Canada Warns of 5-Year Bans as Punjab Agents Peddle Fake World Cup Visas
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Canadian authorities have issued a stern warning to individuals considering purchasing fake visas from unscrupulous agents in Punjab, who are exploiting the upcoming FIFA World Cup to lure in potential clients. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there is no special visa for the World Cup, and visitors can only enter as tourists with either a standard visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). The warning comes as several travel agents in Punjab have started marketing packages that promise easy entry into Canada through the tournament. However, these claims are far from true, as Canada has not announced any policy allowing visitors to work on a tourist visa. In fact, the country has a special visa policy for the World Cup, but it's restricted to FIFA employees and special invitees who receive an official letter of invitation from the organization. Those planning to watch matches will still need to apply for tourist visas. Immigration consultant Kubeir Kamal has expressed concerns that unscrupulous agents will exploit this loophole, leading to mass visa fraud. "Agents across the globe are now openly selling Canadian visitor visas under the pretext of attending FIFA World Cup matches," he warned. The Canadian government has explicitly stated that events like the FIFA World Cup are not an avenue to seek asylum, and visitors must respect the conditions of their stay. Those who overstay their visas will face enforcement consequences, including a possible five-year ban. Kuljit Singh Hayer, president of the Punjab Travel Agents Association, has also spoken out against the misguiding agents, stating that securing a Canadian visitor visa is a challenging task due to strict restrictions imposed by countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, the US, and Mexico, with 13 matches taking place in Toronto and Vancouver between June 11 and 19. The participating teams include Germany, Croatia, and Belgium.
