Unethical Immigration Consultants preying on immigrants

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced a campaign yesterday warning Canadian immigrants about the penalties for immigration fraud.

Intending immigrants applying for Canadian permanent residence and other visas under false pretenses can be subject to a removal order and possible criminal charges.

Choose only a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer or immigration consultant

Of particular concern to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney are unscrupulous Immigration Consultants who assist applicants in preparing bogus immigration applications with false information and false documentation. The Immigration Minister warned that intending immigrants should not hire Immigration Consultants who are not on the governments approved list.

What this really means is that if you intend to hire an immigration professional to represent you for your immigration application, they should be a licenced Canadian lawyer or a licenced Immigration Consultant who is either a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident. The best way to confirm this is to ask your prospective representative to see a copy of his or her license and proof of Canadian residency.

If this cannot be produced for your inspection, then it is advisable to stay away from this immigration consultant. And if your representative makes promises such as speedy processing of your application and encourages you to falsify information in your application, do not proceed with that person.

Common sense always rules the day. Immigrating to a new country is a major decision for most people. It is essential that you choose wisely in deciding who will represent you.

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