No check on immigration consultants

Despite an alarming rise in visa fraud, the government of Pakistan has not made any law to register immigration and educational consultants, Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to information provided by Federal Investigation Agency, all the educational and immigration consultants who have been booked and tried have not held any registration or licence issued by the government of Pakistan. “Though some are registered with foreign countries but such registration has nothing to do with Pakistan law. Capitalizing the legal lacuna, these consultants are on loose to cheat and rip off the people,’ the sources added.
A senior FIA official said that the law was silent on the issue and it was surprising that despite thousands of complaints being received by the FIA of citizens being swindled off million of rupees at the hands of educational and immigration consultants, neither the provincial governments nor central government had initiated process to regularize the business by laying down specific rules and regulations.
A million rupee business: Reknowned jurist Barrister Zafar Ullah told Pakistan Today that immigration and educational consultancy had emerged as well-established business bearing million of rupees over the decade. However, it was regretful that this growing business was still unregistered, he added. He advised that specific law was dire need of hour to purge it from fraudulent elements.
As per rules exercised by foreign countries, consultants must be qualified in the relevant field and a person engaging in the business or acting in the capacity of an immigration consultant must satisfactorily pass a background check conducted by the state. Rules said that prior to engaging in the business or acting in the capacity of an immigration consultant, a person must obtain a surety bond from a corporate surety.
“Consultants are not authorized to give legal advice on what immigration benefit you may apply for or give you advice on what to say in an immigration interview or claim to be qualified in legal matters or in immigration and naturalization procedure or charge considerable fees. They may only charge nominal (inexpensive) fees as regulated by state law,” rules explained. Rules also said that immigration consultants provided only immigration assistance including services such as assistance with filing applications and petition, helping to gather required documentation or translation and eventually proper submission. However, in Pakistan, consultants publicize through media ads ‘hundred percent guarantees’ for educational or immigration placement.
They also offer incentives like a “money back guarantee”. Some bring customers on-board by telling them to submit the payment after the job is done. Trickster consultants also offer to arrange bank statements, IELTS or TOFFEL (English language Tests), fake experience letters, educational documents and job placements and then charge hefty amounts. Immigration Expert Azhar Shahid said educational and immigration consultants working any part of the country were unqualified, uncertified and unlicensed.
“Most of them even do not basic knowledge to document the application. They rent out a well-furnished room in plaza where female receptionists and secretaries are placed to show themselves busy on computers or laptops.” “Pretending to be seasoned expert, they show green pastures to client. Often cases are taken on the basis that consultants will prepare fake documents and therefore they charge more than Rs. 1.5 million to Canada immigration, Rs. 2 million to UK or US and Rs. 1 million to EU countries,” he added.
Consultants or human traffickers: Pakistan Human Right Commission official said that majority of consultants were human traffickers charging Rs 100,000 to Rs 250,000 for the preparation of fake documents/work permits and visas to different countries for education and immigration. She said that the UK and some other countries had complained to the government of Pakistant that study visas /documents of a number of students (from Pakistan) in the recent past had been found either fake or incomplete. “The money collected by consultants as admission fee was also being transferred abroad through illegal channels,” she added.
Foreign Affairs Standing Committee Member Col (r) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that with trend to go abroad increasing visa applicants and visa agents/consultants are adopting the wrong means. He said that all efforts were being made to hold the culprits involved in these types of illegal activities. He promised to discuss the issue in the next foreign affairs committee meeting since the matter brought the country disrespect.
Blacklist issued: It would be of interest to know that the Canadian government recently issued a blacklist of fake immigration consultants in Pakistan. This list includes the details of hundreds of bogus Pakistani immigration agents and consultants operating mainly in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi using different names. Canadian authorities have asked Pakistani nationals to only apply for Canadian Immigration or work permits with CSIC licensed immigration agents only.
Canadian authorities claim as many as 45 percent of the immigration agents who promote Canadian Immigration services in Pakistan are involved in fake activities which ultimately result into the loss of clients money and eventually leave their customers without an authorized Canadian immigration visas.