Brijesh Mishra – who is charged for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a licensed immigration agent and defrauding Indian international students by providing them with fake college admission letters to study in Canada – appeared in the Vancouver provincial court on August 8, 2023. 

Mishra had been sharing a rental house with five other people in Surrey, British Columbia, living under the radar from authorities in both India and Canada. 

He had managed to enter Canada in October 2022 through the American border, and his visitor visa expired on April 16, 2023. 

However, his second attempt at the same led to his arrest by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) – six weeks after an immigration warrant was issued for him in May. 

In March 2023, it was reported that hundreds of international students from India (mainly from Punjab) – and many of whom were victims of Mishra – faced deportation from the country after having worked and studied in Canada for years at times. 

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Most of these students claimed that they only found out about having been defrauded after completing their studies and applying for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP). They thus took to the streets to protest this announcement for more than two weeks in May. 

It was later declared by former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser that the students would not be deported, and could instead reside in Canada. 

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Following an immigration tribunal following his arrest, Mishra pleaded to be released and allowed to return home. However, his detention was upheld by the tribunal and awaited review set for June 23. 

After thorough review of his case – and following information provide to the CBSA about Mishra’s status in Canada and alleged involvement in activities pertaining to misrepresentation as an immigration counsellor – an investigation was launched. 

On June 23, 2023, five charges were issued against Mishra under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). They are as follows:

• IRPA Section 91(1) Unauthorized Representation or Advice for Consideration – one count
• IRPA Section 126 Counselling Misrepresentation – one count
• IRPA Section 127(a) Misrepresentation (Direct or Indirect Misrepresentation) – one count
• IRPA Section 127(b) Misrepresentation (Communicating False Information) – one count
• IRPA Section 124(1)(a) Non-Compliance with the Act – one count

“Our government is taking action against those who are responsible for fraud while protecting those who’ve come here to pursue their studies,” said Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino. 

“I want to thank CBSA’s criminal investigators for their hard work protecting Canadians and those who hope to come here.”