"Lost in Migration" - The Star's good start

Taking a break from my Summer blogging vacation to alert you to a must-read series in the online version of the Toronto Star. "Lost in Migration" is a three-part series detailing the abuses rampant in the immigration "industry" in Canada, and in particular, by so-called Certified Immigration Consultants, who are overseen by the quasi-governmental Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC).

Having suffered a loss of thousands of dollars myself at the hands of a boilerplate consultant, it was great to see these individuals exposed for what many of them are.

Now, if only the Star would expose the capriciousness of the entire immigration process, we might really get somewhere. Here's an example: say your application is rejected. If so, you have the right to appeal. The appeal is heard by ONE appeals Minister, who is not required to take notes and no record is kept of the proceedings. The minister then makes a ruling, based on their recollection of the hearing (not based on evidence or fact). If the ruling goes against you, then you can appeal to the Federal Court. If the Federal Court agrees with your appeal, you would think that would be it - that you would be done and in...but not in Canada. In Canada, if the highest court in the land agrees with your appeal, then they send you back to the SAME appeals court that heard your case before, with the same lack of rules or accountability.

Investigate that, Star!