Top 20 Handy Tips to avoid Immigration Fraud
Going for Canada Immigration? Ensure that you have the right guidance, which is why it is so imperative to have a certified and trusted immigration consultant by your side. This is more so, due to the presence of many fraudulent immigration companies that mislead clients promising them more than they can deliver, thereby costing them time and money.
Please note that the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is not authorized to pursue immigration consultants who are unlicensed. If they find any, they share complaints with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), to nab such fraudulent immigration consultants and prevent them from duping clients in lieu of Canada immigration services.
ICRCC has made efforts to recognize on how the effects of these ongoing immigration frauds can be distressing, and to prevent that they have taken an initiative to run numerous campaigns against immigration fraud, thereby asking to be bestowed with additional powers to act against such fraudulent companies and individuals.
These efforts to safeguard the public against such frauds will be in fruition, once by the order of government of Canada, ICCRC will become the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. This College will be vested with the authority to then file an injunction against a person who falsely portrays themselves as a genuine immigration consultant, and in this bid they will be directly be in collaboration with overseas government agencies.
Here are 20 Tips to prevent yourself from immigration fraud:
Tip 1
Immigration Consultants who are unlicensed could use titles that accrue different meanings but can be seen as interchangeable. The professional designation “notario” is in no way connected to a notaire du Québec, who is basically a lawyer or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). If you encounter persons who identify themselves as “notarios” are not authorized representative licensed to provide any kind of immigration advice.
Licensed Canada immigration consultant are basically the ones who can legally offer you Canadian immigration advice in exchange for a fee or other consideration are called RCICs. These individuals are registered with one of Canada’s 13 Law Societies, or notaires registered with the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
Tip 2
Just securing a diploma from an immigration practitioner’s program does not mean you are a licensed immigration consultant. For this it is a must to be registered with ICCRC, if you want to offer Canada immigration services in exchange of a fee.
Tip 3
You should beware if you are not asked to sign a retainer agreement. This agreement known as ‘services contract’ or ‘contract’ is duly prepared by the immigration consultant declares that you are being provided immigration services in exchange of a fee.
Tip 4
Be careful if you are not asked to sign a retainer agreement with a company, an agent or someone else in exchange of a licensed immigration consultant. Ensure that the consultants full name is mentioned on the agreement along with their license number (e.g., An Immigration Consultant would always mention their ICCRC Membership ID number starting with the letter ‘R’ followed by six digits - R123456).
Tip 5
Ensure that you are asked to sign a Use of a Representative Form (IMM5476) or if the person you have hired as an immigration consultant signs it falsely stating that they are a friend or family member.
Tip 6
Be mindful of not signing any lank forms or forms that comprise of fake information. Do verify whether all the stated information is accurate and complete prior to signing it.
Tip 7
Be careful when your hired Canada immigration consultant does not give you a copy of the forms you both have signed, as you should always have one for your records.
Tip 8
Be wary when you are asked to make payment in Cash, as such payments cannot be tracked, as there is no proof of a document stating that you have made such a transaction. Alternative methods you can pay are via cheque, credit card, bank transfer.
Tip 9
Ensure that you have received invoices and receipts for all payments.
Tip 10
Also be cautious of whether you are charged fees for numerous services, while the immigration service is included for free.
Tip 11
Beware of when a travel agent, an educational agent or a recruiter is offering you immigration services, and even if you do so is it imperative to confirm their status as a RISIA or an RCIC prior to hiring their immigration services.
Tip 12
Be careful if you are offered guarantees on processing time in relation to your immigration application, as there is no specific timeline for processing an immigration application.
Tip 13
Alert yourself if you are promised a job along with immigration at the same time, as both require different authorized representatives.
Tip 14
There can be no absolute guarantee for an application approval, as this decision completely depends upon the respective visa officer.
Tip 15
Be cautious when the individual you are thinking of for immigration services say that they know someone in the Immigration Department who can assist them with their immigration application, as a visa officer processing your application makes it their own decision that is based on merit of your case.
Tip 16
Ensure that Immigration Consultant you have hired for visa process is in good terms with ICCRC’s online public register.
Tip 17
Always be sure to check whether your hired immigration consultants have an ICCRC corporate logo on their immigration website in place of a Member Insignia, and there is no relation to ICCRC’s website to verify if the Immigration Consultant is registered with ICCRC, as this logo can only be used by the staff of ICCRC.
Tip 18
Ensure that your Immigration consultant has taken an Error and Omissions insurance, as all licensed Immigration Consultants need one.
Tip 19
Always see whether the individual you have hired for immigration services showcases a lack of basic knowledge when you ask certain questions in relation to immigration or ICCRC’s Code of Professional Ethics.
Tip 20
Do observe whether or nor you are being guided in to lying on your immigration application, as this can be viewed as committing misrepresentation, for which the penalty amounts to a ban from lodging any kind of application to Canada for a period of five years.
Advertise on APSense
This advertising space is available.
Post Your Ad Here
Post Your Ad Here
Comments