New College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Opens

Friday, November 26, 2021

This week the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, officially opened the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. The College is now the official regulator of immigration and citizenship consultants across the country. All paid consultants must be licensed by the College to work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, the College has new powers and tools to investigate professional misconduct and to discipline consultants. The College can also protect the public from unlicensed consultants by:

  • entering a consultant’s premises to gather information for an investigation
  • compelling witnesses to appear and testify before its Discipline Committee
  • requesting court injunctions to address unlicensed actors providing immigration or citizenship advice without authorization

New standards for consultants include completing the new competency-based graduate diploma program will be the only way for aspiring consultants, who must already hold a bachelor’s degree, to enter the profession. College licensees must also complete annual continuing professional development requirements and an annual practice assessment.

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