The Miera family’s life in Ottawa is unraveling. They face possible deportation from Canada. This situation stems from an immigration consultant failure. They relied on their consultant to manage their immigration file. The consultant did not do her job properly.

The Miera Family’s Canadian Journey

Paulo and Leila Miera are Brazilian nationals. They moved to Canada in 2016. Leila received a religious worker visa. She worked with the Shivitei Israel Congregation. Paulo’s open work permit was approved months later. He first found work with a cleaning company. He later worked in construction. They brought their two daughters. Ester was 11 years old at the time. Hadassa was seven. Their third daughter, Hannah, was born in Ottawa. Hannah arrived 18 months after they landed. The family built a life in Ottawa for nine years. They worked and raised their children in the city.

Immigration Consultant Failure and Its Consequences

In 2023, the Mieras hired Ana Raquel Aparico Perdomo. She would help Ester get a work permit. Perdomo would also help the family get permanent residence (PR). Perdomo was accredited by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) in 2021. Her company was called Pursue Canada Immigration Services. Perdomo told the Mieras they did not qualify for an Express Entry application. This is for skilled workers. She suggested applying for PR based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. At that time, Leila was no longer a religious worker. Paulo’s company was reducing temporary foreign workers.

Paulo initially heard a quote of $3,000 for their immigration matters. In January 2025, Paulo transferred Perdomo the full payment. He did this without signing a contract. He knew visas for himself, his wife, and daughter would expire soon. The family showed CTV News receipts of these money transfers. In March, Perdomo emailed the family. She said she would pay their biometric fees. These fees were required to renew their visas. She told them they could reimburse her later.

Perdomo later ghosted the family. Paulo called and emailed her dozens of times. He received no response. On June 25, Paulo visited Perdomo’s office. He learned she had moved out. She did not leave a forwarding address. Weeks later, Ester found photos of Perdomo in Italy. These photos were on a Facebook page under Perdomo’s name. One photo showed Perdomo in front of the Rialto bridge. It was date stamped July 22.

In early August, Leila called Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC). She reported what had happened. The family learned their work permits were rejected. Their application had missing documentation. The family biometric fee of $170 remained unpaid. Most shockingly, they no longer had temporary resident status. IRCC sent a letter on May 29. It advised of the loss in status. The letter went to Perdomo’s mailing address. She did not pass this information to the Mieras.

This immigration consultant failure had severe consequences. Paulo lost his construction job. He made concrete sewer tunnels. Leila had to quit working at McDonald’s. Ester, now 21, lost her social media marketing job. She described her life as “stuck in a loop.” Without status, they cannot work. Friends are now helping the family financially. Some friends started a crowdfunding campaign. This will help them pay for an immigration lawyer. They hope to plead their case.

Limited Options for the Miera Family

The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants suspended Perdomo. This happened on June 24, following a complaint from another person. Her license was revoked in November. She did not respond to the College’s request for information. This non-responsiveness occurred within 90 days. Stef Lach, a manager at CICC, confirmed the license revocation. He stated it was due to “non-responsiveness.” Licensees must respond fully and promptly to College communication. Lach said CICC understands the “gravity of the situation.” However, the organization does not provide immigration advice. They do not process applications. They also do not influence decisions made by IRCC.

Ottawa immigration lawyer Warren Creates called the Mieras’ experience “tragic.” He stated they have few options. Many people in similar circumstances tried to plead their case. They were victims of unscrupulous consultants. Immigration officials have not provided relief in these cases. Creates suggested the family could try to find an empathetic employer. This employer would need to apply for government approval. This process is tedious. They would hire a temporary worker. However, the Mieras might need to return to Brazil. They would wait there until approval comes through. Even this is a long shot. The federal government is making it harder to get temporary work permits. They have also accelerated the pace of deportations. In 2024, the government deported 17,357 people. In the first three quarters of this year, 18,785 people have already been deported.

Conclusion

The Miera family’s story highlights a critical lesson. “Caveat emptor,” or “buyer beware,” applies to immigration services. Everyone must do their due diligence. They must research thoroughly when hiring consultants. The dreams of a family built over nine years now hang in the balance.