The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) notified the London Police Service of an issue involving English proficiency exams. The exams are standardized tests used to evaluate a student’s ability to use English in an academic context and are one of the qualifications required for acceptance into colleges and universities in Canada.
Some foreign students are unable to pass the exam so they hired a surrogate to write the exam on their behalf. When the surrogate attends the testing centre, they present a counterfeit passport that shows their picture along with the identification of the person that hired them. The surrogate would then write the exam and receive a passing score allowing the person that hired them to be admitted into a college or university. Once admission is granted, study permits are granted or extended with Immigration Canada.
The average cost for this service was approximately $7,000.
On March 7, 2014, three individuals were arrested and charged by the London Police Service for offences related to this scheme:
Alan YAN (25 year old male) of North York, Ontario
Li HUANG (39 year old female) of Richmond Hill, Ontario
Mengshi YUE (27 year old male) of Toronto, Ontario
All parties are charged with Possession of a Forged Passport, Possession of a Forged Document, Personation at Examination and Personation to Gain Advantage, contrary to the Criminal Code.
Li HUANG is also charged with Public Mischief – providing a false name to police to divert suspicion.
The CBSA will be reviewing any possible misrepresentation by students who have applied for study permits.
Further inquiries about this scheme should be directed to Canada Border Services Agency Media Relations at 905-803-2800.