Visas & Advice Detail
Canada cracks down on bogus advisors
There was good news for all those dreaming of emigrating to the land of the Maple Leaf on June 8 as the Canadian government announced a new law to help protect people along their immigration journey.
The aptly named 'Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act' brings in measures such as increased regulation of anyone charging money for immigration advice to give would-be immigrants peace of mind in the future.
"While most immigration consultants working in Canada are legitimate and ethical, it is clear that immigration fraud remains a widespread threat to the integrity of Canada's immigration system," commented Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. "The [act] will better protect prospective immigrants from crooked consultants and help safeguard our immigration system against fraud and abuse."
Other aspects of the new act will make it a crime for unauthorised individuals to charge for giving immigration advice, with only authorised consultants or lawyers granted permission to offer advice. Previously pre-application consultations could be offered by anyone, but now even this aspect of the immigration process will be regulated.
Minister Kenney continued: "Crooked immigration consultants victimise people who dream of immigrating to Canada. Worse still, there is evidence that these individuals encourage prospective immigrants to lie on their immigration applications...This undermines the integrity and fairness of Canada's immigration system."
As part of the new act one authority will also be given the responsibility of regulating immigration consultants.
Alongside the new law the Canadian government is trying to reinstall public confidence in the system of overseeing immigration consultants. A Notice of Intent was issued in the Canada Gazette announcing the intention to launch a transparent public selection process to identify a governing body to regulate immigration consultants. A public consultation is currently underway into the proposed selection process.
All this means future immigrants should be able to rest assured the advice they are being given is from a properly regulated and reputable immigration agent.