Protect your Canada dream from ghost consultants

Never entrust your Canada dreams and future to ghost consultants!

Ghost consultants are unlicensed immigration consultants who defraud Canada’s immigration system and make millions of dollars from vulnerable immigrants. Their elaborate schemes range from promising work and study opportunities in Canada that don’t exist to advising clients to lie or present fraudulent documents to supposedly “strengthen” their applications. When visa officers untangle their lies it is often too late for unsuspecting clients who have paid ghost consultants huge amounts in exchange of false promises. In the end, clients are left with shattered dreams, and in most cases debts and pawned properties.

IRCC, ICCRC stand on ghost consultants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada warns the public that using an unauthorized paid representative may result in the refusal of their applications. This is a clear indication that IRCC is not condoning the practices of these ghost consultants. The government has extensive information on how to identify ghost consultants. Some are listed below.

IRCC Tips on how to protect yourself from fraud:

• Beware of promises that sounds too good to be true.
• Beware of consultants who encourage you to be dishonest in your application to make it stronger. For example the consultant asks you to add more years to your work experience; or falsify your IELTS test report.
• Never leave your original documents or photos with your representatives.
• Never sign blank application forms.
• Make sure you understand the forms and documents before signing them.
• Never pay your representative cash and make sure you get a signed receipt of your payment/s.
• IRCC will never call you and ask that you deposit money in a personal bank account
• IRCC will never ask you to transfer money using a private money transfer company
• IRCC processing fees all throughout the world are always in Canadian dollar.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council recently approved the transition of the council into a college during its September, 2019 General Assembly meeting which allows the body to have a proactive role in protecting Canadians and immigrants from immigration fraud. ICCRC also provides similar helpful information to the public on how to spot ghost consultants. Check out ICCRC’s Top 20 Tips on How to Recognize Unauthorized Practitioners.

Over the years ghost consultants have given authorized representatives a bad reputation. They have capitalized on the vulnerability and desperation of immigrants who want to pursue their dreams in Canada. When things don’t end well for their applications, these “ghosts” live up to their name and “vanish” into thin air. They have no accountability and answer to no authority – and clearly have the conscience to make a living from deceiving and stealing off people.

Don’t be a victim. Be proactive and do your due diligence before signing up with a consultant. Make sure that you verify with ICCRC the status of the Canadian immigration consultant you are dealing with. It’s so easy to do, simply go here and fill out the form with your consultant’s information and click search. You will know within 30 seconds if your consultant is included in the ICCRC database. Protect your Canada dream. No one else will do it for you.