Verify the person giving paid Canadian immigration advice.
Paid immigration advice and representation in Canada are regulated. Licensed immigration consultants can be checked through the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) public register; lawyers and notaries are regulated by their respective law societies.
A licence number should be verifiable. A “connection at the embassy” should make you suspicious.
Government decisions cannot be privately guaranteed or purchased from an agent.
Stop and verify before you pay.
Guaranteed visa or PR
No representative controls IRCC decisions or Express Entry invitations.
Guaranteed job after payment
Be very cautious if employment is packaged as something you buy from an agent.
Fake admission letters
Verify institutions and communications directly. An invented admission can damage far more than one application.
Altered documents
Never allow someone to change funds, employment, education, relationships or travel history to “make the file stronger.”
Pressure and secrecy
“Pay today,” “do not tell the employer,” or “do not contact the school” are reasons to slow down.
No written scope
Before paying, understand who is responsible, what service is included, the fee, refund terms and what is not guaranteed.
A short verification routine
- Verify identity and authorization. Use the regulator’s own website, not a screenshot sent by the agent.
- Verify the organization. Check the official school, employer or government source independently.
- Verify the payment. Know the legal business name, amount, purpose and refund conditions. Keep receipts.
- Verify the claim. If someone says a policy, draw, occupation or deadline exists, find the official source.
- Protect your truth. Read what is submitted in your name and never sign or approve information you know is false.
Received something suspicious?
Do not rush to pay. Save the message, verify the organization independently and ask for the claim in writing.