Ontario Imposes Record Penalties on Unlicensed Immigration Consultant — $66,000 Fine Highlights Tougher Enforcement
Ontario’s provincial nominee program has stepped up enforcement against unlawful immigration practice, issuing significant financial penalties and banning orders in a wide-ranging integrity sweep. In its most recent enforcement bulletin, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) disclosed that 18 individuals and organizations have been penalized so far in 2025, for a combined total approaching half a million dollars.
The most notable sanction announced is a cumulative $66,000 in administrative penalties levied against one unlicensed consultant, Jaskaran Jit Singh — imposed across seven separate orders issued in April 2025. The size and frequency of those fines make this among the largest penalties ever recorded against an unlicensed immigration representative in the province.
A pattern of contraventions: Seven orders, $66,000 in fines
The OINP’s contraventions list reveals that Jaskaran Jit Singh received seven separate administrative monetary penalties between 11 and 26 April 2025, all relating to Contravention #8 — representing or advising clients without proper authorization. The individual penalties were issued on multiple dates and add up to $66,000, the details of which indicate repeated and persistent unauthorized practice.
The breakdown of orders recorded in OINP’s bulletin is as follows:
- April 11, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $17,000
- April 24, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $2,000
- April 25, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $5,000
- April 25, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $8,000
- April 25, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $17,000
- April 26, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $15,000
- April 26, 2025 — Contravention #8 — $2,000
Total: $66,000
OINP states that many of these orders were issued for operating without a licence and for providing misleading representation to applicants — activities that undermine program integrity and place vulnerable newcomers at risk.
Enforcement sweep: 18 individuals and entities sanctioned in 2025
The October 21 enforcement update lists a range of penalties and banning orders covering both licensed representatives, unlicensed advisors, employers and applicants. Highlights from the provincial summary include:
- Two administrative penalties of $150,000 each were issued (one to a licensed representative and one to an immigration consultancy firm).
- Financial penalties and banning orders have been issued to representatives who failed to meet their obligations or who provided misleading information.
- Several applicants received banning orders of three to five years for providing false or incomplete information.
A partial, representative list from the OINP release (name — role — date — action) includes:
- Calvin Kwan Wai Chan — Representative (RCIC #R528382) — Jan 29, 2025 — Administrative penalty $150,000
- O’ Canada Immigration Services Ltd. — Immigration Consultancy — Jan 29, 2025 — Administrative penalty $150,000
- Rohit Jayaprakash — Unlicensed Representative — Feb 7, 2025 — Administrative penalty $2,899
- Multiple applicants — Banning orders of three to five years for contraventions relating to false or misleading information
- Ravjot Singh — Representative (RCIC #R533527) — administrative penalties and later a banning order totaling $33,000 in penalties and bans
- Fei Gao — Representative (RCIC #R518045) — Administrative penalty $82,000
- Ling Yun Chen — Representative (RCIC #510226) — Administrative penalty $10,000
Taken together, the 2025 sanctions reported by OINP amount to approximately $491,000 in fines and mark a clear escalation in enforcement intensity.
Why OINP is increasing enforcement
The OINP frames its actions as part of a broader “program integrity” initiative designed to:
- Deter unlicensed practice and fraudulent advice;
- Protect legitimate applicants from exploitation;
- Preserve fairness and transparency in the nomination process.
To these ends, Ontario has expanded the tools available under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. Recent regulatory changes empower OINP to levy higher monetary penalties (up to $150,000 per contravention), publicly name offenders and issue immediate bans for serious misrepresentation.
Officials say these measures respond to an increase in demand for provincial nominations and a corresponding rise in unregulated immigration consultants who may promise guarantees, speed or improper outcomes.
Common grounds for orders
The OINP’s published reasoning for issuing orders in 2025 centers on failures to provide accurate, complete and non-misleading information. Typical contraventions include:
- Acting as a representative without authorization (contravention of subsection 14(1) of the Ontario Immigration Act);
- Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure application information was accurate and not misleading (Ontario Regulation 421/17);
- Neglecting to respond to disclosure requests issued under section 15 of the Act;
- Employers failing to disclose required information or submitting incorrect information in support of applications.
These breaches not only violate provincial regulation but can also materially affect the outcome of immigration applications and the integrity of the nomination stream.
Practical guidance for applicants and employers
The OINP bulletin reiterates practical advice for applicants and employers to avoid falling victim to fraud or misrepresentation:
- Always verify that your immigration representative is licensed and in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
- Avoid anyone promising guaranteed nominations, guaranteed timelines, or results that seem too good to be true.
- Keep meticulous records — retain contracts, receipts and all communications with representatives.
- If you suspect coercion, fraud or misconduct, report the behaviour to the program integrity team at OINP and to relevant regulators.
The OINP also warns that both applicants and representatives who submit false information risk severe consequences, including monetary penalties and multiple-year bans from program participation.
Expert reaction
Policy analysts and immigration experts have praised the province’s transparency in publicly listing contraventions. Observers say naming offenders helps deter misconduct, aids victim protection, and sends a stronger message that unlawful activity will be exposed and penalized.
One Toronto-based analyst described the $66,000 combined fine against the unlicensed consultant as “a clear, punitive signal” intended to dissuade others from profiting off newcomers through illegal practice.
What this means going forward
Ontario’s enforcement posture in 2025 signals sustained regulatory pressure on the immigration-advisory sector. With higher maximum penalties, public disclosures and a willingness to impose lengthy bans, the OINP is positioning itself as an active regulator aiming to safeguard program credibility and protect applicants.
Applicants and employers should take note: adherence to accuracy, transparency, and lawful representation is not optional. The province’s actions underscore an uncompromising approach to misrepresentation and unlicensed practice.
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