Immigration Fraud Canada – Top 20 Tips For Avoiding
Immigration Fraud Canada is a significant issue that preys on the helpless. Immigration services are offered on numerous websites. Some advertise the services of legitimate representatives, which must be paid for. Some will promise you things they can’t keep to take your cash or personal information. Scams involving Immigration scams and frauds can cost you money, significantly affect your immigration status, or result in identity theft, which can have serious long-term financial consequences.Â
Unfortunately, several variables combine to make immigrants a favourite target for scam artists. Many newcomers to Canada are anxious about the immigration process, Canada PR visas or other visas and are uninitiated about how Canada Immigration Offices functions. In addition, many immigrants are unfamiliar with Canadian cultural standards and do not speak English or French as their first language. So, it is essential to prevent any possible immigration fraud in Canada you may encounter in your immigration journey.Â
As per IRCC, “You don’t need to hire a representative. It’s your choice. You may use a representative to act on your behalf for immigration applications. Immigration representatives explain and give advice on your immigration options, help you choose the best immigration program for you, fill out and submit your immigration application, communicate with the Government of Canada on your behalf, and represent you in an immigration application or hearing and advertise that they can give immigration advice.Â
Representatives could be immigration consultants (RCIC), Canadian lawyers, friends, family members, or other third parties. Only the following individual in good standing of their regulator can serve as your representative and conduct business on my behalf with IRCC and CBSA if a representative is being paid or compensated. (Even by someone other than you as the applicant):Â
The IRCC won’t deal with representatives who charge a fee but are not authorized. The IRCC may return your application or refuse it if you use an unauthorized representative in Canada or abroad. If you pay a representative or compensate them in exchange for their services, IRCC considers that settled, and they must be authorized. Â
Scammers target immigrants at all stages of the immigration process. They should be authorized if you work with someone who charges you money. Here are some tips to ensure that you are working with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant and how to avoid being a victim of immigration fraud Canada.
Unauthorized immigration consultants (It is known as ghost consultants) may use a title that sounds official but is not. The only people who can legally provide Canadian Immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee (or for any other benefit) are:
- Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs)
- Canadian lawyer or
- Des notaires du Québec
In other words, if someone is not a Canadian lawyer or a notary, they must be an RCIC. Otherwise, you are involved in immigration fraud Canada.
Just because someone has taken an immigration education program does not automatically mean they are authorized to give Canadian Immigration or citizenship advice. Even if they graduate diploma program in Canadian law or Immigration, they still might not be a licensed Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer. To find out if your representative is authorized, check it out here.
The CICC obliges the RCICs to have a written service agreement with their clients. The Law Society recommends that Canadian lawyers enter into service agreements. The service agreement declares that an RCIC or Canadian lawyer will offer you immigration services in exchange for a fee or other benefit. When you sign the deal, keep a copy for your records.
Only you and the RCICs or Canadian lawyers providing your services should sign the service agreement. No one can legally ask you to sign a contract (service agreement or retainer agreement) with someone else or with the company your RCIC/Canadian lawyer works for. On the contract, they must include their full legal name and their license ID (number). They must sign first before you sign.
The Use of a Representative Form (IMM5476) confirms your RCIC or Canadian lawyer is authorized to represent you in your immigration application. So, you, an RCIC or a Canadian lawyer must sign and date this form. They must sign first before you sign. This form must provide for IRCC both for paid representatives and unpaid representatives (Such as friends or family members who are not charging you for their services).
Ensure that everything on the application forms and documents is complete and accurate before you mark it. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information provided, even if someone else completes the forms or provides the documents. Watch out for incomplete or falsified documents.
You can request copies of your immigration forms or documents you signed, and your RCICs or Canadian lawyers present them to the IRCC. You should receive every copy of the forms you signed during the immigration process. Ask your RCIC or Canadian lawyer to give you a copy of all signed forms and documents and keep a copy of any document you sign for your records.
If you pay in cash, it may make it hard later to prove you paid them. Other payment methods, such as cheques, credit cards, and bank transfers, provide better proof because these payments appear on your bank statement.
Your signed service agreement must outline the professional or governmental fees you will pay your RCICs or Canadian lawyers. Before you pay anything, ask for an invoice that outlines those fees. Then ask for a receipt that shows a record of your payment.
If you pay for services other than immigration, for example, job placement, then those services should be listed in another service agreement. You should be provided with a detailed service agreement that outlines the amount you will pay for the immigration services an RCIC, or a Canadian lawyer will be provided.
Some professionals may try to offer you immigration services as part of the other services they provide, such as:
- Travel agents: They may offer to help you with a visitor visa
- Educational agents or student recruiters: They might say they will submit your study permit application with your school application
- Job recruiters: They might offer to put together your work permit
In most cases, these people are not authorized to provide you with Canadian immigration services. They can do so only if they are an authorized representative.
If the person you are working with says they are partnering with an RCIC or a Canadian lawyer, double-check by contacting them directly using the contact information on the Public Register of CICC (Who regulates RCIC) or the Canadian provincial or territorial law society (Who regulates Canadian lawyer).
In addition, you must always make sure that you sign a separate service agreement with the RCIC or Canadian lawyer for immigration services in addition to your service agreement with those professionals.
No one can guarantee a processing timeline for any Canadian immigration application. IRCC sets out approximate timelines (Standard processing time, for example, 8-12 weeks for a Canada student visa), and an RCIC or Canadian lawyer can relay this information to you.
An IRCC visa officer is the only person who will decide on your Canadian immigration application. No one will know the outcome of your application until you receive a written decision from that visa officer.
The visa officer processing your application will make an independent decision based on the merits of your application. In other words, they will only consider the reason for your application and your supporting evidence and documents. Watch out if someone tells you, “I have a friend” or “I know someone” who can help make things easier.
Before you start working with an RCIC or a Canadian lawyer, use the Public Register of CICC (Which regulates RCICs) or the Canadian provincial or territorial law society (Which regulates Canadian lawyers) to check that they are licensed as an “ACTIVE” RCIC or Canadian lawyer.
Only active RCICs or Canadian lawyers in good standing with their regulator can legally offer you Canadian immigration advice in exchange for a fee. If they are listed as “Revoked,” “Suspended,” “Leave of Absence,” or “Resigned,” they are not currently authorized to practice.
It is essential to know that a website offering immigration services is a immigration fraud Canada. If you are unable to contact anyone listed in the website’s contact information, or the website lacks contact information, and the company’s or representative’s credentials are not available on the Public Register of CICC (Which regulates RCICs) or the Canadian provincial or territorial law society (Which regulates Canadian lawyers), they are scammers.
All RCICs and Canadian lawyers must have professional liability insurance. Their professional liability insurance must cover all sums insured licensees become legally obligated to pay as damages resulting from an error, omission or negligent act while performing duties like that of an RCIC or a Canadian lawyer. Scammers don’t provide you with liability insurance.
RCICs and Canadian lawyers have met standards that prove they can competently and ethically help you. They must also keep learning every year as a part of our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) education program. Unauthorized practitioners are less likely to know about immigration. They also do not have to follow a Code of Professional Conduct.
If you lie or put misleading information on your immigration application, you will commit “misrepresentation.” If you are found guilty of misrepresentation, you will be banned from submitting an application to Canada for five years. Your misrepresentation charge will also become part of your immigration record and may affect your ability to apply for any application to Canada in the future. Suppose the person representing you encourages you to lie on your immigration application. In that case, they are not most probably RCICs or Canadian lawyers, and they are scammers, or if they are RCICs or Canadian lawyers, you should file a complaint to the CICC (Which regulates RCICs) or the Canadian provincial or territorial law society (Which regulates Canadian lawyers).
Immigration Fraud Canada FAQs
Numerous more non-governmental websites (such as those with domain endings “.com,” “.org,” or “.net”) offer reliable and practical services and information regarding immigration and visas. Despite the information on other websites, it should always be checked by speaking with a Canadian government official as the material could not be accurate or up to date (Canada.ca). The applicants for Canada visas are recommended to exercise caution whenever dealing with businesses which assert to provide any aid with obtaining Canada visas.Â
Several websites and emails aim to deceive users into thinking they are the legitimate websites of the Canadian government. These websites frequently feature pictures of the Canadian flag and are made to appear official. Canada.ca is the Canadian government website. Remember that anything with a “.gov” ending should be considered suspicious.Â
Visa applicants are strongly encouraged to exercise caution when engaging with non-governmental organizations claiming they may help them get visas for Canada. Some of these fraudulent businesses could charge for immigration and visa services. Also, the services advertised by these phoney websites and emails—for which they demand payment—cannot be obtained. For instance, many scam emails require a lot in exchange for “Canada PR visas” or Canada visas. Finally, it would be best to exercise caution when supplying personal information through these phoney websites and emails because doing so may lead to identity fraud or theft. (immigration fraud Canada)
If you wish to report a scammer in Canada or file a complaint about internet fraud, please send your complaint to spam@fightspam.gc.ca, the Spam Reporting Centre. The CRTC encourages Canadians to use the Spam Reporting Center online form to collect as much information as possible.Â
Do not sign any documents, applications, or forms with incorrect information. Even if someone advises you to provide false information on an immigration document, doing so could result in your removal or deportation from Canada.Â
- A person who offers a marriage of convenience.Â
- A person who has given false information on any immigration application.Â
- A person is given a guarantee on Canada visas.Â
There are penalties for immigration fraud Canada, which can include up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The scammer in side Canada may be deported, and people outside Canada, in addition to the above penalties, may be banned from entering Canada.Â
Immigration fraud is generally grouped into two types — immigration-related “document fraud” and immigration “benefit fraud” (“benefit fraud” involves misrepresentation of a material fact to qualify for a specific immigration status or benefit).Â
- Lying on a visa application. Â
- Committing fraud by getting married to get citizenship. Â
- Engaging in a fraudulent marriage to assist another person in entering Canada.Â
- Modifying or creating fake immigration paperwork.Â
- Presenting a fictitious identity on a visa.
To report immigration fraud Canada, Call the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Border Watch Toll-Free Line at 1-888-502-9060 to report.
Careful planning and understanding Canadian immigration regulations are key to avoiding delays, banes, or refusals of visas. Our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant can provide expert advice to make the immigration process as smooth and efficient as possible.Â
The regulations governing immigration to Canada are well and thoroughly understood by qualified and specifically trained RCICs. You can speed and simplify the application process for a Canada visa application by seeking professional advice from a qualified, skilled and experienced RCIC. While no one can guarantee you visa approval, professional advice from an RCIC can maximize the potential of your visa being granted.Â
Planning carefully and being aware of Canadian immigration laws are essential for avoiding delays, penalties, and visa refusal. To make the immigration procedure as efficient and smooth as possible, our RCIC provides expert advice.
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