A Winnipeg man, Balkaran Singh, 45, has pleaded guilty to misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act after creating fraudulent documents as part of his immigration consultancy. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported that Singh’s actions raised suspicions in January 2021.
At the Emerson, Manitoba border crossing, Singh attempted to obtain work permits for three non-citizens accompanying him, claiming he offered them jobs at a gurdwara— a Sikh place of worship—near Winnipeg. However, border officers denied the permits due to “multiple concerns and indicators” and subsequently referred the case to the CBSA’s criminal investigations section.
In December 2023, investigators executed search warrants at Singh’s home, his business, and the gurdwara, seizing a computer, several cellphones, and physical documents as evidence. The investigation revealed that Singh failed to adhere to the conditions outlined in several employment offers at the gurdwara and had created fraudulent documents for clients of his immigration consultancy.
Singh was charged in February with knowingly counselling misrepresentation, a criminal offense under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. On October 2, he pleaded guilty to one count of counselling misrepresentation.
As part of his sentence, Singh received two years less a day of house arrest, which includes restrictions on providing immigration advice, a curfew, and an order to complete 200 hours of community service. He was also fined $50,000.
