How to Prevent Being Victim of Fraud

Immigrating to Canada is a dream for many people, and unfortunately, there are many scam websites out there that try to take advantage of individuals who are seeking immigration services. It’s important to be aware of the warning signs that a website may be fraudulent so that you can protect yourself and your personal information.

Websites

1. Paying for application forms and guides: IRCC only charges fees to process your application, and all application forms and guides are free on the IRCC website.
2. False promises and guarantees: Beware of websites that promise special deals or guarantees entry into Canada, high-paying jobs, or faster processing of your application. These promises are often too good to be true and should be viewed with skepticism.
3. Unsecured websites: Make sure that the website you’re using is secure and has a padlock in the browser window or https:// at the beginning of the web address.
4. Contact information: Be wary of websites that have no contact information or that cannot be reached. Legitimate websites should have clear and accessible contact information.
5. Unverified credentials: If you’re considering hiring a representative or consultant, make sure to verify their credentials before doing so. Paid representatives must be authorized, and their credentials should be readily available on the website.

To avoid falling victim to a fraudulent website, do your research, read the website’s disclaimers, notices, and terms and conditions, and never give out personal information unless you’re sure the website is secure and trustworthy.

Remember, you don’t need to hire a representative, consultant, or lawyer to help you with your application. All the application forms and guides are available on the IRCC website, and following the instructions in the guides will enable you to submit your application on your own.

Immigration Consultant

Here are some tips to ensure that you are working with an authorized Canadian immigration consultant and how to keep from being a victim of immigration fraud.

Consultant’s Title

It is important to verify the title of your Canadian immigration consultant to avoid being misled by unauthorized practitioners who may use official-sounding titles that are not legitimate.

For instance, some individuals may claim to be a “notary,” which may sound similar to a “Québec notaire”, an immigration lawyer, or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), but in reality, it has no legal standing in the Canadian immigration system. Notaries are not authorized to provide immigration advice or representation.

Only some licensed professionals are authorized to provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee or any other benefit. This includes licensees who are in good standing with the College, members of a Canadian law society, or members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. In other words, if someone is not a lawyer or a notaire, they must hold a valid license from the College to work as a Canadian immigration or citizenship consultant.

It is important to note that possessing a diploma in immigration education does not automatically authorize someone to provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice. Therefore, it is crucial to verify if an individual is a licensed Canadian immigration consultant before seeking their services.

Signatures, contract, forms

Only you and the licensed Canadian immigration consultant who is providing you with services should sign the service agreement. No one else can legally ask you to sign an agreement with someone else or with the company your immigration consultant works for. Your immigration consultant must include their full legal name and licence number on the agreement. The licence number will begin with the letter “R” followed by six digits (e.g., R123456).

To confirm that your Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is authorized to represent you in your immigration case, both you and the consultant must sign and date the Use of a Representative Form (IMM5476). Your immigration consultant must provide a copy of the signed form every time they make an inquiry related to your case. This is required even if they are a friend or family member or not charging you for their services.

Before signing any forms, make sure that all the information is complete and accurate. Even if someone else fills out the forms for you, you are responsible for the information provided. Watch out for incomplete or falsified forms.

Keep a copy of all the forms that you sign for your own records. This will ensure that you have a record of the information provided and will be helpful in the future if any issues arise.

Guarantees

No one can guarantee a specific timeline for processing any type of Canadian immigration application. IRCC provides approximate timelines (such as 8-12 months), and an immigration consultant can convey this information to you. A visa officer will assess your Canadian immigration application. Nobody will know the outcome of your application until you receive a written decision from the visa officer.

Although immigrating to Canada and finding a job are often interlinked, you may need to work with different representatives for each process. For instance, you might require the services of both a Canadian immigration consultant and a licensed recruiter.

Be wary of any guarantees, such as “We will get your immigration papers and find you a job for a single fee.” No one should charge you for finding you a job – not an employer, a recruiter, or an immigration consultant. The determination of your application lies solely with the visa officer assigned to it, who will evaluate it based on its own merits and the supporting evidence and documents provided. Be cautious of anyone who claims to have connections or a personal relationship that can expedite the process for you.

Lies

It’s important to be truthful on your immigration application, even if someone advises you to do otherwise. Providing false or misleading information is considered “misrepresentation.” Misrepresentation can result in a 5-year ban from submitting any future applications to Canada, and it will be permanently recorded in your immigration file, which may negatively impact your eligibility for future applications.

If your representative urges you to misrepresent information on your application, you should report them to the College.