(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) English French
BURLINGTON, Ontario, Nov. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regulation of Canada's immigration consulting profession is changing significantly with the launch of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (the College). This new regulatory college has enhanced powers for licensing, oversight, investigation and enforcement of immigration and citizenship consultants in Canada and abroad.
“It is the dawn of a new era in regulation of the immigration consulting profession,” said John Murray, President & CEO of the College.“This is the culmination of months of research, consultation and preparation in addition to an Act of Parliament.”
The College's federal mandate stems from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 292). As a regulatory college, it sets educational, professional practice and ethical standards for its licensees. This ensures competent, ethical advice and service for immigrants and citizenship applicants to Canada and demonstrates that licensed immigration consultants are worthy of their trust.
The regulator will uphold their mandate by:
- Licensing immigration and citizenship consultants providing services for immigration to Canada or for Canadian citizenship.
- Providing resources, ongoing education and development for Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs).
- Ensuring simple access for immigrants and citizenship applicants to RCICs and RISIAs around the world, through an up-to-date Public Register of licensees.
- Disciplining RCICs and RISIAs who breach our Code of Professional Conduct.
- Undertaking public awareness to promote our role and the regulation of the profession to the public, the media and to stakeholder organizations across Canada and abroad.
- Working with the federal government to continually strengthen regulation in the public interest.
Existing RCICs and RISIAs will immediately become licensees of the new College. College licensees will be required to complete annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements and an annual practice assessment.
College entry-to-practice requirements include the successful completion of a new Graduate Diploma Program being offered by the Faculties of Law at Queen's University and the Université de Montréal.
In addition, anyone wishing to represent clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) tribunals will be required to have the RCIC-IRB class of licence, as of July 2022.
“The Government of Canada works to protect the integrity of our immigration system. Part of this means ensuring consultants are properly licensed, so that applicants who use their services can count on high quality advice,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.“The opening of this College is an important milestone, and I look forward to its success in supporting the renewal of Canada's population and workforce.”
About the College
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (the College) licenses and regulates the practice of Canadian immigration consultants – Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) – in the public interest. The role of the College, its statutory authority and powers are set out in the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act.
Any immigration consultant who provides Canadian immigration/citizenship services, whether domestically or abroad, must adhere to strict educational, professional and ethical standards. The College ensures that these licensees comply with a Code of Professional Conduct by holding them accountable for breaches of the Code.
Learn more at
Press Contact
Christopher May
Director, Public Affairs and Communications
College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
T: 1-877-836-7543
MENAFN23112021004107003653ID1103234750
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.