Brijesh Mishra, the head of Education Migration Services based in Jalandhar, India, faces multiple charges, including Unauthorized Representation or Advice for Consideration, Counselling Misrepresentation, Misrepresentation (Direct or Indirect), Misrepresentation (Communicating False Information), and Non-Compliance with the Act.
The Canadian Border Services Agency has filed charges against Brijesh Mishra, the mastermind behind a fraudulent scheme that affected 700 international students from India.
Mishra, the head of Education Migration Services based in Jalandhar, India, faces multiple charges, including Unauthorized Representation or Advice for Consideration, Counselling Misrepresentation, Misrepresentation (Direct or Indirect), Misrepresentation (Communicating False Information), and Non-Compliance with the Act, the CIC News reported.
The charges stem from the revelation that these students were issued false letters of admission from Canadian educational institutions.
The fraudulent scheme came to light when these 700 Indian students, who had arrived in Canada between 2018 and 2019, completed their studies and gained Canadian work experience. As they sought to apply for permanent residency in Canada, CBSA officials uncovered the deceit.
The students had fallen victim to Mishra’s scam, as he charged them exorbitant sums of money under the pretense of facilitating college admissions and visa applications.
Since then, Education Migration Services has closed its office, and Mishra has evaded authorities, residing illegally in Surrey, British Columbia, after having his visa revoked for “ghost consulting” in 2019.
Meanwhile, two company co-directors have been arrested in India and denied bail.
To address the far-reaching fraud, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently announced the establishment of a special task force. The task force will conduct thorough investigations into each affected student, assessing whether they were aware of the deceptive letters they were presented with.
Those who were complicit in the fraud will face consequences, potentially leading to their removal from Canada. On the other hand, students deemed innocent victims of the scam will be granted temporary resident permits, allowing them to stay in the country.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will also collaborate with Designated Learning Institutions, provinces, and territories, as well as organizations representing Canada’s colleges and universities abroad, to bolster measures against future fraud. It also aims to strengthen the detection of fraudulent activities and protect the interests of international students seeking legitimate educational opportunities in Canada.
