I will start this article with the Statement from Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino:
“Every year, millions of people apply to visit or immigrate to Canada to enjoy the many opportunities that our country has to offer.
“The vast majority of these applicants are genuine and wish to come to Canada in good faith. Unfortunately, there are some dishonest people who prey on these individuals, and the Government of Canada is committed to preventing applicants from becoming victims of fraud.
“It’s important to remember that no one can promise your application will be given special treatment or guarantee that it will be approved. All applications are assessed fairly and on the same merit.
“Hiring a representative or consultant to complete your application is not a requirement. All necessary application documents can be found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website. “Should you decide to hire a representative, always ensure they are authorized to do business with the government.
“To prevent immigration fraud, we must all remain vigilant. Remember: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Let me provide you some tips on How to recognize an Unauthorized Canadian Immigration Practitioners as provided by Immigration Consultant’s of Canada Regulatory Council or ICCRC:
Retainer Agreement
As per IRCC’s Retainer Agreement (RA) Regulation section 2. 1 “The Purpose of a Retainer Agreement is to set out the exact duties of the ICCRC Member and the client so that all parties to the agreement have clear expectations regarding what will be provided, how the service will be provided, and at what cost.
Thus, the two people signing the retainer agreement must be you, the client and the licensed Immigration Consultant. The RA must indicate the following information: Complete name of the ICCRC member, the license number and contact
information (address, telephone number and email address). The Immigration Consultant signing your retainer agreement should be the person conducting the immigration services for you.
Do not sign blank forms or forms containing false information
As a general rule, do not sign a blank form. You are responsible for all the information in your application form. You should check and verify all information is complete and accurate on any form before you sign it.
Request for a copy/copies of your application forms.
Ask for a copy or copies of your application form.
Be cautious if you are asked for a CASH payment only
You can always pay in any method like cheque, credit card, bank transfer, postal money order or interac transfer. Cash payments are not usually trackable because there is no document to prove that you paid. Other methods mentioned above are trackable and can be proven by viewing a bank statement.
Beware if you are charged fees for various services, while the immigration service is included for free
Your Immigration Consultant prepares a detailed Retainer Agreement that outlines the amount due for immigration services provided to you. If immigration services are free, the Retainer Agreement should state the total services’ fee is $ 0.00.
If you are charged for services other than immigration (for example, job placement), then the job placement should be an entirely separate agreement or contract. Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC’s) are only licensed to provide immigration services. If an RCIC is offering you a job placement service under a separate agreement or contract, then you should check to make sure that they are qualified and certified recruiter who is licensed to offer these services (and charge you) in the province/territory where the job is being offered in Canada.
Be careful if a travel agent, an educational agent or a recruiter offers you immigration services.
Travel and educational agents and recruiter may offer immigration services or advice as part of a larger package. Though it is possible that they are authorized to offer immigration services related to travel, studies or work, it is important that you confirm their status as a RISIA or an RCIC before using them for immigration services.
No one can guarantee an application approval.
No one can guarantee an application approval. The decision of any immigration application is up to the visa officer assessing your application. The only way you know the outcome of your application is when you receive the decision from the visa officer.
Before retaining the services of your Immigration Consultant is in good standing check ICCRC’s online public register.
Before you sign a Retainer Agreement with your Immigration Consultant, you should check that they have an “active status” on ICCRC’s online public register https://iccrc-crcic.ca/find-a-professional/ . This means that they are in good standing and can offer you immigration advice in exchange for a fee.
If your Immigration Consultant has a status of Revoked or Suspended, then they are not currently authorized to represent your immigration application.
Be alert if you see the ICCRC corporate logo on an immigration website instead of the Mother insignia and there is no link to ICCRC’s website to verify if the Immigration Consultant is registered with ICCRC.
The ICCRC Corporate Logo can only be used by ICCRC Staff. Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC’s) cannot use the ICCRC Corporate Logo. RCICs have the special member Insignia below.
Make sure your Immigration Consultant has Error and Omissions insurance.
All licensed Immigration Consultants require Error and Omissions (E&O) insurance.
Beware if the person you are considering hiring for immigration services demonstrates an apparent lack of knowledge when you ask specific questions about Immigration or ICCR’s Code of Professional Ethics.
If you have questions regarding the above article you may contact Marjorie at [email protected]
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not a legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of ICCRC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.