Warning about fake Web sites

The web site (www.cic.gc.ca) is the official Web site of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. On this site, you will find the official procedures and kits necessary for applying for citizenship and immigration services and visas. Supported by Foreign Affairs Canada, Canadian missions and visa offices located outside of Canada operate Web sites that provide region-specific information on immigration and citizenship matters. Applications for visas to Canada (also available on Canadian mission and visa office Web sites) must be submitted to Canadian missions or visa offices.

Impostor Web sites are attempting to mislead members of the public into thinking that they are official sites of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC). These Web sites may attempt to charge you for services that are otherwise free on the CIC Web site or through the official Web sites of the Canadian missions and visa offices abroad. They may also try to charge you for services that you may never receive, or request that you pay their fees in cash by mail or by making deposits to personal bank accounts. These methods are contrary to the official procedures for the payment of CIC services. Sending any personal or biographical information to impostor or non-official Web sites could also result in identity theft or fraud.

Please always be careful when dealing with an organisation which uses free internet mail services. Finding out who you are dealing with can be very difficult and sometimes impossible. Beware of any foreign-based representatives who promise that you will get a visa, obtain citizenship or get special treatment from the Canadian government by using the representative's services. Such companies or individuals may be outside the reach of Canadian law.

Web sites operated by accredited immigration representatives provide legitimate and useful immigration information and services. However, regardless of the content of any other Web sites, CIC does not endorse, recommend or sponsor any information or material posted at such sites.

You should not be afraid to ask the representative for references and proof of membership in the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), a Canadian law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

Private immigration consultants are regularized in Canada and have to be member of the CSIC. To ensure the competent and professional conduct of its members, the Society has also developed a strict code of conduct with its Rules of Professional Conduct by which all its members must abide. You can verify a consultant membership at the following website:

http://www.csic-scci.ca/indexE.html

Note that CIC cannot recommend representatives or vouch for their honesty or skills.

For more general information about representatives please see:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/consultants/index.html