Lola Akinlade, a Nigerian student who came to Canada to study, is being asked to leave the country by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) due to a fake acceptance letter she unknowingly used to obtain a study visa and work permit.
Akinlade, who earned a diploma in Social Services from Nova Scotia Community College in 2019, shared her story with CBC News, revealing her shock upon learning that the acceptance letter she received in 2016 was fraudulent.
Akinlade, who holds a business administration degree from a Nigerian university, met a man claiming to be an immigration consultant. He offered to help her become an international student in Canada. Trusting his services, she provided her passport, university transcripts, and payment.
Months later, the agent gave her a study permit, plane tickets, and an acceptance letter from the University of Regina.
In December 2016, Akinlade flew to Canada, expecting to begin her classes in January 2017. However, during a stop in Winnipeg en route to Regina, she received a call from the agent informing her she was on a
waitlist.
Undeterred, Akinlade independently found a new school and was accepted into Nova Scotia Community College’s social services program, starting in September 2017.
Her troubles resurfaced when she lost her study permit due to the fake letter. Her attempts to secure a postgraduate work permit and a temporary resident permit were denied.
In March 2023, an IRCC officer informed Akinlade that they believed she knew the acceptance letter was fake “on the balance of probabilities.”
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Now facing deportation, Akinlade’s journey highlights the vulnerabilities international students can face when dealing with unscrupulous immigration consultants.
