A Vancouver woman has been accused of defrauding dozens of migrants with promises of a pathway to permanent residency in Canada through an immigration program that doesn't actually exist.
Liza Lucion's registration as a licensed immigration consultant was suspended indefinitely this summer in the face of numerous complaints from former clients who claim they were scammed, and she is the subject of a proposed class action lawsuit making similar allegations.According to an amended notice of claim filed in October in B.C.
"I'm always in touch with people that hired Liza, and I would say that the common feeling that we have ... it's about losing time," Barrios said — time that could have been spent with aging parents back home or going through legitimate immigration channels."We were waiting and waiting and waiting for so long — waiting for something that wasn't going to arrive.
"She is being unjustly vilified by this group of complainants as no fraud has been proven, it is only alleged. … It is most likely that they misunderstood what she told them and have been encouraged by others to make this vicious attack on her business and reputation."Samuels alleged that Barrios breached his retainer agreement with Lucion and did not cooperate with the immigration process, despite her "best efforts" to help him.
Her husband Garcia's response to the claim denies any involvement in providing advice about immigration programs or promoting them. It says that while he sometimes provided Spanish-language translations for his wife, he was "simply facilitating communications between parties and was not himself a party to the communications."Lucion's licence as an immigration consultant wasin an interim order in July, and she was ordered to pay $10,000 in costs.
The two documents show that several former clients allege Lucion hosted group information sessions where she claimed that foreign nationals living in Canada could apply through her to a new government program. She allegedly guaranteed open work permits if the clients retained her services."When this did not happen," Heakes's decision says, "and some of these former clients complained to Ms. Lucion, and asked for repayment of their fees, Ms.
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