Immigration fraud is way more common than you think. You might be talking to a well dressed and well- spoken person who claims to be an immigration agent, but the reality might be something else. The truth is that anyone with a little bit of research and smartness can pretend to be an immigration consultant and market to the unsuspecting crowd to make some quick buck. But the truth is immigration consultants must be registered and certified, they need to have a proper corporate office with the respective country’s license and proper documents and agreements that are legally binding.
A lot of times, the public fall for these fraudsters in their haste and carelessness in looking for simple signs such as the lack of an office space for meeting or documents that are not signed by proper authority. As a part of our CSR, we run anti-fraud campaigns and extend support to victims of such scams. Here are a 5 easy and most prominent signs of a fraudulent immigration consultant;
- Check Authorizations1
Immigration consultants you approach should be authorized by bodies like ICCRC (Canada), MARA (Australia), OISC (UK), etc. for the respective country that you wish to migrate to. Even if they claim they are ICCRC certified, visit the official ICCRC website and check on the list if they are registered. It is mandatory for your safety and security that you choose the consultancies that are certified. ICCRC is a national regulatory body of Canada that serves and protects the public by overseeing licensed immigration consultants.
Immigration Advisors at Vision report directly to Ms. Shanaz Lakhani – ICCRC Immigration Lawyer. We are indemnified solicitors which means our clients are protected from any malpractices or fraud.
2. Eligibility
The first step in immigration is eligibility and not everyone qualifies. If your consultant is making a promise of PR regardless of your profile, then it is a scam. Every candidate must meet minimum requirements to be deemed eligible to apply. Age, Education, Work Experience, Language Proficiency, and Adaptability are the core areas where you must meet the standards set by the Canadian Govt.
If your consultant is giving you 100% guarantee in the approval of your profile, you can be sure it is a scam. The approval of your application is up to the govt.
3. Are You Being Promised Job Offers or Work Permits?
Immigration consultants claiming to get you ready-made jobs are most probably a scam. A legitimate immigration consultant may be able to set you up with recruitment agencies in Canada or give you training in attending interviews and other soft skills, but it is almost impossible to give you a guaranteed offer letter in your hand in return for signing up with them.
It is also important to note that you do not need a job offer from Canada to apply for PR. You will get your PR based on the points of your profile scores. Be alert and do not fall for these tall claims.
4. Check the Contract
If the consultant asks to be paid to him/her personally without any kind of contract or agreement, it is 100% fraud. All consultancies require to provide a retainer agreement signed and sealed by the ICCRC lawyer.
5. Visit the Consultancy
Visit and meet the team. Go through the certifications and testimonials. Check the legitimacy and make an informed decision!
We are more than happy to invite you to visit us and get to know us. Send us your doubts and queries about Immigration to info@visionconsultancy.com and we will get the answers to you queries directly from the ICCRC lawyer.
