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The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) licenses and regulates the practice of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) in the public interest.
Belonging to a self-regulated profession that helps so many people is a privilege. With that privilege comes the responsibility to know and meet the professional and ethical obligations demanded of an immigration and citizenship consultant. For many newcomers to Canada, working with an experienced immigration or citizenship consultant is a step toward a better future.
The College is the self-regulatory organization that replaced the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). ICCRC was designated in 2011 by the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act. However, ICCRC’s authority eventually created administrative and legal challenges that prevented it from delivering the most timely and effective professional compliance and regulatory services. In 2019, ICCRC worked with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and key stakeholders to obtain the necessary statutory authority to provide:
This work resulted in the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 292)
An act of the Canadian Parliament created the College:
Parliament passed the College Act in June 2019. According to an order of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) was continued as the College on November 23, 2021.
The College Act gives the College investigation and enforcement powers like other professional regulatory bodies (for example, provincial law societies, accounting regulators and professional colleges in the healthcare sector). The College is governed by a Board of Directors comprising four licensees of the College and five public representatives appointed by the Minister.
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, “the College,” licenses and regulates Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants (RCIC) in the public interest. There are two types of immigration and citizenship consultants we handle:
The CICC statutory authority applies to immigration and citizenship consultants whether they practice in Canada or abroad. Anyone who wants to provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee (or for any other benefit) must be one of the following:
In other words, if someone is not already a lawyer or a Quebec notary, they must have a license from the College to work as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor.
NOTE: The College regulates Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants. The College does not provide immigration advice, process immigration applications, or influence any decision related to immigration.
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, the CICC (formerly ICCRC), is the national regulatory body that licenses, regulates and controls the Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants (RCICs) in the public interest. The government of Canada designated the CICC to hold the Canadian immigration consulting (RCICs), and international student advising professions (RISIAs)
Section 91(2) of the Immigration & Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Section 21.1 of the Citizenship Act obliges that anyone who provides Canadian immigration or citizenship advice for a fee or other consideration must be a member in good standing of a law society in Canada, the Québec notaries, or the CICC. Anyone found guilty of violating the Citizenship Act can face a fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Individuals given Canadian immigration services abroad are subject to Canadian law even if they reside outside Canada.
The College regulates immigration and citizenship consultants in the public interest and protects the Public by:
We license RCICs and RISIAs, ensuring they meet and follow high education standards, competence and professional ethics.
We support the lifelong learning needs of licensees. All RCICs and RISIAs must participate in ongoing learning opportunities yearly to maintain their licence.
Licensees must comply with the College’s Code of Professional Conduct (the Code). We investigate complaints about RCICs and RISIAs whose conduct fails to meet the profession’s standards. We also maintain a professional discipline process to sanction licensees (when appropriate to do so) who do not comply with the Code.
The Federal Government will set out regulations for establishing a Compensation Fund that the College will operate. The purpose of the Fund is to help people who have been adversely affected by the activities of a licensee. Once the Fund is operational, we will release more details about who will be eligible to apply and how they can make a claim.
The College regulates Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants in the public interest. We do not provide immigration advice, process immigration applications, or influence any decision related to immigration. If you need immigration or citizenship advice, contact an RCIC or RISIA using the contact information on our Public Register.
In Canada, a regulatory college is a self-regulatory organization (SRO) that regulates its profession in the public interest. SROs are already familiar with healthcare, education, and professional services. Acts of Parliament grant SROs specific powers and responsibilities. They are charged with the following:
Self-regulation is a privilege granted to professionals that show they can put the interests of the Public ahead of their own.
The College was created as an SRO because it is understood that:
RCICs and RISIAs are licensed professionals who meet educational, professional, and ethical standards. As professionals who help people come to Canada, they understand the responsibility they have to their clients. As a regulator, we mandate and enforce the standards that RCICs and RISIAs must meet and hold licensees accountable for meeting them. If a Public or College member has concerns about a licensee’s conduct or competency, we have the full legal authority to launch an investigation. If we find an RCIC or a RISIA has breached the Code, they will be subject to rehabilitation or discipline. At our discretion, we may also involve law enforcement where necessary. This oversight and enforcement help build trust and confidence in the profession and its role as part of Canada’s immigration system.
Regulation protects the interests of Canadians and newcomers to Canada by ensuring that Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants operate ethically and competently. The law also helps Canada facilitate immigration and provide protection to refugees. This, in turn, enhances the country’s reputation around the world.
For people looking to immigrate to Canada or become Canadian citizens, we mandate competent and ethical behaviour by RCICs and RISIAs.Our licensees must adhere to the College’s strict Code of Professional Conduct and maintain high educational standards. We also work with offshore partners to ensure that people around the world know how to use our up-to-date online Public Register of licensed RCICs and RISIAs and the dangers of using unauthorized practitioners. These measures help people gain access to quality Canadian immigration and citizenship advice.
Effective regulation builds public trust. It also strengthens the profession by ensuring licensees meet the educational, ethical, and professional standards of trusted, regulated professionals. Finally, our authority to discipline sub-standard licensees protects the reputation of other RCICs and RISIAs.
Besides being a Canadian law society or a Quebec notaries member, RCICs are the only authorized professional who can accept payment to represent candidates for their immigration applications in Canada.
The CICC has established various regulations to ensure that RCIC is well-trained and prepared for all related immigration laws, regulations, and policies. Each member must complete routine continuous training courses involving the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, Public Policies, and Case laws. Typically, RCICs are educated to find the best option for their clients to get their immigration applications favourably approved.
All RCICs are expected to follow high moral, legal, ethical, and professional criteria when rendering immigration consulting services. The CICC also monitors the operation of each immigration consulting firm under the management of each member. Whenever there is a conflict of interest between a client and an RCIC, the client can directly contact the CICC for support. If a breach of the code of conduct is discovered, the CICC will interfere and ensure the client’s interests are protected.
‘Enrolment in the CICC group plan, which is on an individual member basis to pay damages resulting from any error, omission, or negligent act while performing duties like that of an immigration/citizenship consultant, is mandatory. Plus, every RCIC, as a condition of membership, shall enroll in the CICC’s professional liability insurance (errors and omissions) program. As key features of this mandatory insurance, it should have $1,000,000 in liability coverage.
Therefore, hiring a Responsible RCIC will significantly increase the chance of success for your immigration applications, and it is the best way to protect your interest.
Membership in a Professional Association or a trade union is voluntary and optional. In brief, such organizations exist to serve their members. They provide networking and professional development opportunities for their members.
A professional order is an organization that, in a given region, includes all the members of the same profession to ensure a form of regulation of the work in question. Unlike membership in a professional association, which is voluntary or optional, to practice a regulated profession like the RCIC, it is an obligation for the professional to be a member in good standing of their regulator (The CICC, formerly ICCRC).
Plus, The regulatory body protects the public by setting standards for professional practice. Each regulatory body has different educational and professional requirements to grant licenses to practice. Graduate from an accredited program, having English or French Language Proficiency result, and a police background check is a minimum requirement for being a member of the Professional order. Members of the CICC have the right to use a protected title (RCIC) and the right to perform Immigration Counselling in their field.
Are you thinking of hiring a Canadian immigration consultant? This guide provides a list of questions to ask your immigration consultant before accepting their services. The questions are intended as a guide only. Always check the College’s online Public Register to confirm the status of your immigration consultant (RCIC) before signing any contract.
Your immigration consultant will give you a service agreement or contract that lists the following:
If anything in the service agreement is unclear, ask for more explanation in writing. You should understand every service you are paying for. There should not be any hidden fees or extra charges you must pay after signing your service agreement.
The Immigration Consultant will tell you:
If they are experienced with cases like yours, they might be able to tell you:
You should inform your RCIC about past refusals and their reasons to get the best service possible. The Immigration Consultant will implement a new strategy to submit your next application and describe how your previous denials may affect your chances of success.
Besides your immigration consultant, many other people might work on your file. You should know the names of your primary contact and anyone else who will work on your file, including staff members, agents, and other immigration consultants or lawyers. Ask your direct contact for a description of everyone’s roles and responsibilities.
Your immigration consultant will give you a list of the following:
You should not be required to pay in advance for an application that depends on the success of another application. If you pay your immigration consultant on a monthly payment plan, be sure you are only paying for the service fees due at the time of payment.
The Immigration Consultant will provide an estimated number of hours dedicated to preparation, submission, monitoring, and ongoing communication based on your case. The Immigration Consultant may or may not offer a per-hour rate service. The rate per hour will be described in your retainer agreement if shown.
While immigrating and finding a job in Canada are often bound together, they may require different representatives. In addition to your Immigration Consultant, you may need to work with a licensed recruiter. Beware of promises like “For a single fee, we will find you a job and get your immigration papers.” No one should charge you a fee for finding a job—not an employer, a recruiter, or an immigration consultant.
Note: Your future employer may need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. Once approved, the positive LMIA is presented by the Immigration Consultant along with your work permit application for Canada.
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) must abide by a Code of Professional Conduct that requires that they tell you:
In other words, they must tell you before you hire them if they receive a commission from an employer or school in exchange for placing you in a job or an educational program.
Details about getting a refund will be in the service agreement you sign with your immigration consultant. In general:
If you stop working with an immigration consultant, they must return your original documents. They must also give you all the necessary information to continue your application.
If you hire a new immigration consultant, sign another IMM 5476 Use of a Representative Form. Then have your new representative request your documents and the details to access your immigration application.
An immigration consultant may base their fees on various factors such as:
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are free to set their fees. The College does not regulate how much RCICs charge for their services. However, RCICs must set fair and reasonable prices for the specific services you hire them for.
Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) do not collect fees directly from students. They are paid employees of specific Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).
Here are some tips to ensure that you are working with an authorized Canadian immigration consultant and how to avoid being a victim of immigration fraud.
Unauthorized practitioners may use a title that sounds official but is not.
Notarios are not authorized to give you immigration advice. For example, the professional designation ”notario“ has nothing to do with a Notaire du Québec, an immigration lawyer, or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). The only people who can legally provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee (or for any other benefit) are:
In other words, if someone is not a lawyer or a notary, they must have a license from the College to work as a Canadian immigration or citizenship consultant.
The College must license an immigration consultant to offer Canadian immigration services for a fee or other benefit. Just because someone has taken an immigration education program does not automatically mean they can give Canadian immigration or citizenship advice. Even if they have a diploma from an Immigration Practitioner Program or a Graduate Diploma Program, they still might not be a licensed Canadian immigration consultant.
To determine if the College licenses someone, check the College’s Public Register. You may search by first or last name, company name, geographic location, or Licence Number. RCIC Licence Numbers begin with the letter ”R” followed by six numbers, while RISIA Licence Numbers begin with the letter ”S” followed by six.
An immigration consultant must give you a service agreement or contract—and you and the immigration consultant must sign it – before any services begin. The service agreement declares that an immigration consultant will offer you immigration services in exchange for a fee or other benefit. When you sign the deal, keep a copy for your records.
Only you and the licensed Canadian immigration consultant providing your services should sign the service agreement. No one can legally ask you to sign a contract with someone else or with the company your immigration consultant works for. On the contract, your immigration consultant must include their full legal name and their license number. This number begins with the letter ”R” and has six digits (for example, R123456).
The Use of a Representative Form (IMM5476) confirms your Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is authorized to represent you in your immigration case. You and the immigration consultant must both sign and date this form. Any time your immigration consultant inquires about your claim, they must include a copy of the signed IMM5476 to prove to IRCC that they can represent you. They must provide this form even if they are your friend or family member and even if they are not charging you for their services.
Ensure that everything on the paper is complete and accurate before you sign it. You are responsible for their data even if someone else completes your documents. Watch out for incomplete or falsified documents.
Keep a copy of any document you sign for your records.
Services and Payment
If you pay in cash, it may be hard to prove you paid them later. Other payment methods — such as cheques, credit cards, and bank transfers—provide better proof because these payments appear on your bank statement.
Your signed service agreement must outline the fees you will pay. Before you pay anything, ask for an invoice that outlines those fees. Then ask for a receipt that shows a record of your payment.
If you pay for services other than immigration — for example, job placement — then those services should be listed in another agreement or contract. You should be provided with a detailed service agreement that outlines the amount you will pay for the immigration services you will be provided.
If immigration services are provided for free, the service agreement should state that the total fee for those services is $0.00.
NOTE: Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are licensed only to provide immigration services. If someone offers you other services under a separate agreement or contract, check that they can do so in the applicable province or territory. For example, if they offer to find you a job in Alberta, ensure they are qualified and allowed to provide job placement services there.
Some professionals may try to offer you immigration services as part of the other services they provide, such as:
For example, a travel agent may offer to help you with a visitor visa. A recruiter might offer to put together your work permit. Or a student recruiter might say they will submit your study permit application with your school application. In most cases, these people are not authorized to offer you Canadian immigration services (they can do so only if they are a Canadian lawyer, a Notaire du Québec, or a licensee of the College).
Before hiring someone like this for immigration services, check the College’s Public Register. to confirm they are a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA).
NOTE: If the person you are working with says they are partnering with an RCIC or a RISIA, double-check by directly asking that RCIC or RISIA (use the contact information on our Public Register). Also, make sure you sign a service agreement now with the RCIC.
No one can guarantee a processing timeline for any Canadian immigration application. IRCC sets out approximate timelines (for example, 8-12 weeks), and an immigration consultant can relay this information to you.
While immigrating to Canada and finding a job are often connected, you may need different representatives for each process. For example, you may need to work with a Canadian immigration consultant and a licensed recruiter. Beware promises like, ”For a single fee, we will find you a job and get your immigration papers.” No one should charge you a fee for finding a job—not an employer, a recruiter, or an immigration consultant.
NOTE: Your future employer may need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. If so, your immigration consultant will submit the approved LMIA with your work permit application (depending on eligibility, some foreign nationals may be exempt from an LMIA or a work permit).
A visa officer will decide on your Canadian immigration application. No one will know the outcome of your application until you receive a written decision from that visa officer.
The visa officer processing your application will make an independent decision based on the merits of your case. In other words, they will only consider the reason for your application and your supporting evidence and documents. Watch out if someone tells you, “I have a friend” or “I know someone” who can help make things easier for you.
Before you start working with a Canadian immigration consultant, use the College’s Public Register to check that they are licensed as an “active” Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA).
“Active” consultants are in good standing with the College and can legally offer you Canadian immigration advice in exchange for a fee.
If an immigration consultant is “Revoked” or “Suspended,” they are not currently authorized to practice.
The College’s corporate logo looks like this:
All licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) must have professional liability insurance. Their employer’s professional liability insurance must cover Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs).
Licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) have met standards that prove they can competently and ethically help you. They must also keep learning every year as a part of our Continuing Professional Development education program. Unauthorized practitioners are less likely to know about immigration. They also do not have to follow a Code of Professional Conduct.
If you lie or put misleading information on your immigration application, you will commit “misrepresentation.” If you are found guilty of misrepresentation, you will be banned from submitting an application to Canada for five years. Your misrepresentation charge will also become part of your immigration record and may affect your ability to apply for any application to Canada in the future. If the person representing you encourages you to lie on your immigration application, you should complain to the College.