Tingting Biao lost everything, including hundreds of thousands of yuan in savings, in order to immigrate to Canada. Her daughter can only eat one meal a day, and it is a loaf of bread donated. Her dream of immigration was shattered, and she had to return home with her daughter penniless.
The dream of Emigrants became a nightmare.
Biao Tingting, in her 30s, comes from a city in eastern China. She and her husband originally worked in ordinary white-collar jobs in China. Although their lives were stable, they always felt that they lacked some opportunities. Canada attracts them with its high-quality education, medical care and multiculturalism, especially for the educational prospects of their daughter Jojo.
At the end of 2024, the couple began to study immigration routes, and learned about the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) through WeChat groups and Moments, which is a fast track for skilled workers.
“Friends say that there are more opportunities in the province of Saskatchewan, low cost of living, and that they can quickly get a PR (Mai Yekka),” said Boutin in an interview with CBC TV. In January 2025, their family of three tourist visas flew to Saskatchewan. At the airport, Jojo excitedly pointed to the snow-covered plains outside the window, shouting, “Mom, here is Canada!”
After landing, they quickly settled down and rented a simple apartment. Biao Tingting and his wife visit supermarkets and parks during the day and study immigration policies at night. Soon, a friend recommended June HR Solutions: "The boss is Chinese, reliable, and the procedures are fast." Biao Tingting dialed the boss Su Jun (June). Soviet army's voice was gentle and introduced himself in fluent Mandarin: "My husband is a licensed consultant, and I have many years of experience. We specialize in helping Chinese people take the passage of Saskatchewan, with a high success rate."
June HR Solutions offices
The first meeting was in the company’s office. June HR Solutions was located in a stunning commercial building in the outskirts of Saskatchewan, with a small wall filled with photos of “success cases.” The Soviet army presented a visiting card, called itself an “assistant advisor” and presented Liu’s husband’s CICC (Canadian Academy of Immigration and Citizenship Advisors) license. The couple were convinced that they were Chinese, not crawlers; the company was licensed, professional and reliable.
The contract was signed quickly. The document details the payment plan of C$110,000: the first contract fee of C$20,000; C$20,000 after the successful LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment); another C$20,000; and the rest will be paid in stages for subsequent permanent residence steps.
Su Jun explained: "This is a standard process. First, you can get the LMIA to prove that you have a job opportunity, then you can transfer the job visa, and then you can go through the SINP nomination." Biao Tingting and his wife spent all their savings and borrowed money to pay the first batch of 20,000 Canadian dollars. On Jojo's birthday, they bought a small cake to celebrate: "Soon, we will be able to settle here."
After the contract was signed, Biao Tingting and his wife's life entered a "waiting mode". The Soviet army guided them through WeChat to prepare materials: resumes, academic certificates, and family photos. Biao Tingting recalled that in those days, she swiped the official website of the Canadian Immigration Service (IRCC) every day, fantasizing about her daughter going to a local school.
The first milestone is LMIA. The Soviet army helped them contact a catering company with the position of "kitchen helper". In March 2025, LMIA approved it-positive results! Biao Tingting excitedly paid the second instalment of 20,000 Canadian dollars. The Soviet army sent a celebrating emoji on WeChat: "Congratulations! With the next work permit, you will be able to go to work soon."
But problems quickly surfaced. Immigration lawyer Richard Coland analyzed in CBC report that this LMIA was "doomed to failure". Kitchen assistants belong to NOC (National Occupational Classification) Category C jobs. At that time, SINP in Saskatchewan required at least Category B skill level. This position does not lead directly to permanent residence. What's more, LMIA is only a document for the employer to prove that "there is no suitable candidate in the local area", not an employment guarantee.
The Soviet army instructed them to submit applications for work permits, stressing that "materials must be consistent and show a weak willingness to return." In the application, they listed "family contacts" in Canada, but ignored the initial intention of tourist visas.In May 2025, the IRCC refused the letter: "It was uncertain that the applicant would leave Canada after the expiration of the temporary work permit," and noted that the details of the application were inconsistent and the purpose of the visit was unknown.
Biao Tingting was shocked. She rushed into the office of June HR Solutions to question, but the Soviet army calmly suggested, "Don't worry, this is a common problem. Let's take the alternate route-investment immigration in Yellowknife Town." The Soviet army said that if you invest 80,000 Canadian dollars to open a local shop, you can apply for an investment visa and transfer to permanent residence. When Biao Tingting and his wife heard this, their eyes lit up: Huangdao Town is the capital of Northwest Territory, with a beautiful environment and many opportunities.
But lawyer Colander revealed that this was misleading again. The threshold for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program is extremely high: an investment of more than $200,000, fluent English, rich business experience, and proof of high net worth. Biao Tingting and his wife have nothing and are incompatible at all. The Soviet army's suggestion was purely a "high-priced detour" and the purpose was to squeeze more money.
At this time, the family had paid for $40,000, and the savings were exhausted.The rent and food expenses were overwhelmed and they could not breathe.Jojo ate only one meal a day, and the family could only go to the church to receive the donated bread, and my daughter was hungry and asked me, ‘Mommy, when will we go home?’
Biao Tingting's contract with June HR Solutions. The contract stipulates that Biao will have to pay a total fee of 110,000 Canadian dollars.
CBC reporters reviewed a copy of Biao Tingting's contract. This document is 20 pages long, written in both Chinese and English, and looks professional. Payment terms are detailed: 20,000 after LMIA, 20,000 after work permit, 30,000 after SINP nomination, and 40,000 after PR approval. The Soviet army claimed to "pay in stages and share risks", but there were tricks hidden in the detailed rules: no refund clause, vague definition of success, and agent disclaimer.
In a statement, the CICC pointed out that consultants would be charged a “fair and reasonable fee”, but no ceiling was set and no fees could be tracked. Similar to the normal process, the hiring of consultants cost only $5,000-1,000. Pintoin’s $11,000 is equivalent to 10 times the normal. Coland’s lawyer said: “It’s a failed plan to design a good pitman from start to end. Even if LMIA succeeds, the kitchen assistant can’t enter the SINP door.”
WeChat records further confirm the role of the Soviet army. She issued instructions on a daily basis: "Fill this form and say you have Canadian relatives." "Don't mention the country's plans and emphasize that you want to stay." These are direct immigration advice, but issued by the unlicensed Soviet army. The company's only licensee is husband Liu Jintao, but Liu has hardly met him. The Soviet army called Liu "lawyer Liu" in WeChat, but the Association of Lawyers of Sa'a confirmed that Liu practiced only in China, without the qualification of a Canadian lawyer.
After payment, Mr. and Mrs. Biao Tingting tried to terminate the contract. The Soviet army refused to give a refund, accusing them of "damaging their reputation". Biao Tingting had no choice but to call the police, but the police called it a "civil dispute" and suggested going to CICC to complain. Eventually, they packed their bags and returned to China in August 2025. At the airport, Jojo cried and asked, "Mom, aren't we coming back?" Biao Tingting forced a smile, "Baby, one day will come back."
What happened to Biao Tingting is not an isolated case. Canada's immigration counseling industry lacks supervision and has frequent problems.
CICC was established in 2019 with the aim of regulating licensed advisors (RCICs), but weak in enforcement. In 2024, the IRCC investigated more than 9,000 fraud cases per month, leading to thousands of applications rejected and permanent ban on entry. In March 2025, Immigration Minister Mark Miller declared at the Fraud Prevention Month: “We fight fraud, but no regulatory model can eradicate illegal advisors.”
In 2022, Vancouver consultant Lisa Lucien was accused of fraudulent dealing with dozens of immigrants, promising “New Crown Work Permit” as a PR route, charging more than $5,000 per person. The project was purely fictional and the victims were mostly Latin American and Chinese applicants. In May 2025, Sarri city consultant Neila Agniotteri discovered a fake LMIA flood: fraudsters counterfeited documents, sold to foreign workers for up to $450,000. Victims included several Chinese chefs, dreams broken.
Saskatchewan is not a pure land either. In July 2025, the CICC revoked the licenses of several consultants, including Mara Sharma Singh of Ontario and Rich Kumar Mittal of Alberta. They charge fees in violation of regulations and mislead customers. China students are vulnerable: In 2023, IRCC seized 1485 cases of false admission letters, 85% of which involved India, but China and Vietnam students accounted for 10%. A China girl paid C$20,000 to be admitted to a "ghost school" but was later refused a visa, causing her psychological trauma.
The chaos of charges is even worse. Biao Tingting's 110,000 is far beyond normal. In 2019, WonHonTa Company in Toronto sold a "buy a job" plan to Chinese applicants: 170,000 Canadian dollars to buy a fake position and pay out-of-pocket salary. CBC undercover investigation revealed that the company used WeChat to operate, specializing in pitting Chinese. Lawyer Coland said: "The industry is like the Wild West, with arbitrary pricing and no upper limit. Immigrants are weak and don't know the market."
After Biao Tingting's family returned to China, their lives fell to the bottom. 40,000 Canadian dollars is their ten-year savings, and the debt hole has not been filled yet. Biao Tingting told CBC reporters that she had nightmares every night, in which she was still crying on the streets of Saskatoon. When her husband shook her up, there were still tears on her face.