Woman Alleges Immigration Firm Cheated Family of ₹16.8 Lakh Over Canadian Work Visas
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Satellite police register FIR against Ahmedabad-based immigration consultant who allegedly promised Canadian work permits within six months but failed to secure visas for three family members.
A 50-year-old woman from Bilimora has lodged a complaint against an Ahmedabad-based immigration consultant, alleging that he took ₹16.8 lakh from her family on the promise of arranging Canadian work visas for her, her husband and their son, but failed to deliver on the assurance.
The complainant, Rajeshree Panchal, approached Satellite police on October 9, alleging that Deepak Vinodbhai Upadhyay, who operated Bright Way Immigration Service from an office at Shilp Zaveri on Shyamal Cross Road in Satellite, had cheated her family after promising to facilitate their migration to Canada.
Family Approached Firm After Seeing Instagram Advertisement
According to the complaint, the family came across an advertisement on Instagram in 2024 claiming that the immigration firm could arrange work permits within six months. Rajeshree and her husband, Rajeshkumar Panchal, subsequently visited the firm's office to enquire about visas for themselves and their son.
The complaint states that Upadhyay quoted ₹23 lakh for the work visa process for all three family members and assured them that they could move to Canada within six months. He allegedly promised to return their money if the process was unsuccessful and said he would provide offer letters before accepting payments.
Family Pays ₹16.8 Lakh in Multiple Transactions
Rajeshree alleged that she began transferring money after receiving an offer letter. On November 25, 2024, she transferred ₹5 lakh from her HDFC Bank account to an account provided by Upadhyay. She allegedly made another payment of ₹5 lakh on December 26, 2024, followed by further payments, including ₹1.25 lakh in September 2025 and ₹31,827 through her husband's credit card in December 2025.
The family also incurred expenses while travelling to Mumbai for biometric appointments. On two occasions, their biometric procedures allegedly could not be completed. During one visit, Upadhyay reportedly told them that the required courier had not arrived.
The family eventually completed the biometric process on December 12, 2025, after receiving another appointment.
Visas Not Issued Despite Payments and Biometric Process
According to the complaint, the family spent ₹17,281 on one of the unsuccessful trips to Mumbai, an amount Upadhyay had allegedly agreed to reimburse.
Rajeshree alleged that despite making payments and completing the biometric procedure, the family did not receive the promised Canadian work visas. She claimed that the family paid a total of ₹16.80 lakh towards the process, but Upadhyay neither arranged the visas nor facilitated their migration to Canada.
Satellite Police Register Case
Satellite police have registered a case against the immigration consultant, and further investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of the transactions and examine the allegations.
