Youth fails to get Canada study visa, immigration firm to pay up | Chandigarh News

CHANDIGARH: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed HCFS Immigration Pvt Limited in Sector 34, Chandigarh, to pay Rs 17,000 as compensation to an Ambala resident for failing to send him abroad on study visa despite charging hefty amount. The firm has also been directed to refund Rs 2.60 lakh charged from him.

Shivam said in his complaint, “I had hired the services of the immigration company, which provided pre and post visa consultancy services for sending students overseas as per their eligibility profile, for getting study visa for Canada (Quebec). The company kept my passport and other documents for assessing my eligibility. It charged Rs 20,000 as assessment charges. After completing documentation, it asked me to wait for its call.”

In February 2018, the complainant received a call from the firm that his eligibility has been assessed and his profile approved for offer letter from Institute Teccart in Paralegal Technology.

“After the firm claimed to have executed contract of engagement for Canada (Quebec) study visa on March 9, 2018, I completed all the required documentation and fulfilled the financial eligibility by depositing the required amount,” he added.

The firm, however, never informed the complainant about the status of his visa. “I made several telephonic calls and visited the firm many a time, but was sent back on one pretext or the other. Then on June 5, 2018, I requested the firm to return my original documents and refund the amount paid. After repeated visits, it returned my documents in July, but asked me to wait for the refund. Thereafter, I did not hear from them,” Shivam said.

As nobody appeared on behalf of the immigration firm, the forum proceeded against it ex parte.

The forum observed, “Non-appearance of the immigration company shows it has nothing to say in its defence against the allegations. It is established beyond all reasonable doubts that the complaint is genuine and that the complainant has been made to run from pillar to post for no fault on his.”

It then directed the firm to pay up.