CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Canadian Immigration Launches Campaign Warning Against Unscrupulous Immigration Consultants

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has addressed the issue of immigration fraud by launching a video warning against the dangers of unscrupulous immigration representatives offering immigration services.

"Our government takes a zero-tolerance approach to immigration consultant fraud. We are continuing to work to expand warnings about fraud against potential applicants and to combat illegal activities related to immigration," said Minister Kenney.

The video features an immigrant family from Chile that was a victim of a fraudulent representative and includes tips on how to choose an authorized representative if an applicant decides to seek assistance with an application. Minister Kenney also underlined the importance of raising awareness in preventing consumer fraud, and said the new video warns against the dangers of hiring unscrupulous representatives who offer immigration services.

Recent efforts include a personal commitment from the Chief Minister of Punjab to step up efforts in the fight against fraudulent consultants who operate out of Chandigarh, India. A number of arrests of allegedly unscrupulous consultants have already been made. The Punjab state government and Canada's visa office in Chandigarh will be working to address immigration consultant fraud.

"This kind of tool, combined with multilingual warnings on our website and mission sites around the world, demonstrates the commitment of this Government to protecting potential immigrants and their families from unscrupulous immigration representatives who charge exorbitant fees and either fail to deliver promised services or provide false information about Canada's immigration programs," said Minister Kenney.

The Minister added that he also plans to consult with stakeholders and with recent immigrants on their experiences and suggestions for ways to improve prevention and enforcement efforts. "This is a priority for me in the months ahead, and I look forward to working further with the Standing Committee, other government partners, and key stakeholders on this important issue," said the Minister.

The Video can be downloaded from the CIC website

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.