Immigration consultant was misleading: student

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Immigration consultant was misleading: student

Updated Mon. Jul. 9 2007 10:48 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The future of a foreign student who wanted to stay in Canada is uncertain after he said he was the victim of misleading information provided by an unscrupulous immigration consultant.

Tarak Shah came from India to Canada four years ago as a student and he liked the country so much that he wanted to stay. Shah sought out the services of an immigration consultant to assist him in the application process and said he was given misleading information.

However he was advised to apply for refugee status rather than attempting to extend his study permit.

"He just misguided me. (The immigration consultant) said claim refugee (status)," Shah told CTV's Canada AM.

Shah's refugee claim was denied and he's now awaiting a removal order. According to Shah's immigration lawyer, Ravi Jain, his situation is hardly uncommon and has irrevocable consequences.

"Unfortunately, there's no way he'll be ever to get a study permit or work permit again because those are categories that require temporary intent," Jain said. "But he showed the government that he wants to immigrate permanently in this country, so he'll never be able to get it again."

Jain said that if Shah had instead applied for a study permit extension he could have eventually gained landed immigrant status. Instead, he said that Shah's life had been "destroyed."

Jain said that more information needs to be readily available for people who want to become citizens of the country.

"Immigration does not take it upon themselves to educate the public and it's unforgiving in situations like this," said Jain.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this series please email them to immigrationquestions@ctv.ca

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