The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has flagged over 10,000 fraudulent foreign student acceptance letters this year. These numbers mark a notable 30% rise in fraudulent foreign student acceptance letters compared to the previous year.
BusinessDay reports that these letters, submitted as part of study permit applications, have come under rigorous scrutiny following enhanced checks by Canadian immigration authorities, as reported by The Globe and Mail.
Bronwyn May, the Director-General of the IRCC’s International Students Branch, noted that the verification process has revealed extensive misuse of fraudulent documents.
“Since we began verifying acceptance letters from colleges and universities over the past year, we have intercepted more than 10,000 potentially fraudulent letters,” May said in a statement to the House of Commons immigration committee last week.
Recent investigations have revealed an alarming rise in fraudulent foreign student acceptance letters, prompting action from Canadian authorities. Over the past 10 months, IRCC checked 500,000 acceptance letters, confirming that 93 per cent were genuine.
However, two per cent of these letters were found to be entirely fake, and one per cent of applicants had their placements at Canadian institutions cancelled.
Several factors contribute to this increase in fraudulent documents. Firstly, IRCC has intensified its scrutiny of applications, making it more challenging for fraudulent documents to go unnoticed. Secondly, Canada’s growing popularity as a leading study destination has led to a surge in international student applications, creating more opportunities for scammers.
Also, organised crime syndicates are increasingly involved in producing high-quality counterfeit documents, further exacerbating the issue.
To counteract this growing threat, IRCC has implemented several measures. The agency is directly contacting educational institutions to verify the authenticity of acceptance letters. IRCC officers are also closely examining documents for inconsistencies, red flags, and signs of forgery.
Additionally, the agency is collaborating with foreign governments and law enforcement agencies to identify and address fraudulent activities.
According to Bronwyn May, the Director-General of IRCC’s International Students Branch, the verification process has uncovered widespread misuse of fraudulent documents. This issue highlights the need for continued vigilance and stringent measures to protect the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
According to the IRCC, while the majority of international students are genuine and make positive contributions to Canadian society, the presence of fraudulent applications threatens the integrity of the system.
The IRCC has, therefore, reinstated its dedication to protect the immigration system by ensuring that only legitimate students are granted visas.
The body advises prospective students that in order to maintain this standard, they are urged to exercise caution and conduct thorough research when selecting educational institutions.
Additionally, it is crucial to work exclusively with registered immigration consultants to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.
