In an earlier post I
mentioned about my police complaint against a fraudulent company based near New Delhi (with offices in the US). Such
companies exist and flourish by cheating in developed countries as well. In
every community there are good people as well as bad people. We get into
problem when we trust a person or Company from what person or Company `looks’
like. When we experience the reality, it is often too late. I have been cheated
many times. Let me describe my experience so that those who read my blogs wouldn’t
make the mistakes that I committed in trusting a wrong person or Company.
In the early 90’s, I desired to
migrate to Australia or New Zealand. By then I had my professional qualifications and
experience recognized by New South Wales Department of School Education and New
Zealand Teacher Registration Board. As it wouldn’t be easy to get a job without
face to face interview (during those pre Skype and Internet days) I applied for
visitor’s visa for New Zealand stating the reason “To visit places of tourist
interest and to attend job interviews if I am legally permitted”. Within a few
weeks, New Zealand Immigration Department replied by sending .the Application Form for
Permanent Residence instead of the one for Tourist Visa stating that the former
was more appropriate for me. As I was about to apply, one of my friends
suggested me to apply through a Migration Consultancy Firm so that things could
move faster. I too thought so and contacted the Chennai office of an Australia
based Migration Consultancy Firm known as Todd International. The guy who managed
its Chennai office said that I stood a better chance for Australia. As
teachers’ salary in Australia was more than that in New Zealand, I preferred
Australia. I had paid nearly US$ 4000 for processing
my application. Every time I approached the Company to know the status of my
application, the reply was “Please wait”. “It is being processed by the
Immigration Department”, “Don’t worry” etc. Even after 3 years, I never got the
document for which I applied. By the time, I tried to sue the Company, it had
already disappeared. US$ 4000 was not a small amount in the `90s.
By the time
I realised that Todd International was a fraudulent Australian Company with
branches in many countries including in India and that I should have applied
through the Australian Government’s Immigration Department directly instead of
relying on Private Migration `Consultants’, it was too late.
