Official visit by Canada to India, China and the Philippines facilitates cooperation on shared immigration concerns and the crackdown against immigration fraud

The Canadian government is urging officials in India, China and the Philippines to help Canada’s efforts to put an end to immigration fraud. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, is travelling to these countries to meet with ministers and officials responsible for immigration to discuss issues of common concern. These issues include immigration fraud, illegal immigration, human trafficking, the resettlement of refugees, and also Canada’s announcement to increase the number of Federal Skilled Worker immigrants.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is first visiting India where he will focus his meetings on the anti-fraud initiatives started in 2009. Immigration fraud has been a problem in India where fake document production and bogus applications are common. Minister Kenney is expected to ask for stronger law-enforcement against these “crooked consultants” with the argument that it will take longer for legitimate applications to be processed the more the Canadian immigration visa offices are inundated with fake documents, from fake marriage licenses to fake bank statements.

Minister Kenney said in a statement, “In 2009… Punjab officials indicated they shared my concern with this illegal activity and committed to crack down on crooked consultants. Since then, there have been media reports of a number of arrests in Punjab of crooked immigration consultants. I look forward to discussing progress made to-date and our continued cooperation on this issue.”

Minister Kenney’s visit to China and the Philippines will also focus on improving cooperation and collaboration on finding and then prosecuting crooked consultants, and on how Canada’s decision to increase the number of Skilled Worker immigrants will affect them.

In China, Minister Kenney is expected to make an announcement concerning international students.

In the Philippines, Minister Kenney will explain the new measures Canada is taking to protect live-in caregivers including giving them the most generous pathway towards permanent residency as compared to any other country in the developed world.

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s recent crackdown on crooked immigration consultants, please visit: Proposed new law will protect prospective immigrants and the Canadian immigration system