‘Weighing this hope of living in Canada’

A temporary foreign worker from China claims he fell victim to an illegal immigration system in Canada. Liang Fang, 43, travelled from Beijing to Winnipeg in March, believing he would work as a marketing specialist at a restaurant. However, he was instead hired as a waiter, according to his account.

Fang hired an Ontario-based immigration consultant in 2022 to help him gain permanent resident status in Canada. He signed a contract in November 2022 with the consultant, Ruiting Cao, who he said was a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. However, the college's register did not list Cao or the immigration firm, Yourland Immigration.

Fang alleges he paid the consulting firm $33,000 for his visa process. He claims he was paid partly in cash and directed to pay his own EI and CPP contributions. Following his arrival in Canada, the restaurant informed him he was only eligible for a serving position. Fang claims he was fired after going to the doctor for injuries sustained while working.

Fang's immigration consultant refused an interview, citing client confidentiality. However, They acknowledged that Fang's allegations included inaccuracies and omissions. Despite this, Fang's friends and landlord had previously warned him about the potential illegality of his situation. He has now filed a grievance with Manitoba Employment Standards and other entities, hoping to secure an open work permit for vulnerable workers.