Lessons from Canada

Lessons from Canada

*April 11, 2013, Southeast Asia

The advent of information technology has created a lot of unethical and illegal practices which is becoming more complex over the years. Such practices have led to human trafficking and scams which could be difficult to decipher as such because of their different manifestations. Persons seeking better opportunities to the First World countries can also be considered vulnerable victims of trafficking due to their desperate cases of discontentment at home or what the Third World countries could offer and such people seeking for that ‘land of milk and honey’ and land of justice and equal social and economic opportunity of the West as portrayed in most media presentations and personal testimonies of people who have been there.

The writer considers him a victim of illegal recruitment which could be interpreted as a case of human trafficking because of experiencing complex manipulation scheme by the recruiters along the process. This instance of human trafficking claim could also be confirmed by authorities after further investigation. The instances of threat, the uncertainty of promises and gradual paying of petty cash to appease my emotion and perhaps to gain sympathy with the perpetrators have led me to such desperate situation of seeking justice through the help of authorities and concerned institutions in Canada – the country where my recruiters are domiciled.

This all started when I entered into an agreement with a recruitment agency through Mirage. She was introduced to me two years ago. Mirage, as I fondly call her, was introduced to me by a distant relative from my hometown. She was introduced after I asked my relative to recommend a girl who has the potential to be a future wife. She gave me then her email address and we started exchanging emails in yahoo.com and sometimes chat at yahoo messenger. This went on occasionally until I finished my first teaching contract in Indonesia in June 2012.

When I renewed my contract in the same month and year, I told Mirage that if we could meet in late 2012 or early 2013, I would propose marriage if she would like me. I proposed this, thinking about my age and the possibility of building a family in a place where I believe could give me a better economic opportunity. She then agreed and suggested that I can go there through a work visa. With full trust in her and thinking that we have an intimate agreement, I consented to the processing of a visa with her as my primary contact in Canada. Until now, I still believe in her sincerity to help me and meet me as soon as this project is settled. Her participation in this narrative then should not conclude her collusion with the people in the agency. At least this is my current assessment because we still communicate with each other. But my intuition would dictate that she is conniving with the people in the agency.

She recommended the agency which recruits laborers to Canada to work in hotels or agricultural areas. The fee is CAN $ 5,000 payable in three installments: a) $1,500 initial fee for securing a positive LMO, b) $2,000 when LMO has arrived and before lodging visa application and c) $1,500 after visa release for buying a flight ticket to Canada.

To confirm this, I emailed the agency before releasing the initial payment. They referred me to Daisy, supposedly a consultant in charge of applicants in the Ontario area. They instructed me that I should have a representative in Canada to watch over my application. So, since this is the arrangement, I decided to send all the money to Mirage and she will be the one to pay all fees to the agency.

After paying the initial fee, they offered me a hotel housekeeping work in the Niagara area. According to Mirage, she paid the money when they met with Daisy in a restaurant and she emailed me a cell phone photo of the receipt. After a month, they told me that the employer for hotel work has backed out. But, the LMO for agricultural jobs has arrived and I could be given a slot if I want to. I felt very excited to see an LMO so I opted to avail one slot. I was also thinking that it is faster to process papers to Canada outside and Philippines so I had taken the opportunity to lodge my application in Indonesia.

The agency, through Mirage, rushed me then to pay the second payment to secure an LMO slot. The receipt shows that the agency received my payment. After a month of waiting, I have received all papers from Canada including the LMO, contract from My future company, application for a temporary residence permit and personal information forms. The forms were all filled out by the agency and sent via FedEx through Mirage. I prepared all my accompanying documents for two weeks and submitted them to the Canadian embassy in Jakarta through VFS Services.

Fortunately, an officer from the embassy called me and informed that I am to be interviewed by an immigration officer. After the interview, the interviewer told me that he will approve the application upon receipt of medical clearance. I underwent medical check-up that same day.

After more than two weeks, I received the visa result. I felt a deep sense of accomplishment that day when I received my passport with visa stamped. As if I own the world. But still, I am preoccupied because the visa is not a guarantee of work permit. As stated in the visa letter, such permit would be granted still at the Canadian Border.

What wonders me before the interview was the instruction given by Daisy and Mirage. I was instructed not to tell the interviewer that I have paid an agency for visa application because, accordingly, it will complicate my papers and might lead to non-approval of my application. I was taught to tell the interviewer that I am in direct contact with my employer and that I only knew the job opening through a friend in Ontario. They have also removed some of my work experiences in the personal information form to make it appear that I worked in my own farm after graduation from college. I accepted this procedure on a belief and eagerness that the visa will be processed quickly.

I informed Daisy and Mirage about the visa approval and they congratulated me. Daisy also told me to recommend people I know. But, I told her that I would recommend people after my entry to Canada would be successful. Daisy then rushed me to pay the remaining amount with the reason that it is a command from their president Martha and so that they could book the plane ticket in advance. She stopped following up after I sent the money. When I called Mirage, she informed me that she dropped the money in Daisy’ bank account. I asked for the receipt from Daisy and she told me to email it the following day but as of this writing,* no receipt has been given yet.

The next problem that I had faced after the release of visa is on getting permission from my employer for a graceful exit. I carefully planned my meeting with her and courteously ask for permission to leave school. She got angry at first but then she was appeased when I told her that I will pay the separation fee as stipulated in the contract. So, she quickly computed the remaining months and quoted the total. I immediately agreed to pay it and we settled for the date when I could leave. She requested me to train the replacement teacher before leaving.

I told this to Daisy and asked if there would be no problem with papers if I would leave Indonesia on a later date. She told me that there would be no problem and that they will just email me the plane ticket just before I leave Indonesia. I constantly followed up the ticket from January until February- the day I left but no plane ticket was forwarded. I gave them every reason that could necessitate them to release the ticket but no response was given - it seems everything out there is quiet. Daisy emailed once that she would update me the following day but she never emailed again about it.

I then left Indonesia without forwarding ticket and told them that I will stay in Kuala Lumpur (KL) while waiting for it. Mirage negotiated to them that they should give me allowance while waiting in KL. Consequently, Daisy called me and told that they have talked to the company and the latter agreed to give funds while I wait for the ticket.

She also gave information that has totally injected fear in me and led to greater uncertainties of my situation. I was shocked when she told me that they could not release the plane ticket because they have applied for a “modified LMO” or she also called it “Annex D” of the ‘old LMO’. That was my reaction because I expected that only the plane ticket is the problem. And, based on my readings; an LMO processing can be very long - a month or three. I told her that I thought I am only waiting for a plane ticket and that the LMO I am holding is valid. But, she told me that the immigration officer at the Border might question me if I am going to present my old papers. It was then that my suspicion grew wild. As if dark clouds have covered the ceiling of my room and the hope of going to Canada to work and meet my girl seem to have faded beyond them. I cried heavily in my hotel room thinking that I had been manipulated, lost my savings/investments and sacrificed my future. I am so weak to question them because I am afraid that they might be offended and cancel all my papers and the new LMO application that they were saying.

I told this to Mirage and she told me just to be calm and she assured me that I can go to Canada in due time. I felt that she is doing her best to follow up my application but I was starting to suspect that she is fed with fabricated information by the agency. She also told me that the agency has submitted my name to Christie - the signatory of my contract with my future company for application of new LMO. With this, I realized that something wrong is already happening because I thought they only need to modify my LMO but then they have applied for a new one? On the other hand, I must admit that I have given full trust in Mirage and I believed in her words after that, so I decided just to wait. I remembered that she would be my possible future wife.

When Martha called, she informed that she has sent money and the papers would be available after two weeks. This has calmed me temporarily, thinking that everything might have been alright and that my mind is only exaggerating situations around.

While waiting, Daisy asked me solutions on how I could wait for the papers without entering the Philippines so I told them that I will enter Singapore to wait for the papers there. Besides, my finances would be drained in KL where I have to pay a simple hotel accommodation, eat in a restaurant and forced to tour around to divert my anxiety, boredom and trick time. But in Singapore, I have my aunt to stay and I could request her to dispense me from house payment. I entered Singapore after 11 days of stay in Kuala Lumpur and my aunt agreed for my temporary stay.

After two weeks of waiting, no response, email text message or call has been received to inform if the papers were there or not. I called Daisy and Martha but nobody responded. I understand that they might be busy at work but at least a text message would suffice to inform me about its status. My anxiety and trembling have become more intense but I prayed hard and decided to call Christie directly in order to at least have an idea of what is really happening to my papers. In our conversation, I told her that I have already received a work visa under the sponsorship of her company. I also asked if my name has been submitted to her for LMO application. She told me that they only need several people but Go West International has submitted more names. I asked her if my name is in the system and she said none. So I suggested to her that I will just email the scanned copy of the work visa stamped, and other related documents for her review and checking of my records. As of this writing,* no response from Christie is received.

The night after sending the email, Martha called me. She asked if I called Christie and what were the things I told her. I admitted and informed her that I asked Christie only about my status with their company. She hung up and after around 30 minutes she called again and with an angry voice asking me if I emailed Christie. Trembling in fear and confusion why she is angry, I admitted it but I told her that I have no malice in the email. I simply asked for assistance from Christie because I haven’t heard any update from them in the previous week informing me if the papers were released or not. She threatened me, saying that I should not do that again or else she will return my money and she is afraid that Christie will pull out my papers and cancel my visa. She also expressed fear that they might lose Monaghan Mushroom as one of their clients. Daisy also texted me and told that she is upset and wondering why in spite of being smart, I did that and I am the only applicant who directly contacted the agency.

I was wondering why they are extremely angry like that. If they are working harmoniously with the company then why should they be angry and why should they not give me precise information or be afraid to lose My future company as their client. I prayed so hard and asked for guidance from God. I decided to remain humble so I texted them, asking for forgiveness and pleaded if Martha could build my reputation back to Christie. I promised them not to do it again. And, to prove that I have no malice, I forwarded the email to her, Daisy and Mirage. In the letter, I was simply asking for help.

After the conversation, I felt that as if I had done a horrible mistake, or violated any sacred immigration rule that will put to a halt everything that I had started and processing on for months. I was trembling in fear and imagined the worst thing in my life and the possible destruction of my future and the loss of my earnings and investment again. It was midnight so I could not cry hard and loud because my aunt and family are sleeping just in the adjacent room. I was staying at the ‘sala’ and at any time they might hear me. I sobbed silently feeling pitiful of myself that nobody could listen to me at that time. I want to talk to somebody, I called Mirage but only a recorded voice responded. I felt that I was dumb, a loser and nothing good has been done by me. I had never been happy in my life, even the results of my academic success and excellent performance in teaching and any job undertaken led to this despair. I had not slept that night and I could see my eyes bulging when I got up the next morning. This happened in February.

The following day, Martha told me that everything is okay and Christie will continue processing my papers while they will just follow it up. I kept on asking for an estimated date of my flight to Canada but they would always evade the issue and ignore it. My suspicion has been intensified. I told this to my mom. I could not eat, felt dizzy and wanted to vomit. I am always thinking deeply looking at a corner. I would laugh in front of people but deep inside me are a fear, sadness, and uncertainty.

When my Singapore visa ended, I consulted Daisy and she told me that we should just help each regarding my situation so I suggested her and Martha that I would enter Indonesia and wait for the papers there. Martha told me to email her as soon as I arrive there and she will send money again. I did email her but the money has arrived only after more than a week of persistent follow-up. I have to follow up the money because I need finances to survive while waiting outside my country of residence, besides, I don’t have any relative in Batam to stay for free.

I arrived in Batam, Indonesia in March. The place is within reach only with 45 minutes ferry ride from Singapore. The island is tropically bright and hot, with the sun’s rays directly hitting the ground and cotton clouds garnish the sky with calmness and resembling abstract and aesthetic images. This is opposite to what was happening inside me confused and gloomy. I entered the place with a fleeting mind, uncertain of what the future may be and kept on asking when can I get out of this suffering and go back to the Philippines. But of course, I cannot just go back to my country without ‘good news’. I must go back there with some sort of accomplishment.

My aunt and mom are calling me sometimes and advise me and expressing fear that I might commit suicide. I told them that I had come to that point but I realized that I have to be strong, thinking that I have a mission to fulfill at the middle of this ordeal. Analyzing my case, they told me that I had been a victim of illegal recruitment and that my visa and other papers given to me might be faked. I told them that I think they are not fake because I have processed it at a Canadian embassy; and that, the agency is still communicating with me. But they insisted that I should do my own research. I have a doubt though on the preciseness of offered job in the contract because I have read a news article that the people hired by my agency turned out to be construction workers instead of fruit pickers and were not paid overtime.

I postponed researching for a few days because I was afraid to see that the website of my agency might have a lot of bad comments on the internet. I am not ready to read such debilitating articles and news items that could only destroy my determination to wait. I felt angry with their concern, and I can’t accept that I am being manipulated or have been gullible. I thought I was not gullible; I only gave trust because I am looking for love and life and had calculated all the risks before giving the money and resigning from my previous job. That hatred soon faded away as I realized that that is only an effect of the denial stage of my ordeal.

Once, Martha texted me to call her, she told me that she has sent money. She also asked if my mom has texted Daisy. I told her that she has not. Martha then warned me not to contact any authority and so with my mom because my application will be adversely affected and that the agency and my ‘good’ employer will also be implicated. She instructed me to talk to Daisy about it and the later accused my mom of texting her. Accordingly, the message told that the UK Interpol is investigating their company. I assured them that if ever there is a text message, surely, that did not come from my mom.

The following day, Martha texted and told that she feels worried about the text message. I was wondering why she could share me such emotional disposition then, when in fact, they were almost unreachable before. I concluded then, that those people might have really done something illegal and unfortunately, I am the victim and they are trying to gain my sympathy.

I prayed deeply and decided to prepare myself. I have to face my fear and accept whatever the real situation is. When I browsed the internet, I have found negative comments and negative news items against the agency and there are suggestions for help. I did not reply to those postings because I am afraid that the people behind such posts might be the same people in the agency. I also read other websites offering help but I resolved that I must start by emailing the International Organization for Migration and present myself to an immigration officer at the Canadian Border and they will be the ones to analyze my case. I admit that I am confused, desperate and have lost my confidence so I really need help.

As I stayed in my hotel room reflecting and scribbling so many alternatives, I accepted that I have been a victim of manipulation. Based on reading IOM’s 2012 report on “Counter-Trafficking and Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants: Annual Report of Activities 2011”, I believe that my case is an instance of human trafficking because of the instance of manipulation and inconsistencies of promises. The case of manipulation includes their prohibition to communicate with my future employer and threat of pull out if I report to authorities about my case. I have trusted people in the hope that they would complement it with love and faithful service. This manipulation is very complex and it took me only until now to accept and do something about it. I started to organize the available documents, text messages and recorded any cellphone conversation with them. Until now,* no LMO and ticket have been given after more than two months of waiting.

Towards the latter part of March, Mirage texted me that my LMO would be released on the first week of April, but the following day, Martha called and texted me and informed that she is out of town and will again send money on the same date – this means that my waiting time would still be longer and the LMO will not actually be released by then. These two instances only show that Daisy and Martha are not coordinating properly on important information sent to clients. It seems to me that they are only fabricating dates relayed to Mirage to prolong my agony and surrender in the end. But I am determined not to quit and if given opportunity, make the agency responsible for their breach of the agreement and lopsided service.

Since I have a visa, I decided to use this to fly to Canada and seek help hoping that authorities would assist me in claiming compensation for the damages done. The damages are payment of 5,000 CAD without the promised result on the agreed date, unemployed for more than two months – waiting and believing that people are really processing my papers, and suffering from psychological and emotional inconveniences while waiting for an indefinite time of promised result.

I had used all my money and savings for this endeavor, hoping that it will come to a favorable conclusion. If I would go back to the Philippines immediately, I don’t know how to start my life without my own money and with a bleak view of those whom I trusted. I feel that I have made a wrong decision in entering this transaction and I think I have been very gullible to follow just whatever they instruct me to do or approve whatever information they give me.

On the last day of March, I decided to go to Canada and planned to file a complaint against the people in the agency. I already bought a ticket. I planned to present myself to an immigration officer and seek reparations amidst the uncertainty and bleak hope of being heard. It was a desperate move then but I believed that justice strongly reigns and very much alive in Canada and authorities would be compassionate enough to assist me in this noble cause or recommend me to proper organization or agency for further assistance. Along the way, Daisy and Mirage pacified me by saying that my LMO could arrive by the second week of April. I also read on the website that those who complain of trafficking or seek justice in Canada are even treated as criminals. So I started to doubt my plans and computed my possible loss compared to what I will gain. I concluded that it would be to my disadvantage if I am going to pursue so I decided not to go.

But my guts and intuition always tell me that something wrong so I am now doing my research work and ask help to those people who could possibly help me seek the truth and obtain justice. I thank the people who are willing to help me as the pursuit of justice cannot be realized without their help.

I cannot use a threat as this would be an injustice to people who are, supposedly doing their business in good faith. I cannot even injure myself because it is not my mistake and it would be a mutilation of God’s creation to inflict pain on oneself – those self-inflicted pain and in whatever kind of pain. I can only move on, pick up myself out of the ground and start with what I have. I can only question the self and clear the cobwebs from my thinking and refocus my thoughts and emotions towards what is attainable. Circumstances have dumped me to the ground and I can never be lower than that anymore as long as I live.

May God grant me a favorable judgment and cause this overwhelming ordeal to bear sweet fruit after exuding endurance and patience.