The Government of Canada has warned visa applicants not to submit fake or fraudulent documents, saying immigration fraud can lead to serious legal consequences.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), thousands of applications are rejected each month due to immigration fraud. Applicants who are caught submitting fake or altered documents in a Canadian visa application may be legally barred from entering or remaining in Canada for at least five years.
The warning makes clear that applicants are responsible for all information included in their applications, even when a representative, interpreter, or another person completes the process on their behalf.
Canadian immigration authorities said false or altered documents can include passports, travel documents, visas, language test results, proof of employment, job offers, letters of acceptance, tuition receipts, transcripts, degrees, relationship documents, police certificates, court documents, and medical information.
The department also said lying about how long a person has been physically present in Canada when applying for permanent resident card renewal or citizenship is also considered fraud.
Applicants found to have submitted false information or documents may have their application refused. They may also receive a permanent fraud record with IRCC, lose temporary or permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship, be banned from applying for citizenship for five years, or be removed from Canada.
IRCC also warned against relationships of convenience, including marriages or common-law relationships created mainly for immigration purposes. It said officers are trained to detect false relationships through document checks, home visits, and interviews.
The department also identified chargeback fraud, where a visa application credit card payment is reversed, as fraud. This can lead to an application being cancelled, delayed, denied, or a travel ban of up to 10 years.
Authorities urged applicants to always provide genuine documents and avoid taking risks with false information. “Always provide genuine documents. It’s not worth the consequences,” the warning stated.
The Government of Canada said applicants should get the facts about immigration fraud before submitting their documents and should rely on official information when preparing a visa application.
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