A case of alleged immigration fraud involving a promised Canada work permit has surfaced in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where a family claims it was cheated out of ₹32.5 lakh by an immigration consultancy. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the consultancy’s proprietor on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust. The complainant alleged that the consultancy promised to secure a Canadian job and work permit for her daughter, a nursing graduate, but neither delivered the visa nor refunded the money.
According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Ghatlodia, approached the consultancy in 2023 after her daughter completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Acting on the recommendation of a relative, the family sought assistance in obtaining a Canadian work permit. The consultancy allegedly assured them that the candidate’s qualifications would make the process easier and quoted a fee of approximately ₹37 lakh, in addition to consultation charges.
The complaint states that in February 2024, the consultancy informed the family that a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) had been approved and requested an advance payment of ₹12.5 lakh to proceed with the application. The family transferred the amount through RTGS. Despite repeated assurances that the visa process was progressing, no tangible progress was made for an extended period.
In March 2025, the consultancy allegedly informed the family that the total cost of the visa process had increased to ₹39 lakh. The complainant stated that she subsequently paid ₹6 lakh in cash, ₹20 lakh through RTGS to another bank account provided by the consultancy, and ₹1 lakh through an online transfer to another individual, taking the total payment to ₹39 lakh.
The family later received what appeared to be a passport request letter and submitted the daughter’s passport at a visa application centre. However, when the passport was returned, an accompanying official communication reportedly stated that no application for a Canadian work visa had been processed. It was then that the family suspected they had been defrauded.
According to the complaint, when the family sought a refund, the consultancy issued several cheques, including one for ₹33 lakh. However, the cheque was dishonoured twice by the bank. The complainant subsequently initiated legal proceedings under cheque dishonour provisions before a court.
Police said the FIR alleges that between September 2023 and March 2025, the accused collected ₹32.5 lakh through bank transfers and online transactions but neither secured the promised Canadian work permit nor returned the money. The investigation is currently underway under provisions related to cheating and criminal breach of trust.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation, individuals seeking overseas employment, work permits, or immigration services should rely only on authorised agencies and official channels. Experts advise applicants to independently verify an agency’s licence, registration, contractual documents, payment records, and claims before making substantial financial commitments, warning that relying solely on verbal assurances or unofficial documents can expose applicants to significant financial fraud.
