An applicant's agent — from a large, well-known firm — advised listing a B.Tech as the highest education on the IMM 1294 and burying a subsequent PGDCA diploma in the employment section, claiming the diploma would trigger a refusal. The applicant wasn't convinced and asked the group. The response was unanimous:
- This is misrepresentation, full stop. Members pointed out the obvious problem: a diploma cannot be classified as employment, and if discovered it creates misrepresentation exposure that can follow you into a future PR application — a far worse outcome than a refusal.
- A big brand name is not a safeguard. The applicant noted the agency was renowned; members countered with the question that actually matters: is the individual a licensed RCIC? If not, there is very little recourse when their advice damages your file.
- Show original documents only. The blunt consensus: declare your real education history and let the file stand on its truth. If a credential genuinely weakens progression logic, address it with an explanation — don't hide it.
- The bad advice extended to addresses. The same agent suggested entering an office address as the present address on IMM 5645. A member agreed with the applicant's instinct: present address means where you live. Small falsifications compound the same risk.
The durable lesson: when an agent proposes hiding or relabeling facts, that is the signal to walk away — trust your instinct and verify advisers against the official RCIC register.