Expats who do the immigration process on their own can have a high risk of refusal, especially when it comes to working visas in countries with several visa options. The Australian visa system, for example, is very strict—one wrong move can put an expat at high risk of refusal. Just in the years 2017-18, rejections have gone up by a massive 46.2% in the country. Many rejections come from applicants making little mistakes such as uploading the wrong documents or not uploading enough substantial evidence. Therefore, to avoid these mistakes, expats often hire a Migration Agent to ensure their application has all the evidence it requires before it is submitted. On the other hand, there are various cases when these agents were not regular, and their companies were fake.
Expats pay a lot of money for agents and agencies, and it is also important to remember that government fees are non-refundable. This means expatriates don't have their visas, lose a lot of money and have essential data and documents in the hands of criminals. Genuine immigration agents have often been working in the immigration system for years and know anything and everything to do with visa applications, but there are other criteria expats should be aware of when looking for immigration assistance.
What are the things to consider?
First, most of the governments' advice is that expats don't need to hire a company, a representative, a consultant, or a lawyer to help them with their application. And doing so will not get expats' application special attention or guarantee it will be approved. Of course, if the expat doesn't speak the host country's language, then the assistance might be very needed.
Many commercial or private websites offer immigration or citizenship services. Some promote legitimate representatives' services that expats will need to pay for. Others will offer false guarantees to take expatriates' money or steal their private information. To avoid getting scammed, the government of Canada, for instance, gives some advice for expats interested in moving there, although these tips may be applied to other countries as well.
A website might be a fake or a scam when:
- Expats are asked to pay to access application forms and guides. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) only charges fees to process your application. Forms and guides are free on the IRCC website.
- The website offers special, too good to be true immigration deals or guarantees entry into Canada, high-paying jobs or faster processing of your application.
- It looks like an official Government of Canada site, but it is only in one language and does not have the Canada.ca URL or a URL that ends with “.gc.ca.”
- Expats must provide personal information, financial information or make a deposit before you even start the application process.
- There is no padlock in the browser window or https:// at the beginning of the web address to show it is a secure site. Even if the site appears secure, be cautious.
- The website was advertised in an email from a stranger that expats did not ask for.
- Expatriates cannot reach anyone listed in the website's contact information, or the website has no contact information.
- The company's or representative's credentials cannot be found on the site. Paid representatives have to be authorized. This means they are a member in good standing of the designated body for their group.
What do expats have to consider before requiring assistance?
To avoid fraud, expats can do a web search to see if anyone has reported any problems with that site or agent. Also, they must have positive feedback from real people. Expats can read disclaimers, notices, and terms and conditions before doing anything. It is important to search for the comments on the services and maybe try to contact a successful profile. Expats should also contact the website owner by telephone or email before doing anything. They should not give out personal information unless they are sure the site is secure and they know whom they are dealing with.
Expats can reassure their browser is up-to-date to avoid scams and use browser filters that can help detect fake websites. Expatriates should beware of websites advertised in emails from strangers that they did not ask for. If expats choose to pay for a service, it is indispensable to understand what they will receive for their payment before accepting or signing anything. If expats come across a fraudulent website, report it to their country's Anti-Fraud Centre.
