How to protect yourself from immigration fraud if you want to come to Canada

Immigration fraud is a reality for many foreigners seeking to settle in Canada from another country, for this reason, it is important to take measures to protect yourself and ensure a legal and satisfactory immigration process. 

If you or someone you know is a high-profile citizen migrating to Canada, then you should be alert to the risks of falling victim to scams. 

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What to do to avoid immigration fraud

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At immiland Canada, we always insist that your immigration application must be done through legal channels, as it has to be, to be successful; that is why today we share with you 6 tips to prevent your case from falling into the hands of unscrupulous people.

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Find out about the immigration process and requirements.

‍itis important to educate yourself about the requirements before applying. This may include researching official government websites, reading about the different immigration programs available, and seeking advice from licensed immigration consultants or attorneys.

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2. Be cautious of unsolicited offers:‍

Beware of unsolicited offers of immigration services or job opportunities, especially those that require you to pay a large amount of money up front. Scammers may use these offers to obtain your personal information or money.

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3. Verify the credentials of immigration consultants or attorneys:‍4.

If you decide to work with an immigration consultant or lawyer, make sure they are authorized to provide immigration services in Canada. You can verify their credentials by checking with the regulatory body that oversees immigration consultants or the provincial bar association. Nowadays, there are also many scammers who use the name of the regulated consultant and their license number to pretend to be them. Therefore, check very carefully who you are dealing with. Verify your immigration consultant.

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4. Use official government websites:

When submitting immigration applications or seeking information about immigration programs, always verify that the website is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and display the security lock on the link. Remember that scammers can create fake websites that look very similar to government websites. Look for spelling or consistency errors in the text, compare the logo of the page with the official logo, do not open suspicious links that arrive in your mail if you have not requested them, among others. If you are not attentive to these signs, you can be deceived and give them access to your personal information or your money.

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5. Be wary of requests for personal information or money:‍

If a lawyer or consultant is asking you for your personal information or is asking for money up front or in a way that makes you feel pressured, know that you can demand that they first show you their credentials, so you can verify it on the Canadian government-regulated consultants page. ‍

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6. Report any suspected fraud:

if you believe you have been a victim of immigration fraud, report it to the Canada Anti-Fraud Centre, the RCMP or your local police department, this action may help prevent others from falling victim to the same scheme.

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Do you recognize the most common immigration scams for people interested in coming to Canada?

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People who dream of coming to Canada can be an easy target for scammers because of their eagerness to skip some important requirements that must be met such as the economic profile, which must be high to support themselves in the country, proven academic and job training, fluency in English or French, among others, so do not accept help from a lawyer or consultant who omits these requirements and agrees to make your application.  

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On the other hand, beware of the following!

• Fake immigration consultants: consultants who may offer services at reduced rates, but do not have the training or authorization to provide immigration services (Note: consultants or lawyers who prepare visa applications from other countries are not necessarily authorized to represent clients in Canadian immigration proceedings). To verify that your representative is authorized, please click here.
• Fake job offers: job offers that are too attractive to be true may be fake, employers always need to confirm your training in the area, often with a minimum of 2 to 3 years of experience, also, if your country does not have an FTA, then the employer will need to submit a positive LMIA, which requires some steps to be fulfilled. Be alert because these scammers may ask you to pay money up front or give them personal and banking information that may compromise you.
• Fake immigration programs: Scammers may create fake immigration programs and promise an easier and faster way to immigrate to Canada. Any easy way to come to Canada is suspect, because Canada is willing to welcome migrants from all over the world, but does so in a safe and orderly manner to safeguard its own citizens. In addition, it always looks for the immigrant to be qualified according to the TEERS/NOC, requests a moderate command of English or French and, most importantly, economic solvency so that the migrants do not become a public burden, but rather citizens capable of contributing knowledge to the country in return for the welcome it gives them, therefore, no procedure with programs that do not demand these basic requirements will benefit them.
• Fake acceptance letters: Scammers can create fake letters of acceptance (LOAs) that appear to be issued by a Canadian university or employer, leading people to pay tuition fees or apply for work visas that do not exist. Read this article on new measures to avoid LOA scams.
• Fake websites: scammers can create websites that appear to be the official websites of the Canadian government or a Canadian employer, we reiterate that you should pay attention to the logo, lettering and spelling, usually the writing of a fake page carries spelling or writing errors, which is not appropriate for an official site of any government or institution.
• Sham marriage schemes: some scammers may offer sham marriages as a way to immigrate to Canada; however, this is illegal and can have serious consequences with the law.

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At Immiland Canada, we take care of your safety, we want you to apply for your visa from the legality, complying with the steps indicated by the Canadian government. Your dream can come true, you just have to look for the immigration path that perfectly suits your academic or work profile. Be careful of the consultants or lawyers you use, all of them must be regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

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If you wish to process your visa with us, you can visit our website and review the regulated consultants section by clicking here.

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With love, 

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Immiland