Maple News reports that Canada’s special immigration pathway for Hong Kong residents is facing scrutiny as several applicants have been accused of academic misrepresentation, including the use of ghostwritten essays and fake degrees. The program, launched in 2020, aimed to assist recent graduates from Hong Kong in acquiring permanent residence or open work permits following Beijing’s controversial national security law in the region.
According to Federal Court records, at least seven recent cases involved applicants being rejected for misrepresentation. Immigration officers raised concerns about plagiarized graduation papers, suspiciously quick degree acquisition, and a lack of basic knowledge in the applicants’ claimed areas of academic expertise. These red flags have prompted growing concern about the program’s vulnerability to fraud.
Some applicants reportedly obtained degrees from overseas institutions identified in previous investigative reports for enabling academic dishonesty. One Hong Kong applicant allegedly submitted her MBA thesis on the same day the degree was awarded, raising doubt about the legitimacy of her claim. Another failed to answer entry-level questions about his field during an immigration interview, reinforcing suspicions that a ghostwriter had completed his academic work.
The credibility of degrees from UK universities such as Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Chichester—mentioned in prior media reports—was also questioned. While the universities denied wrongdoing and disavowed association with degree-selling services, their names continue to surface in immigration inquiries.
Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland described the situation as an “administrator’s nightmare,” acknowledging the difficulty in distinguishing genuine credentials from fraudulent ones. Academic integrity expert Dr. Sarah Eaton from the University of Calgary warned that Canada’s current system lacks adequate regulatory oversight for detecting fake degrees and contract cheating.
In response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that new rules are underway. These include heavier penalties, up to $1.5 million, for immigration consultants who coach applicants to commit fraud. However, IRCC emphasized that these proposed changes are not directly tied to the Hong Kong cases.
Advocacy groups stress that the majority of Hong Kong applicants are honest and well-qualified. Calvin Wong from the Hong Kong Pathway Alliance noted that most participants in the program come with authentic credentials and make valuable contributions to Canada. Nonetheless, the recent cases highlight a broader issue of academic fraud in immigration and Canada’s capacity for thorough credential verification.
As fraud tactics become increasingly sophisticated, experts urge the government to adopt stronger vetting systems and international cooperation to maintain the integrity of Canadian immigration pathways.