Scams to avoid as an Indian applying for Canadian immigration

If at any time you want professional advice you can trust, we recommend a handful of Canadian immigration consultants who have years of expertise and very good reviews. Get started with a single, no-pressure consultation.

Book a consultation

If you ever want to double-check if something is legitimate or a scam, you can ask our community on the Moving2Canada PR Facebook Group. Don’t take our word for it, ask others who have gone through the same process as you.

Unlicensed immigration representatives

If someone wants you to pay them to represent your case for Canadian immigration, they must have the proper authorization. Whether this person is in India, Canada, or another country, there are only certain types of paid representatives who can legally represent your case.

If you want to work with a Canadian immigration consultant: The consultant must be registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). All consultants in good standing will have a valid RCIC Number which you can use to look them up on the ICCRC database.

If you want to work with a Canadian immigration lawyer: The lawyer must be a member in good standing with their provincial or territorial bar association. To verify a lawyer’s standing, use this database of Canada’s provincial and territorial law associations to look up your potential lawyer.

Bear in mind that just because an immigration consultant or lawyer is properly authorized it does not mean that there is no risk of fraud. Unfortunately, even among authorized representatives there is still a great deal of fraud. Read through the rest of our tips to learn about other scams to avoid.

Guarantees of a visa or permit / Offers that seem too good to be true

Did you meet an immigration consultant who guarantees that if you pay him a certain amount he will get you a visa for Canada? Be careful. No one can guarantee success when it comes to Canadian immigration. There are too many factors to predict the outcome.

What if the program requirements change right before you submit your application? What if something unexpected comes up during your medical exam that makes you ineligible (let’s hope that doesn’t happen)?

Anyone who guarantees with 100 percent certainty that you’ll have a successful immigration application should be avoided.

The same goes with someone who makes an offer that sounds too good to be true. With Canadian immigration, there are no shortcuts or secret routes, if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Payment for a Canadian job offer

It is illegal for someone to accept money in return for a Canadian job offer. If someone does this to you, it is a big red flag.

There are companies in Canada that can assist with finding work. There are even recruitment agencies who charge a fee (to the employer) for a successful job placement. However, be cautious of anyone who asks you to pay money upfront for a job offer that comes later.

“Employers” who ask you to pay any money upfront for anything

In addition to scammers asking you to pay for them to find you a job, there are also fraudsters who will pretend to be Canadian employers offering you jobs. In these scams, you might receive an “offer letter” that uses your name, your occupation, and lists a Canadian company. But! Be careful.

If you receive an “offer letter” asking you to pay for anything upfront, you should be cautious. For example, they might ask you to pay a “visa fee” so they can process your work permit, or they might ask you to pay for accommodation before you even arrive in Canada. Any sort of upfront payments are illegal for Canadian employers to demand of prospective employees.

No option for a consultation before an expensive contract

A reputable immigration consultant or lawyer will offer you a one-on-one consultation before pressuring you into any long-term expensive contracts. Be cautious of immigration consultants or lawyers who pressure you into signing an agreement for thousands of dollars without ever sitting down with you to go over your immigration options and your chances of success.

Over the years, we have built relationships with a handful of Canadian immigration consultants who have years of experience and exceptional reviews. If you’re looking for a trustworthy consultant, you can start here. All of our recommended consultants offer one-on-one consultations, so you can pay less for a detailed assessment before signing a long retainer agreement. If you are based in India, these consultants can offer you a consultation via phone or video call.

Book a consultation