A class action lawsuit has been filed against the government unit for allegedly overcharging on immigration application fees. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of up to 3 million people who have paid excessive fees for visas, authorizations or permits from April 1, 1994, to March 31, 2004. The suit claims Citizenship and Immigration Canada violated the federal Financial Administration Act, which stipulates that user fees may not exceed the cost of providing the public service or the use of the facility.
The class action seeks $702 million from Citizenship and Immigration Canada for overcharging people for any of the 43 application types from visitor status extension to permanent resident applications and employment authorizations.
