5 Key Tips For Preventing Visa Scams in Canada

Learning about the five (5) key tips for preventing visa scams is the best way to avoid the mistakes that might ruin your chances of migrating abroad for better career and quality of life.

It is a known fact that many individuals aspire to travel to foreign countries to seek employment or to further their education.

In a bid to fulfil their dreams, many fall into the hands of people who profit at the expense of others’ happiness.

This is why due diligence must guide individuals who desire travelling out of their country of origin when they file visa applications.

All immigration opportunities, criteria and processes are clearly defined. Information is easily accessible. Take some time, navigate through the government website, and verify all information.

In this post, we’ll have a look at how to avoid Canada immigration frauds and will give you a some valuable tips For preventing visa scams in Canada.

5 Key Tips For Preventing Visa Scams in Canada

There are scammers who target immigrants at all steps of the immigration process. Here are 5 key tips for preventing visa scams.

#1.  Beware of ‘free immigration’ services

Some fraud consultants may offer you free immigration services. They will ask for a fee for a job offer, settlement service, etc.

It would help if you avoid these traps. If the immigration advisor charges you a fee for job placement, you should report this to Canadian Authorities here.

Beware of fraudulent consultants who can dupe you out of your money by offering fake documents, job placements etc.

There are scammers who use the names of real companies. However, you need be sure to look up people’s names, titles, and even email addresses of the companies online before trusting them.

#2.  Avoid consultants who guarantee the time of processing or result of your visa application

Be careful if a consultant guarantees you about your visa application processing time. In short, there is no guaranteed processing time for any immigration application.

It is impossible to predict the outcome of an application for a student, work, or immigrant visa.

Many complications may arise during the processing of a visa application. For example, delays may occur due to medical report, background checks and omission of some documents.

Moreover, no one can guarantee the result of your visa application either. You will know the outcome of your application only when you receive a mail from the visa officer.

#3.   Be Careful with Payments

The main purpose of a scammer is to dupe you. If any agency or individual begins the processing of your visa by asking you for money, that should be a red flag.

Reliable agencies will not charge you anything for an initial assessment, guides or forms.

All this information is provided free of charge on  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada   (IRCC) website and the only payment required is a processing fee when submitting your completed application.

However, paid agents can only assist you complete the online application form but you must complete the next step yourself. That is an interview, which will take place at your local embassy or consulate.

When you complete your interview, you will receive a confirmation number, which you will use in monitoring your application.

If the agency you are dealing with ask you to make payments through unsecured links or applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, PayPal, or even an iTunes gift card.

Keep a distance from such agents and don’t fall for their promises. A legitimate immigration agency will not request payments through illegitimate means.

#4.  Do not provide false information in your visa application

Make sure that you are not forced to lie in visa application by your immigration advisor.

Most importantly, lying and misrepresentation attract a penalty and also ban you from applying for the next five years.  In fact, this ban will earn a place in your immigration record and have a negative effect.

More so, make an effort to hire an authorized representative. If you receive services from someone who is not licensed to practice Canadian immigration law, your application will be rejected and you will be barred from submitting further applications.

You will have to bear the consequences and with wrong advice, you will be in big trouble. Hiring an authorized representative, such as an immigration lawyer in Canada, gives you the best chances.

#5.  Avoid sharing personal information

Not disclosing your personal information is one of the five tips in preventing visa scams.

It is hereby safe not disclose information about your personal identity or pay fees without thoroughly checking whether the request is legitimate.

However, you might start getting emails from different sites saying that they can speed up the visa process as soon as you send certain information or pay certain fees.

If you receive messages like this, do not believe them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I recognize fraudulent websites and emails?

Some websites and emails try to mislead clients and members of the public into thinking they are official Canadian government websites. What these websites and emails are missing is the “.ca” on their addresses.

Remember that anything that does not begin or end with “.ca” or “.gc.ca.” should be considered suspect.

How do I know if my visa is rejected?

Upon visa refusal, you will get a letter from the consulate stating the reason for refusal. This will help you re-apply after a specific period by rectifying the mistake.

How do you extend your stay as a visitor in Canada?

In order to extend your stay in Canada, you need to apply for an extension, 30 days before the expiry date of your stay.

However, you can apply for an extension by completing the extension documents online to make the application process easier and reduce the risk of errors that can make the processing period longer.

Does Canadian Embassy verify documents?

Yes, they do check and verify all documents. Many people try to use fake or forged documents to defraud the government of Canada so they carefully scrutinize all supporting documents.

Conclusion

Everyone wants good news but a Canadian visa application will only be successful if the candidate meets all the necessary criteria.

The process can be quite challenging. However, we suggest you do your research or seek advice from well-informed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who have the expert knowledge to guide you through your Canadian visa application.