How to identify a reliable Canadian immigration website

In honor of March being IRCC’s fraud prevention month, the Canadian government has provided the following six guidelines for determining whether a website offering Canadian immigration services might be a scam:

1. An unwanted email contained advertising for the website

It is safe to infer that the website is probably a fraud if the link to an immigration website comes from an email that the email receiver did not request from a stranger.

2. It doesn’t appear that the Canadian government built the website

Two essential criteria are commonly used to identify official Canadian government websites.

• They contain material in English and French, the two official languages ​​of Canada
• They have a URL that ends in “gc.ca” or “Canada.ca.”

Websites that resemble assets owned by the Government of Canada but lack these features should not be trusted.

3. It makes implausible promises or pledges “assured” immigration

Any immigration agent or resource (website, etc.) cannot, under any circumstances, promise that a candidate for Canadian immigration will be successful. Websites that make such positive statements, guarantee visitors a well-paying job after they arrive in Canada, or advocate faster application processing should not be trusted by applicants.

4. To access forms or guidance, the website requests money

Payment is only necessary to complete applications for Canadian immigration, according to the IRCC. On the IRCC website, forms, instructions, and other supplemental information are available without charge.

5. Prior to starting the application procedure, personal and financial details, as well as a deposit, are required

Similar to the aforementioned, you should be wary of any website that asks for personal information like banking information or a Social Insurance Number (SIN) before you’ve even started the application process. To that end, the same is valid for any website that requests payment from visitors before they start the application process for a Canadian immigration program.

6. The representative’s credentials or contact details are absent

Do not rely on immigration websites that either completely exclude contact information or in instances where contacting a human is impossible. Users should also presume that a service provider is unauthorized and hence unreliable if a website lists the name of an immigration counselor, lawyer, representative, or firm without mentioning their credentials.

Avoiding fraud on immigration websites

The best defense against internet fraud is to seek the help and counsel of a qualified Canadian immigration attorney. A Canadian provincial or territorial law society must be registered in order for certified lawyers in this field to practice.

A qualified and knowledgeable immigration attorney can assist potential Canadian immigrants in a variety of ways, including:

• Drafting their immigration petitions fully and accurately
• Ensuring that applicants submit applications without errors
• Answering on behalf of an applicant to the Canadian government
• Using their knowledge to cut down on unnecessary hold-ups during the various application phases and application processing

Get help with your immigration today!