(Toronto - April 8, 2004) On April 8, 2004, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced that the Government of Canada is amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to require that paid representatives must be authorized in order to conduct business on behalf of clients when dealing with the Government of Canada in immigration and refugee matters.

Authorized, paid representatives may be only:

immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC);

lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian law society and students-at-law under their supervision; and

notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision.
Unless he or she is a member of one of these three groups, effective April 13, 2004, an immigration representative who charges a fee for services and files a new application on behalf of a client will not be recognized as an authorized representative by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Immigration applications filed before April 13, 2004, the date of implementation of the new regulations, will be allowed to continue with their existing counsel for four years. After April 13, 2008, applicants are free to continue on their own or they can hire an authorized representative who is a member of one of the three recognized groups.

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) is an independent self-regulating body that operates at arms length from the government. The Society will regulate the activities of Immigration Consultants involved in providing advice for a fee to persons wishing to immigrate to Canada.

"The proclamation of these amendments into law caps the efforts of many people over many years to bring regulation to the immigration consulting industry in Canada" said Ben Trister, Chair of CSIC. "With the empowerment of the members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, vulnerable immigration applicants can be protected and the public’s confidence in the Canadian immigration system enhanced."

Persons who wish to become members of CSIC are required to present documents attesting to their experience in the field of immigration as well as to their good character. They must also successfully pass the Society’s Knowledge and Ethics Test and pass the language proficiency test.

For the first two years, the Board of CSIC will consist of a proportional number of representatives from three key communities – the legal profession, immigration consulting industry and consumer protection community.

About the Society
The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) is an independent, not-for-profit body operating at arms length from the federal government. Its membership consists of immigration consultants who provide immigration advice to clients for a fee. The Society’s mandate is to protect the consumers of immigration consulting services and ensure the competent and professional conduct of its members.


Immigration Representatives
Who May Represent You?

For more information:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/consultants/index.html

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