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You are reading the Original Version (CLB5+) Read Simple Version (CLB3-4) Many people all over the world are dreaming of moving or working in Canada. It’s great that there are various federal and provincial immigration programs they can explore. Just be warned that there are unscrupulous entities out there who want to take advantage of this dream. Here are some examples of illegal immigration schemes out there so that you can avoid becoming a victim: There are variations of this scam: Know that nobody can guarantee a visa or job in Canada. The Canadian government does not partner with private agencies to get jobs or visas. If you receive such an offer, don’t provide personal information or payment. Do a quick Google search to check if the company exists and if it is a legitimate operation. Sure signs that the job offer is a scam include: free housing, extremely high salary and benefits, no interview required. Read Internet, email and telephone scams from the IRCC to know other signs. To put it simply, it is a fake job that an employer sets up. The foreigner who wants to be an employee in Canada pays an amount that will cover their salary for a year plus the deductions the employer has to pay to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). The employer then sends an amount to the employee’s bank account and to CRA monthly. After a year, the employee can use this “work experience” to apply to be a Permanent Resident. Aside from the amount to cover the salary and deductions, the employee also pays a big sum to the fake job organizer for their services. Foreigners are charged around $170,000 based on this story of an immigration consulting company in Toronto that was found to be involved in this scam. This is an arrangement wherein the foreigner wishing to live in Canada pays a Canadian citizen to be their spouse and sponsor them. The foreigner pays at least $50,000 for this scheme. This is a precarious situation to be in as immigration officers are highly trained to spot fake marriages. They conduct rigorous document checks, visit people’s homes and interview both sponsors and applicants. Couples found to be engaged in marriage fraud are charged with the crime and fined for up to a $100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. They will also be deported and will not be allowed to return to Canada for five years. This will be a permanent mark on their immigration record. These are travel agencies or “immigration representatives” who will handle your application in exchange for a considerable fee. While there are legitimate immigration representatives, stay away from those who seem to be more interested in the processing fee (and demand it in advance) than explaining the actual process of application to you. Red flags to watch out for: In this scheme, targets receive an official-looking email about the “Canada Resettlement Provincial Nomination Program.” The “nominee” is informed that they have been chosen to settle in Canada as a result of an electronic ballot system. The letter is from the Canada Immigration and Settlement Bureau and is signed by a program coordinator (to see a copy, go to: Scam Warners.com). Applicants to the Provincial Nominee Program may be the primary targets of this scheme. An important detail to note is that there is no Canadian government agency called “Canada Immigration and Settlement Bureau”. Read Protect yourself from immigration fraud to be aware of other dangerous schemes out there. Please login to tell us what you think.Skip to:
Fake job/scholarship offers
Paper job immigration scam
Marriage of convenience
Immigration agency “guaranteed visa”
Nomination from the “Canada Immigration and Resettlement Bureau”
What you should watch out for:
How to protect yourself:
Article updated September 18, 2020.
Sources: Scamming your way to Canada is easy. The fix is easy too if government is willing to act, Richard Kurland, CBC News; Protect yourself from immigration fraud, IRCC; and Internet, email and telephone scams, IRCC. Accessed February 18, 2020.Community Resources
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