Fraud awareness

Immigration fraud is a crime that can take many forms. It is committed by applicants by intentionally misrepresenting themselves or by providing false information to gain an advantage in the immigration process. It is also committed by employers and representatives - both authorized and unauthorized - by providing fake job offers, falsifying documents, or misrepresenting services to exploit individuals seeking to immigrate. These fraudulent actions undermine the integrity of the immigration system, and can lead to severe consequences for those involved in committing them.

BC PNP applicants, employers, and immigration representatives have a responsibility to ensure that they are acting in accordance with the law at all times. If you are an applicant, you must ensure that the information provided in your application is truthful, complete, and correct. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information used in your application even if you chose to hire a representative to assist you.

Please note: Applicants do not need to hire an immigration representative to apply to the BC PNP. Applicants who choose to do so must ensure that their representative is licensed and authorized, even if they are located outside of Canada. See the Using a representative section for more information.

Anyone connected to a BC PNP application who lies, embellishes, exaggerates, or intentionally leaves out information is participating in misrepresentation and committing fraud. This includes applicants, employers, representatives, consultants, and lawyers who withhold, conceal, or provide information or documentation that they know - or ought to have known - to be false or misleading.

Examples of misrepresentation include, among others:

• Applicants lying about their work history or credentials
• Employers taking part in fake job offer schemes
• Representatives providing fake or altered documents.

If the BC PNP finds that misrepresentation has occurred as part of an application or nomination, the application or nomination will be refused or cancelled. Similarly, in accordance with provincial legislation, the BC PNP may refuse to accept applications for a period of up to 2 years from an applicant and/or employer found to have participated in misrepresentation or fraud.

To learn about provincial legislation that govern the administration of the BC PNP, see the documents below:

Provincial Immigration Programs Act 
Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation (PDF, <1MB)

Hiring an immigration representative is not required to apply to the BC PNP. All the necessary application information are available for free, and you can complete the application process yourself. In addition, using a representative does not give your application special attention, nor guarantee that it will be approved.

If you choose to use a representative, make sure that they are licensed and authorized even if they are outside of Canada. This means that your immigration representative must be one of the following:

• Licensed, and in good standing with, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
• A member of, and in good standing with, a Canadian law society
• A member of, and in good standing with, La Chambre des notaires du Québec.

If your representative does not fall under one of the categories above, you may be at risk. Working with an unlicensed or unauthorized representative can have serious consequences, which includes:

• losing your money
• having your identity stolen
• having your immigration application refused or cancelled
• being threatened with violence or extortion
• being barred from Canada.

If you choose to use the help of an immigration representative - whether paid or unpaid - you must disclose this information in your BC PNP application. If you do not disclose this relationship, it may lead to your application being refused.

Use of representative forms

BC PNP applicants who wish to use or change a representative must submit the following form to the program: Use of a representative form - applicant. B.C. employers who wish to use a representative in support of their employee's application must complete a separate form, Use of a representative form - employer, even if they are appointing the same representative.

Declaration and consent

By completing the use of a representative form, you and your employer (where applicable) have authorized the individual named on the form to represent you, or act on your behalf. This may include representation throughout the registration, application and assessment processes; communication with program staff; and the disclosure of personal or confidential information by the program to your representative.

Please note: the declaration in the online registration or application is your legal signature. If your representative enters the registration or application on your behalf, you should review the information being provided, as you are legally responsible for the accuracy of the form and its contents.

The BC PNP Online User Portal uses your personal email as the unique personal identifier for your profile. The email and contact information provided in your profile will be associated with the application in the system, and will be used by BC PNP staff for communicating final decisions. If you do not keep your personal contact information updated and, as a result, you do not receive or respond to important notices from the BC PNP, your inaction may result in the refusal or cancellation of your application or nomination.

At the program's discretion, the BC PNP may directly contact you or your employer to request additional evidence or information, to verify details of your registration/application and determine if you meet - or continue to meet - the program's requirements.

Be aware of dishonest representatives

In British Columbia, it is illegal for anyone to ask you for money in exchange for a job. No one can guarantee you a job, a provincial nomination, or a way to immigrate to Canada.

Some consultants, whether licensed or unlicensed, are dishonest. Unlicensed consultants are sometimes called "ghost consultants." Ghost consultants may ask you to keep your relationship with them secret from the BC PNP or the Canadian government. A dishonest consultant may provide you with fake documents, information, or jobs in exchange for money. These tactics may result in your application being refused, or your nomination being cancelled.

If you believe that your immigration representative is conducting themselves unprofessionally, you can file a complaint with the appropriate regulatory body. To learn more, see the Filing a complaint section.

* Unlicensed or unauthorized immigration representatives do not belong to a regulatory body. If you have been scammed by an unlicensed or an unauthorized representative, seek assistance by contacting the police department where the individual is located.

Please note: If your complaint is directly related to a BC PNP application, please also send this information to the BC PNP by emailing PNP.fraud.tips@gov.bc.ca.

Reporting non-BC PNP-related fraud

Governments and regulatory bodies in Canada have implemented measures to combat fraud, including investigating and prosecuting those who violate immigration laws. For example, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) regulates and disciplines authorized consultants, while the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) investigate and prosecute fraud. 

If you have information about immigration fraud in Canada (that is, fraud that is not related to the BC PNP), please report this information to the CBSA.

Examples of immigration fraud in Canada include:

• People who have overstayed their status in Canada
• People who are working or studying in Canada without authorization
• People who are wanted on an immigration warrant
• People who have entered Canada based on misrepresentation, or have made a false declaration or document fraud.

Reporting BC PNP-related fraud

If you have information about immigration fraud related to a BC PNP application, please report this information by emailing PNP.fraud.tips@gov.bc.ca. Provide as many identifying details about the person or the business as you can, including names, addresses, contact information, birth dates, and case reference numbers.

Examples of fraud directly related to the BC PNP include:

• fake job offers created by immigration representatives, employers, or applicants
• fake or fraudulent documents submitted with a BC PNP application
• applicants who lie about their work experience, credentials, or investment and financial holdings.

It is the policy and practice of the BC PNP to keep the identity and personal information of anyone who reports suspected fraud confidential. However, it is possible that your identity may be revealed and become known to the person(s) you are reporting on. If the information you reported is relevant to an administrative, civil, or criminal law proceeding, the BC PNP may be required by law to disclose the following information:

• the identity of the person reporting suspected fraud
• the contact information of the person reporting suspected fraud
• any information the person provides to the ministry.

Please note: if the potential disclosure of identifying information would place you at risk, do not provide it.

The BC PNP may also share fraud tips with other agencies as part of legal investigation or enforcement action. The information the program shares with other agencies may include the sender's name and contact information. If you do not want your name and contact information to be shared, please send the information anonymously.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the BC PNP protects personal and confidential information. Therefore, we cannot confirm or deny whether the person or the business you have reported on is in our system, nor can we share any information about any possible investigations, including their progress or outcome.  

Reporting email, telephone, and internet fraud

Email, telephone, and internet scammers can be very convincing (scammers are people who trick or lie to someone so they can steal something valuable, like personal information or money). They will use all kinds of tactics to try and defraud you. In many cases, scammers will send emails that appear legitimate and official, even using government logos. They will also make phone calls that seem like they are coming from government agencies.
 
Be careful if someone is asking you for money or your banking information. If you are unsure whether an email, a telephone call, or a website is a scam, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can help you make that determination.  
 
Please note: Canadian federal and provincial governments do not have special agreements with private companies to get jobs or visas on your behalf. Only the Canadian federal government can approve and issue documents that confirm immigration status in Canada.
 
If you have information about email, telephone, and internet fraud - including financial losses (suspected or confirmed) due to fraud - please report this information to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Examples of email, telephone, and internet fraud include:

• emails asking you to confirm receipt by “responding immediately” - and by responding, they will send you a second email promising more information and lots of benefits
• emails telling you that you were selected or chosen through an “electronic ballot system” for resettlement in Canada
• emails, phone calls, or websites that ask you to send personal information, money or prepaid gift card numbers, including scans of your photos and passports
• emails, phone calls, or websites giving you a “guaranteed” visa or immigration nomination.

For more information on fraud and scams, visit the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada news page, and the CBSA's Protect yourself against fraud page. 

Reporting Canadian citizenship fraud

If you have information about Canadian citizenship fraud, please report this information to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) by emailing IRCC.CitizenshipFraudTips-Fraudedecitoyennete.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.

Examples of Canadian citizenship fraud include:

• people who pretended to live in Canada to become a citizen
• people who hid information about their Canadian citizenship case.

Reporting Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud

If you have information about LMIA fraud, you can contact the National Investigative Services, Integrity Services Branch of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through Service Canada:

• By phone: 1-866-602-9448
• In-person: Find a Service Canada Office 
• By mail:

National Investigative Services, Integrity Services Branch                                                                                                   Service Canada                                                                                                                                                                               165 Hotel-de-Ville, 6^th Floor                                                                                                                                                         Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J2 Canada

You can also report LMIA fraud tied to the abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), or temporary foreign workers abusing the TFWP:

• Online: through ESDC's online form
• By phone: 1-866-602-9448
• In person: Find a Service Canada Office 
• By mail:

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Branch                                                                                                               Service Canada                                                                                                                                                                        140 Promenade du Portage                                                                                                                                                         5th Floor Box 520                                                                                                                                                                         Gatineau QC K1A 0J2 Canada