UPEI sees increase in fraudulent international student applications

The University of Prince Edward Island says it'sseen an increase in fraudulent international student applications.

Jerry Wang, the director of recruitment and international admissions at UPEIsays, he identifiednearly 50 fraudulent applications in the 2017-2018academic year.

Two years ago, he said, the university only hadten.

Wang attributes 60 per centof the fake applications he sees to students with lower marks whose grades are altered to meet the acceptance requirements at the university.

"Maybe because they were not academically strong. So they want to study,but they don't have the academic foundation," he said.

'We take extra vigilance'

Wang attributesthe rest of the fake applicationsto people trying to come to Canada illegally.

"For people who present fraudulent documents to try to get into another country, very often they're not serious students," he said.

"I guess they probably just want to work illegally. It's a much bigger topic than just studying."

But that trend doesn't reflect on the roughly 1,000 legitimate international students at UPEI, Wang said.

"The international students here at UPEI have added a lot to the community to make the community more vibrant, stronger and also richer."

But he said the work that it takes to filter out the fraudulent documents may delay those students who apply through the proper channels.

Wang saidhis 12 years of experience at UPEI have helped him spot fakedocuments, but hesaid identifyingthese applications adds a lot of extra work for himselfand his colleagues.

While UPEIhas provided the necessary supportsdue to the increase in theseapplications, the universityhas had to make changes in how it processes international applications, Wang said.

"It's a lot of work because, first of all with all the documents we take extra vigilance. We have to be very careful reviewing the documents."

'It makes it look like it's authentic, but it's not'

PhilipBelangeris the executive director for the council on articulations and transfer of New Brunswick (CATNB). The CATNB isa government agency which provides a link betweenpost-secondary institutions and government in that province.

He explained the motivation to falsely apply."You have those who say OK, I just want to take advantage of the opportunity to go to that country and do whatever I want ...So I [falsify]the document, I get through, I get my visaand then once I'm in the country I can do what I want."

When asked how officials know the intent of the applicantis not to study, but rather just get in the country,Belangersaid,"There are some stories that would lead to the interpretation that the intent might have been to illegally immigrate, such as being accepted by an institution and shortly after disappearing elsewhere unknown."

Belangerpoints to third party companieshe refers to as "diploma mills" to which fraudulent applicantspaymoney fora diploma or degree certificate. He saidtheyexacerbatetheproblem.

"It makes it look like it's authentic, but it's not."

He said these companies create concerns among institutionsand organizations across the country.

Immigration officials review university registrations

UPEIrelies on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for advice, Wang said.

In an emailto CBC News, IRCCwould notdisclose whether there isa fraudulent application trend associated with any particularlearning institution.

"Designated learning institutions (DLI's) are required to submit a compliance report to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada twice a year that verifies the academic and enrolment status of international students at their institution."

"The reports submitted by DLI's are reviewed after they are received and study permit holders who are no longer actively pursuing studies in Canada may be identified to the Canada Border Services Agency for possible enforcement action."

Wang said even if a fake application slips through the cracks and is accepted at a university, applicants still need to submitthrough IRCC to get their immigration documents.

"Through the different stations, it's a pretty rigorous system to make sure we have the qualified legitimate students," he said.

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