From Hopeful to Helpless: Indian Students in Canada Being Deported and How to Prevent Immigration Scams

More than 700 Indian students in Canada are facing deportation after discovering that their admission offer letters from their educational institutions were fake. The Canadian Border Service Agency discovered the fraud when the students applied for permanent residency in Canada.

Education Migration Services, headed by Brijesh Mishra, who has disappeared, assisted the students in obtaining study visas. Consequently, many students who had already finished their studies, obtained work permits, and acquired work experience in Canada were affected.

Immigration advice and services for a fee can only be legally provided by licensed lawyers and consultants who are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship (CICC). Additionally, education agents must also hold a CICC license.

Using a representative to act on your behalf for immigration or citizenship applications. You need to beware of fraudulent representatives. The incident highlights the issue of unlicensed education agents taking advantage of students eager to study and work in Canada.

Typical frauds targeting international students

The Indian students were scammed by what is commonly referred to as a "ghost agent." These are unlicensed immigration representatives or individuals who impersonate representatives from educational institutions.

They charge a fee in exchange for services to international students, and once they receive the payment, they disappear or "ghost" their victims. This type of fraud can occur when individuals are seeking work permits, study permits, or permanent resident status.

International students should be cautious of phishing scams that solicit personal information through email, text messages, or automated calls threatening legal action related to their immigration status. Scammers may also offer fake job offers to students, taking advantage of their need for part-time work or fake accommodation for a fee, leaving them homeless or in subpar housing.

How to avoid falling victim to this type of scam?

First, check if your agent helping you with school and study permit are licensed Role of Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA), Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Canadian immigration lawyer.

A good practice is to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true. Once you receive your admission letter, reach out to the schools via phone or email to confirm if you are indeed admitted. If you are unsure about a threatening automated call, email, or text, it's best to hang up and contact the organization directly to verify the information.

Social media is not a reliable source for finding immigration consultants, as scammers often impersonate them. International students should seek the assistance of licensed Canadian immigration lawyers to complete applications properly, communicate with the Canadian government, and avoid mistakes during the immigration process.

Check out who can legally help you with Canadian immigration and represent you for more info to learn how to avoid such fraud.