It is unquestionable that depending on the complexity of your personal circumstances, immigrating to Canada can be a long and complicated process. If you decide to take care of your family’s application without assistance or aid, then there are factors that could potentially result in a delay or even the rejection of your application. Things like language barriers, providing incorrect information and not completing the correct forms are just some of the many difficulties you could experience. Using an immigration lawyer from Canada can help you avoid these and other common problems as well as the risk of falling victim to immigration-related fraud.
There are countless frauds which target vulnerable people and the repercussions can be devastating for victims and their families. Unfortunately, immigration fraud is becoming increasingly common. For this reason, it is very important that you carry out your due diligence when you start the process to immigrate to Canada. Using an immigration professional, such as an immigration lawyer from Canada, can help eliminate the risk of immigration fraud; however, there are a few things to keep in mind if you choose to be represented through your immigration process.
Verify Your Representative
Many Canadian immigration applicants who are taken advantage of go through this experience because they neglect to verify that the person offering them Canadian immigration services are actually qualified to do so. In Canada, only authorized representatives can charge a fee or receive compensation. These include:
lawyers and paralegals who are members of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society;
notaries who are member of the Chambre des notaires du Québec; and,
citizenship or immigration consultants who are members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
If you intend to pay for legal representation, make sure that the professional you work with is authorized. Regrettably, if they are not authorized, then your application could be returned for lack of proper representation or even refused for not answering all the necessary legal requirements. The best way to determine whether the immigration representative is authorized is to verify on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Know the Red Flags
Responsible and professional immigration lawyers or authorized representatives will not:
contact you directly over social media (at least without having your previous authorization or having established previous communications);
contact you from a personal social media profile;
advise you to lie on your application; or,
advertise services for free and then later demand you to pay a fee.
These are just some of the red flags that should alert you to potential fraud.
Report Fraud
Even if your representative completes your application, you are still responsible for all of the information provided. If you or a family member believe that you have fallen victim to immigration fraud, report it immediately. Ignoring this will only make the situation worse for you. The easiest way to report fraud is through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Keep copies of all the communication you have had with the suspected person, as evidence for your case.
If you are looking for trusted legal representation to start your immigration process, contact an immigration lawyer in Canada today.
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