College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants: From ICCRC TO CICC

New Beginning in Regulation of Canada’s Immigration Consulting Profession

Canada has one of the highest rates of immigrants obtaining Canadian citizenship and settling in the land of the maple leaf.  Why? Canada is a great attraction for professionals working all over the world because it actively seeks foreign workers as well as professionals to supplement its strong domestic workforce. Similarly, Canada is Student Friendly with a World-class education system. According to statistics, even in the presence of a global pandemic, Canada continues to welcome immigrants and is on track to meet its goal of accommodating more than 401,000 new immigrants by 2022.

With new goals and new requirements, Canada has announced the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants as the new official body for the regulation of Canadian immigration consultants and the immigration process. Read on to know what powers it will have and how it will oblige with the standards.

What is the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants?

Many people seek assistance from consultants or even other services to help them navigate the immigration process. While the vast majority operate ethically, unscrupulous performers can take advantage of the situation. To protect some who try to come to Canada, the Canadian government is reinforcing the regulatory body of immigration consultants. The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants was officially opened recently in 2021 by the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.

The College's introductory date was set in a Ministerial Order that was released on August 14, 2021. The previous regulator, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, was also officially recognized to continue as the new College. Honorable Sean Fraser announced - "We have an obligation to protect those who wish to come to our country—and we're fulfilling it. The new College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants will ensure that aspiring Canadians get the professional and honest advice they deserve, and strengthen our immigration system so it can continue building the Canada of the future."

The College is an independent organization that regulates the profession and protects both the public and qualified consultants from those who prey on the weak. To function properly with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, all paid professionals must be licensed by the College. Under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, immigration and citizenship consultants are regulated by the College. The College's first board of directors will include five public interest directors (appointed by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship) and four College members (consultants). The establishment and maintenance of strong ethical standards by which all licensed consultants must abide will be aided by a code of ethics for professionals for the College.

What are the powers of the College?

With the establishment of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, the immigration profession in Canada is undergoing significant changes. This regulatory authority has expanded powers over immigration and citizenship consultants in Canada and abroad, including licensing, oversight, investigation, as well as enforcement. The regulator will carry out their responsibilities by:

• Immigration and citizenship consultants who are licensed to provide services for immigration to Canada or citizenship in Canada.
• Providing Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) as well as Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors with resources, ongoing education, as well as development prospects.
• Providing easy access to RCICs and RISIAs all around the world for immigrants and citizenship applicants through such an up-to-date Public Register of licensees.
• RCICs and RISIAs who violate the Professional code Of Ethics are subject to disciplinary action.
• Increasing public awareness of the role as well as the profession's regulation to the general public, the media, and stakeholder organizations in Canada and abroad.
• Continuing to work with the federal government to improve regulation in the public interest on a continuous basis.

With what additional powers the College has been empowered by?

The college now has additional powers and tools for investigating and disciplining consultants who have engaged in professional misconduct. In addition, the College can safeguard the public from unauthorized consultants by enacting legislation. This can be followed through the mentioned practices:

• The college has the power to enter any consultant's premises for an investigation purpose and to gather any kind of information if suspected.
• The college can compel any required witnesses to appear and verify the collected evidence before the Discipline Committee.
• The college has the power to request court injunctions to judge and penalize the unlicensed actors who provide immigration or citizenship consultancy without authorization and through unfair means.

Consultants have indeed been subjected to new, better standards. Aspiring consultants should successfully complete a new Graduate Diploma Program being offered by the Faculties of Law at Queen’s University and the Université de Montréal for being able to enter the career path only. Annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements and an annual practice assessment are also required by college licensees.

The new College is an important part of the country's efforts to combat identity fraud in Canada. It develops on the significant progress made in recent years, including a $50 million investment to combat fraud as well as new educational resources to help applicants spot fraudulent activity. It also fulfills a mandated commitment to improve oversight, enforce the integrity of Canada's immigration process, as well as protect all those seeking to enter the country.

Would You Like to Migrate to Canada?

Because of the continuously changing immigration standards and regulations, it is best to contact Canada Immigration Consultants who can assist and guide you throughout the process. At Pelican Migration Consultants, our primary goal is to offer you all the necessary information you require to make the right decisions. We are licensed immigration consultants in Dubai helping you plan and manage your immigration to Canada and eventually lead a successful life in the country of your dreams. What’s more, we don’t make you spend a penny more or wait a day longer until and unless it is out of our control.

We provide professional one-to-one assistance ensuring you give your best in front of the Canada immigration Department. We help the clients in analyzing the clients' chances of being granted a visa, then preparing clients and giving feedback for VISA interviews, developing a customized immigration strategic plan for each client separately. Best Wishes!