The Canadian Embassy in Dakar on Wednesday held a briefing session with Senegalese media to raise awareness about immigration fraud ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Emmanuel Lussier, Deputy Program Manager at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), outlined the heightened risks linked to the upcoming tournament—scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 cities with 48 teams and 104 matches—as well as increased travel flows, including direct connections to Montreal.
Identified fraud schemes include unauthorized consultants, visa-for-payment promises, fake job offers, falsified documents, and fraudulent websites mimicking official platforms. In 2024, more than 9,000 cases were reviewed each month in Canada, with 52,000 temporary visa refusals recorded in the first six months due to misrepresentation—representing a 100% increase compared to 2022, according to the official.
Sanctions for fraud-related offences include a five-year entry ban and fines of up to $1.5 million. Canada is targeting 485,000 permanent residents in 2024, 60% of whom are expected to be admitted under economic categories.
Additionally, 83.6% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec originate from Africa or the Middle East, with a target of reaching 12% francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2029.
Journalists were encouraged to direct the public to official sources, including the IRCC website, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, and the Anti-Fraud Centre.
SS/te/Sf/lb/as/APA