OFWs should have the option to use or not to use immigration consultants

[justconcerned]

I am speaking on behalf of an OFW here in Canada wanting to apply for Canada Immigration on her own efforts.  The Recruitment agency that processed her working permit is somehow forcing her to hire them as an immigration consultant for a fee of $2000.  Although she had advised the recruitment agency that she will do the application herself due to financial difficulties, her employer recently received an email from the recruitment agency advising not to provide any documents/support (such as recommendation letters, copy of Business License, etc) to her.  At this point, she is contemplating to hire the immigration consultant because she has no choice.  Any thoughts on this?  This is totally crooked !

[Leon]

I don't know the situation here but I think she should call CIC and ask them if she is somehow bound to apply through this consultant.  Did she sign some kind of contract with them to process her immigration as well?  I also don't think they have any business calling her employer.

[justconcerned]

Thats right Leon, they really do not have any business calling her employer.  Her relationship with the recruitment agency was strictly to get her the work permit and that would be it.  Immigration process is another phase.  In addition to this, there was a mention that this agency would ban the employer for a year from recruiting people through them.   Employer had no choice but to follow the request of the agency and not make available the said documents to the aspiring OFW. 

[Leon]

It certainly seems fishy.  She needs to find out about her rights.  In Alberta I know there is a special foreign workers hotline for people who are being pushed around by their employers.  There might be something like that too in her province although it's not really the employer that's pushing her around, it's the immigration consultant pushing both of them around.  She could also look for a newcomer/immigrant centre for advice.  She could also call CIC.  If she tells her story to them, they might have a problem with it.  You are supposed to have the choice of applying yourself.

[job_seeker]

I am speaking on behalf of an OFW here in Canada wanting to apply for Canada Immigration on her own efforts.  The Recruitment agency that processed her working permit is somehow forcing her to hire them as an immigration consultant for a fee of $2000.  Although she had advised the recruitment agency that she will do the application herself due to financial difficulties, her employer recently received an email from the recruitment agency advising not to provide any documents/support (such as recommendation letters, copy of Business License, etc) to her.  At this point, she is contemplating to hire the immigration consultant because she has no choice.  Any thoughts on this?  This is totally crooked !

Did she find the employer through the efforts of the Recruitment Agency? Because if that is the case then she might have agreed, either in principle or in writing, to let them process her papers for a fee. Otherwise, she has all the rights not to hire the agency. If she learned of the email from her employer, maybe the employer will support her when she process her application.

[job_seeker]

Thats right Leon, they really do not have any business calling her employer.  Her relationship with the recruitment agency was strictly to get her the work permit and that would be it.  Immigration process is another phase.  In addition to this, there was a mention that this agency would ban the employer for a year from recruiting people through them.   Employer had no choice but to follow the request of the agency and not make available the said documents to the aspiring OFW. 

This is sad. Looks like the employer's hands are tied in a way.

[Leon]

With PNP, the employer has to sponsor you to apply.  The employee has no absolute right to be sponsored but here it seems that she and the employer are both being blackmailed by the consultant.  I personally think the employer should cut this agency loose.  There are many other agencies he can use that are not crooked but who knows, maybe the employer is even in on it.  Maybe he's getting a cut in his fees for going along with it.

[justconcerned]

And so our poor OFW had chosen to go with the consulting agency, bearing the thought of paying them for services that she can actually do herself.   And simply because her employer had advised her to do so because they are ignorant of the whole process of immigration.  How hard could it be???  I actually got involved myself and sent an email to their employer requesting for the said documents.  I mean, how different is the document requested by this one individual as compared to the 20 to 30 people who had hired this immigation consultant for requesting documents to the same employer.  They are actually the same, all the empoyer had to do is change the name of each applicant.  anyway, just needed a place to vent... its all too late now.....  what a waste of money this is !!!!!

[justconcerned]

thats all folks