Immigration Fraud: How to protect yourself?

There are certain ways to stay safe from immigration fraud, and here are things you need to know before you spend on your immigration agent.

Advertisements that guarantee jobs for high income, or studies from reputed universities in Canada, Australia, US and other developed countries, surely allure everybody. But are they genuine? If you are not careful, the chances are high that you spend your hard earned money on some shady deal and end up in deep financial crisis and legal problems.

How to choose the right immigration service?

Immigration agents you choose should be certified professionals, and they should be people who offer services that are not pertaining to legal formalities. Usually, the fee they operate for this is less. In a few cases, you can find people claiming to be closely related with USCIS. This is a red flag and can be an immigration fraud, as United States Citizenship and Immigration Services do not entertain agents, and there is no way they can help you get the process done faster and easier.

Always ensure that you have everything in a written contract. Else immigration fraud can cost a lot. The contract must be in English and in your native language as well. Ensure that a copy of the contract is with you. You should not sign any blank application forms or petitions, or any forms that have incomplete or inaccurate information.

What should you do and never do?

Never give your original documents as proofs, say educational certificates, passports or other documents, to the agents. When you pay, ensure the payment is accepted as a check, or as a transfer to the registered account of the agency. This would help you to take the immigration fraud to the higher authorities. Choose an agent, who is authorized by the government of the country you apply for the Visa. Suppose when you apply for Canadian Visa, you cannot trust any representative to have a special connection with the Canadian government. Also, entering into a marriage that is not legal can send you out of Canada.

Report the Immigration Fraud

When you find an agent to be fraudulent, there are a few things to be done against immigration fraud. While you cannot claim for a refund, the office of MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) of Australia will lodge a complaint on the agent, if you complain. When you find the agent to be unregistered, you can file an online report. Moreover, your application is not affected because of complaining to the authorities. Instead of getting scammed by rogue immigration agents, it is always a wise decision to search for information on the official website of the government of the concerned countries.

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