Forging documents for immigration to Canada
I assume every person understands forging documents for immigration to Canada is wrong. My intention is not to explain the obvious. However, this article explains the consequences of using fraudulent documents.
- What does this article cover?
- Defining “forging documents.”
- Inadmissibility
- Removal from Canada
- Criminal charges
- Let us help!
What does this article cover?
Forging documents for immigration to Canada covers any interactions with the immigration authorities. For example,
- Immigration applications
- TRV, eTA, or TRP applications
- Work permit or study permit applications
- Rehabilitation or ARC applications
- Refugee claims inside or outside Canada
- Citizenship applications
Of course, this list is not comprehensive. For example, you could add interactions with the Border Services Officers to this list. However, I hope this list gives you an idea of what is at stake.
What does “forging documents for immigration to Canada” mean?
Forging documents could refer to any of the following activities:
- Producing fake documents
- Altering an existing document by adding or removing information
- Falsifying information in the translation
- Hiding some pages of the document
Of course, the purpose of any of these activities is to deceive an immigration officer.
Inadmissibility
If a person forges documents for immigration to Canada, they may face inadmissibility because of misrepresentation. Generally speaking, a person who misrepresents becomes inadmissible to Canada for five years. Consequently, they may not remain in Canada, enter Canada or apply for temporary or permanent status within those five years. If you are not familiar with misrepresentation, click the following links:
Keep in mind inadmissibility because of misrepresentation does not affect Canadian citizens. However, a person who forges documents for becoming a citizen is not immune.
Removal from Canada because of forging documents
A permanent resident or a foreign national who forges documents inside Canada could face a removal order. A typical removal order for this group is a five-year exclusion order. Consequently, the person may not return to Canada for sixty months. Of course, sometimes could apply for an Authorization to Return to Canada.
Forging documents for immigration to Canada and Criminal charges
Another adverse result of forging documents for immigration to Canada is facing criminal charges. You may have heard about the American citizen who recently faced a criminal conviction because of forging documents. According to IRCC, this gentleman forged a work letter to enter Canada. Consequently, he is facing 12-month probation and a $2000 fine. While this conviction is significant, it is far away from the maximum penalty for such offences. Forging documents could result in up to five years in prison. The fines for this offence are up to $100,000. Of course, the Canadian court could impose a combination of prison time and fines. Moreover, if a person produces documents to enter Canada, they could face up to 14 years in prison.
The charges I’ve mentioned here are under the IRPA. A person could also face charges under the Criminal Code of Canada or other statutes.
Let us help!
If you face problems because of forging documents for immigration to Canada or other issues, contact us. The following form helps you to explain the situation. However, you may alternatively book an appointment with me.
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Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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