Beware of pardon agencies online that have been fooling consumers that they are part of the government and scamming them out of thousands of dollars.
Here are 4 questions you should ask before starting a Pardon or US Waiver application online:
1. What is the total cost for the Pardon application? – remember to ask for the complete cost including the cost to prepare the application (Pardons Canada cost is approximately $800) and the cost to get the pardon approved by the government (always a $50 fee). Make sure there are no hidden fees and do not overpay for the application preparation.
2. How many years have you been in business? – there are many agencies that have popped up in the recent past. They simply don’t have the expertise or infrastructure to support a high volume of applications. Pardons Canada has been helping Canadians for over 25 years and is well known by the courts and police across the country as well as the Parole Board of Canada.
3. How many employees do you have and where are you located? – many agencies simply do not have the staff to execute the application from start to finish. Its easy for them to take a payment but much harder to have the infrastructure to complete the application. Pardons Canada has a head office in Toronto with over twenty employees who are trained and experienced in the Pardons and US Waiver process.
4. How long does the process take? – many agencies will promise a faster service and give unrealistic timelines to satisfy the customer. The real timing to complete an application really depends on the courts and police and could take 12-20 months.
Here is the recent CBC article highlighting the scam:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadian-passport-online-pardons-waivers-complaints-1.4586417
