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Safeguarding yourself from unscrupulous immigration |
With the advent of globalization and the technology taking over, everyone
dreams of travelling abroad and even plans to settle down and live a luxurious
life. It sounds so good to the ears, but, nothing comes easy in this world.
People put all their lifetime savings or sometimes sell their property just to
go to their dream country without knowing about the consequences they may face
there. For the immigration process, one needs to hire the services of an expert
immigration consultant and choosing the right one is not an easy job. Many
immigration firms provide fabricated information and promise sure shot visa and
work permit for guaranteed high-paying jobs in various countries. But most of
the times it all turn out to be a fraud. This reasons why individuals are
getting swindled out by these consultants is a direct result of ignorance and
unawareness about the transition process. Individuals blindly trust on the
consultant and get cheated.
Immigration consultancies are basically companies involved in the business of
providing solutions and smooth processing of migration permanently to a foreign
country. From shifting from one country to another for any kind of purposes like
a job, higher education, business or marital status requires a legal authority
and documentation. It can take much time if all the major formalities are done
by a person on their own. Also, these procedures may become complicated and
later turn into lots of serious troubles. So, to avoid such situations and
delays in the immigration process, people prefer to consult with immigration
consultants.
But sometimes these consultants can be proved as a fraud, because of which the
dream of settling to a foreign country can turn into a nightmare. There are a
number of examples, where immigration agents have proven to be fraud and the
hard earned money of many individuals have been drained out.
So, if you are planning for shifting to a new country and consulting an
immigration consultant for that purpose, then you must adhere to a few measures
mentioned below:
How to choose the right immigration consultant?
Travelling and settling abroad has been the ultimate desire for a major part of
the population. So, hiring a consultant to make this process convenient has also
become really popular. But, as it is said everything that glitters is not gold,
likewise, not all the consultants are worth your time and money. Following
pointers should be kept in mind while choosing the right Immigration consultant
who would turn your dream into a reality.
So-called connections dont work
Be very careful if someone claims to have connections or special influence with
any government official or agency. These people are outright frauds. Immigration
applications are decided based on merits of the case and not on the grounds of
connections that these consultants carry with a consulate or a visa officer.
Finding a registered Immigration consultant is easy
Whether you go to Australia, Canada, UK, and New Zealand or for that matter any
destination, only opt for registered Immigration consultants. Go to the website
of the company/firm whose services you are planning to hire because only a
registered consultant can get you a legal and fully documented visa. Your
antenna should immediately go up if a particular website does not carry the name
and registration number of the accredited agent working with them. You must
insist on seeking such details. Also, ensure that the service agreement that you
sign carries the name of the agent and his/her registration number.
Always sign a written service agreement and take a valid fee receipt from the
Immigration consultant whose services you are hiring. Never make the payment for
the Visa consultation fee without the agreement that does not define the scope
of services and the conditions for refund in case the visa does not get
approved. You should be extremely careful and must always avoid becoming a
victim of such a situation.
Another thing that should be taken care of is the mode of payment. NEVER make
the payment to the consultant in cash.
If you hire an immigration consultant, make sure they are practicing
legally
Another very important aspect of this whole process is the legal status of your
consultant. If an immigration consultant is assisting you with your case, make
sure they are registered to do so.
To verify that the registration number is valid and has not been revoked or
suspended, you must check the website of the relevant regulatory body. Checking
the legal status of your consultant is extremely important because if he is not
an authorized consultant the whole immigration process will be termed as
illegal.
Avoid signing blank Immigration application forms
Be certain while reviewing the form and make sure all the information is correct
BEFORE it is filed because once the application is filed there is no looking
back. More than anything else it is important that you never put your signatures
on forms that are nor filed and even empty pages for that matter. Also, do not
forget to take a copy of the form that is filed in your name.
Always get proof that shows that your applications have actually been
filed
Make sure your consultant provides you with a government filing receipt whenever
anything is being submitted in your name. Keep yourself updated with the
proceedings.
Dont rely on anyone to find you a sponsor or spouse to get a green
card
One of the biggest myths amongst the people is that they can get the residence
visa if they find a spouse or a sponsor. This is considered as an immigration
fraud and is completely ILLEGAL. If the authorities figure out that you are
lying about your relationship status only for the visa, they can cancel your
visa forever and could even lead to deportation.
So, before approaching any consultant do a comprehensive research about the firm
and beware of the fraud consultancies so that you will not get cheated. Make
sure that the consultant you are choosing has a good background of their work.
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