A Winnipeg man of Indian origin, Avtar Singh Sohi, is facing legal consequences for immigration fraud. He falsely claimed that a South Asian woman was working as a nanny for him when, in reality, she was employed elsewhere.
The woman had arrived in Canada on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is typically issued when there are no available citizens or permanent residents to fill a specific job.
Sohi provided her with fabricated pay stubs and documents to support her permanent residency application. This fraudulent activity earned him a $20,000 fine.
A related investigation implicated Avtar’s brother, Hartar Singh Sohi, who is an immigration consultant. An arrest warrant was issued for Hartar, although he had reportedly fled to India. The investigation revealed a scheme charging newcomers significant fees for permits to work in Manitoba.
Intriguingly, the case featured financial transactions, with the Sohi family allegedly depositing substantial sums of cash, raising concerns about money laundering.
Hartar Sohi also faced license suspension from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants for selling fraudulently obtained LMIA permits.
