Proceed with caution amid Canada job scams
Dear Mr Brown,
I recently learned about the opportunity of getting a job in Canada via the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. I was told that I have to pay for a job, which I am willing to do, but first I would like to find out if this programme is legitimate.
— WP
Dear WP:
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is an immigration programme that allows employers in Canada’s Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) to hire foreign nationals for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally. The aim of the programme is to welcome more than 7,000 new immigrants and their families to the region by 2021 to fill gaps in the labour market.
Vulnerable to fraud
The AIPP is employer-driven, whereby applicants arriving in Canada must have a job offer from a designated employer and an individualised settlement plan. Once a designated employer finds a candidate who meets their employment needs and the programme criteria, that employer will need to first offer the individual a job.
Employers do not need to go through the usual process of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under this programme. The employers deal with prospective employees/immigrants directly, with little Government oversight. This aspect of the programme is supposed to be a benefit for both employers and prospective immigrants. However, it has the unintended result of making the programme vulnerable to fraud.
Employers that need to fill a job vacancy quickly, will have access to a temporary work permit so that the candidate and his or her family can come to Canada as soon as possible. In order to obtain this work permit, candidates will need:
• a valid job offer;
• a letter from the province; and
• a commitment to apply for permanent residence within 90 days of the temporary work permit application.
The programme also has lower language and education requirements for applicants than most other immigration programmes for Canada.
There have been several media reports regarding some recruiters charging Can$170,000 to secure fake jobs and permanent residency for immigrants, particularly from Asia.
In the scheme, employers are being paid off to hire someone for no pay or to simply forge their payroll. The immigrants are only required to pay the fee and work for six months without pay or fraudulent tax records are created for clients who choose not to work at the designated job. Cash payments ensure that the illegal scheme goes undetected.
A different region of Canada, namely the province of Saskatchewan, has also become the focus of immigration fraud through employment. Suffice to say, these employment recruiters are flooded with prospective clients who wish to migrate.
In light of these recent reports, one should proceed with caution regarding these sorts of employment schemes, in which one pays for a job because of their illegality. Moreover, I would expect a crackdown on such operations.
Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, The Study & Work program, Visas or Appeals, etc.
Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com.