Canada is the dream country for the young generation. People aspire to go to Canada and settle in that country for a better life. Many big immigration companies and consultants are trying to bluff innocent people about sending children to Canada on study visas by taking advantage of their dream. They are giving advertisements to attract students and trying to fool them. If you also wish to opt for a study visa option, beware of such frauds and think once as some Canadian colleges are facing a financial crunch and are on the verge to shut down after Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, three colleges have been shut in Canada’s Quebec. M College in Montreal, CDE College in Sherbrooke, and CCSQ College in Longueuil have all been declared bankrupt. These colleges collected millions of dollars in tuition fees from these students before closing. They were run by the same recruiting firm, Rising Phoenix International (RPI) Inc. Around 2,000 Indian students studying in these colleges. In India, over 700 students were enrolled in online programs. Their troubles have worsened as a result of the college's closure.
These three colleges, due to financial crunch firstly, announced a long winter vacation from 30th November 2021 to 10 January 2022. Later, they asked the students to deposit pending fees within a week. The fees ranged from Canadian $15,000 to $30,000 i.e., Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh. While some students deposited this amount, many failed to arrange this fee. Out of 2,000 students, nearly 700 students were pursuing their education from these universities from their home in Punjab.
The students who have been scammed are staging rallies to highlight their plight. Left with no option, they are demanding their money back.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has issued an advisory for Indian students stating, “Students should not make any payments or reveal their personal information to any unverified person/institution offering students visa on payment.”
Every year lakhs of students, skilled workers and job seekers leave Punjab in search of a better opportunity. Newspapers were filled with advertisements looking for a male or female who has done IELTS. Consultants and immigration companies take advantage of them, so be careful while you are planning to move abroad.