Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council
The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council or known as the ICCRC, is the regulatory body for immigration consultants. A regulation (Bill C-35) is in effect as of June 30, 2011, providing tough controls around the profession of immigration consulting.
A certified consultant is a qualified & experienced counsel who has completed the mandatory education, passed a qualifying exam, and has an ICCRC number listed on the ICCRC website.
WARNING! If you have paid a non-authorized consultant, the Canadian government can refuse your application.
Any person acting as a representative for you must be in good standing with
- The governing body for immigration consultants ICCRC, (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council) which replaces CSIC, (Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants), OR
- A provincial bar, OR
- The chamber de notaries du Quebec.
Now, it is illegal for anyone, not authorized via one of the 3 categories above, to charge a fee for providing immigration services at any stage of an immigration application. This includes the period before an application is submitted.
New Enforcement: Violators can be charged a specific offense and penalties up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years upon conviction by indictment and $20,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months upon summary conviction.
Confirm that your immigration counsel is listed on the ICCRC web-site, at www.iccrc.ca, or other categories listed above .