ellison asserts that the couple and their Bloomington-based businesses—Nueva Vision, Nueva Vision Multiservicios LLC, and Multinacional Express LLC—defrauded thousands of customers by advertising that they would obtain tourist visas for their family members who live abroad. However, the defendants charged customers several hundred to several thousands of dollars each for Nueva Vision’s so-called “family reunification” program, then often failed to submit visa applications as promised. The defendants told customers they had made consular appointments for the customers’ family members that defendants never made, after the customers had paid them to make the visa interview appointments. As part of their scheme, the defendants represented that customers’ family members were required to send their original passports to Nueva Vision for them to complete the visa application, then frequently refused to return the passports unless customers paid hundreds of dollars more, effectively extorting them.
Moreover, Ms. Palacios, her spouse Mr. Guevara, and their businesses represented Ms. Palacios as an attorney even though she is not licensed to practice law in Minnesota or any other state. The complaint contains first-hand evidence of how Ms. Palacios and Mr. Guevara defrauded, deceived, and harmed their customers, and never delivered on the promises they made.
In the complaint, Attorney General Ellison further alleges that Ms. Palacios and Mr. Guevara used the proceeds of their illegal scheme to support a lavish lifestyle, including loaning themselves $67,000 from one of the businesses to buy a BMW after purchasing a Bentley for $183,000, and Ms. Palacios posting numerous TikToks of her Versace handbags and cosmetic surgery.
In the meantime, the people they defrauded continued to suffer. Some customers’ family members passed away during the years they waited for Nueva Vision and Ms. Palacios to submit their visa applications. Some customers’ family members are now scared to apply for a tourist visa out of fear they will be scammed or get caught up in an illegal business. Some customers’ family members are now too sick to travel.
“No one should be taken advantage of because they miss their family,” Attorney General Ellison said. “But that’s what defendants did. They aggressively targeted people who had not seen their parents or siblings for years, offering to obtain tourist visas for people by submitting visa applications on their family members’ behalf. I filed this lawsuit so no one else is harmed or defrauded into giving up their savings, because someone saw people’s love of their families as a way to scam hard-working Minnesotans.”
Attorney General Ellison alleges that the defendants’ deceptive practices violate the Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act, Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the False Statement in Advertisement Act, and engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by holding Ms. Palacios out to be a licensed attorney. In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Ellison seeks restitution for consumers, as well as penalties, costs, and an injunction against the defendants for these alleged violations.
Attorney General Ellison encourages consumers who have been victimized by Nueva Vision or associated businesses, Christian Palacios, or Juan Diego Guevara Sanchez to file a complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office using this online complaint form, which is also available in Spanish. The Office can also be reached by calling (651) 296-3353 (Metro area) or (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota). Interpretation is available for Spanish-speaking consumers.
