How can you avoid Student Visa scams?

Visa fraud is not a matter of joke and may land you in immense trouble in a foreign country. However, every year many international students fall prey to fraud Visa agents. The problem is more rampant in countries which allow international students to work off-campus.

Fraud agents often lure international students by promising them a Visa which allows them to work overseas. However, Student Visas often allows a student to work only for a stipulated number of hours per day. International students often work more hours than what is allowed.

These Agents also tend to make promises for a Work Permit which is not true at all times. Many students become victims of such false promises and end up losing their hard-earned money.

Here are the warning signs to look for to avoid Student Visa scams:

1. Agents claim that you can work full-time without attending classes

The biggest warning sign is if an agent tells you that you can work full-time and do not need to attend classes. Some agents also claim that a Student Visa is just a means to get inside a country. You can then look for an employer who can sponsor you for a Work Permit.

Most overseas countries need you to enrol in a full-time course to grant you a Student Visa. Also, employers do not sponsor candidates who do not have a valid Visa or proper qualifications.

Never fall for such promises. A Student Visa is meant to acquire qualification and there are no shortcuts to a Work Permit, as quoted by Study International.

• What Agents say is different from the official websites

Always make sure to check the official immigration website of the country and also your University website. These websites have clear guidelines about whether you can work off-campus and for how long. If your agent is saying something else, then they are probably just lying.

Also, don’t get fooled if an agent guarantees your admission to a particular University before even applying. No University will guarantee you a place without an application or before receiving your documents.

• The University does not exist or is non-accredited

Make sure that you thoroughly check out the University that you are applying to. You have to be 100% sure that the University you are applying to is legal and an accredited one.

Red flags are when you cannot find enough information regarding its classes online. Also, if you do not find information regarding its alumni or its student organizations, it is better to steer clear of it.

• They can’t answer your academic-based questions

Your agent should be able to answer your academic questions like SAT,  GPA and course requirement. If they can’t, then there are high chances that they are trying to scam you.

A clear warning signal is an agent who talks more about the work opportunities in the country rather than your academics.

Y-Axis offers a wide range of Visa and Immigration products as well as services for aspiring overseas students including Study Visa for Canada, Work Visa for Canada, Canada Evaluation, Visit Visa for   Canada and Business Visa for Canada. We work with Regulated Immigration Consultants in Canada. 

If you are looking to Study, Work in Canada, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company. 

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