Man Loses Canadian Residency in Just 4 Minutes to Fraud

URGENT UPDATE: Hang Li Loses Canadian Residency in Just 4 Minutes

In a shocking turn of events, Hang (Sam) Li lost his permanent residency status in Canada in a mere four minutes due to a fraudulent application approved by immigration officials. The incident raises serious concerns about the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and its vulnerability to identity theft.

Li, an immigrant from China now residing in Edmonton, claims that the application to voluntarily surrender his residency was riddled with errors, yet was approved without proper verification. This expedited process left Li without legal status for 115 days in 2023, depriving him of his right to work, access provincial health care, and utilize social services.

“I should not have to pay to fix the Immigration Department’s mistakes,” Li told the press. “I continue to be at risk for losing my citizenship because there’s still no policies in place to protect me from identity theft.”

Details of the Fraudulent Application

Li’s legal battle began when he discovered a letter dated July 27, 2023, mailed to his old address in Winnipeg, confirming the fraudulent renunciation of his residency. The application, submitted by an impersonator, was processed on June 10, 2023, with Officer AH11413 approving it just two minutes after beginning the review.

Li asserts that the immigration department failed to recognize numerous red flags, such as mismatched signatures and incorrect details regarding his residency status—information readily available in their records. The application also included doctored photographs, one featuring Li in a public washroom wearing AirPods.

Legal Action and Government Response

Now a Canadian citizen, Li is seeking $3 million in damages from the federal government for lost income, legal fees, and medical expenses incurred during his time without health coverage. He also requests a court order to prevent immigration officials from processing any applications claiming to be from him without verifying his identity first.

In response, the Canadian government filed a motion to dismiss Li’s lawsuit, arguing that they acted according to standard procedures and restored his permanent residency. They claimed that Officer AH11413 had no reason to suspect the application was fraudulent, stating, “the officer did their job processing a ‘seemingly legitimate’ application.”

The Ongoing Threat of Identity Theft

Despite his residency being restored on November 2, 2023, Li remains under threat. His attorney, Andrew Koltun, emphasized the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on Li, leading to ongoing mental health issues including PTSD and depression.

Li has faced harrowing circumstances, including receiving multiple phone calls from someone claiming to be an immigration employee, alerting him to attempts to renounce his citizenship. “Hang has an ongoing fear that the identity thief has not stopped,” Koltun said.

Li’s case is igniting conversations across Canada about the potential for similar fraudulent attempts to strip others of their legal status and the urgent need for stronger safeguards within the immigration system.

As this story develops, the implications for immigration policy and identity protection in Canada remain crucial for current and future residents. Authorities are urged to act swiftly to prevent further incidents that could jeopardize the status of countless immigrants.

Stay tuned for more updates on this pressing issue.