Krishan Jogia sought the assistance of Canada Global Migration Consultants (GMC) for his wife’s Canadian visitor visa. After encountering difficulties with her spousal visa application, they discovered the consultancy was operating illegally in Canada. Despite paying around $12,000 to GMC, they faced unresponsiveness and unethical practices. The couple engaged a lawyer but received no resolution from the company, which did not respond to their complaints.
Canada GMC, owned by a company in Israel, advertised a team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) but was not found on the public register of certified individuals. Similarly, Lorre Denise Schneer from New York paid GMC $5,260 US for an immigration application that was never submitted.
Experts highlight the rising issue of ghost consultants, such as H&S Immigration in Windsor, who exploit vulnerable newcomers seeking immigration services. Unlicensed consultants operate unchecked, misleading clients with false promises and inadequate services. The lack of immigration lawyers exacerbates the problem, allowing fraudulent consultants to take advantage of desperate individuals.
Licensed consultants emphasize the importance of education to combat misinformation spread by unscrupulous actors. The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) reported hundreds of cases of unauthorized practitioners, underscoring the need for stricter regulation and enforcement in the immigration consultancy industry.
Immigration lawyer Andrew Koltun advocates for legal changes to protect victims of scams orchestrated by ghost consultants. The fear of deportation deters individuals from pursuing legal action against fraudulent consultants, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The prevalence of such practices underscores the imperative for improved oversight and accountability within the immigration consultancy sector.