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Choosing a Representative

Notice: Read this important notice about who may represent you.

Who does this affect?

Individuals, whether in Canada or abroad, seeking to hire a representative with regard to their immigration application or status.

You are not obliged to hire a representative for immigration matters. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) realizes that the use of a representative to assist in completing your immigration application is a personal choice. Please note, the Government of Canada does not recommend or endorse any individual representative.

Hiring an immigration representative is a personal choice. For your protection, you may request various opinions, a written retainer agreement or contract outlining all services a representative will provide, and obtain a receipt for all fees paid.

Here are some questions you may consider asking the representative before hiring them.

• Is the immigration representative authorized by a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), or the Chambre des notaires du Québec?
• Does the authorized immigration representative use an agent to complete the work?
• Where can I get more information about an authorized immigration representative and/or their company?
• What qualifications does the immigration representative have?
• What services will the authorized representative provide you and what are the fees for these services?
• Find a representative that is best for you and ask for references.

Is the immigration representative authorized by a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), or the Chambre des notaires du Québec?

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations state that only immigration representatives who belong to these organizations may charge a fee for conducting business on your behalf. Members of these organizations have membership identification cards which you may ask to see.

Using an authorized representative ensures that your immigration representative meets the standards of the organization to which they belong. If you are not satisfied with an authorized representative, you can file a complaint with their regulatory body.

Find information on how to verify the status of an immigration representative .

Find information on how to file a complaint.

Does the authorized representative use an agent to complete the work?

CIC will only conduct business on your behalf with authorized representatives who belong to a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. Often, authorized immigration representatives hire local agents to perform their overseas administrative duties. These agents should report to the authorized representative about your case. Any disputes you may have with the agent should be raised with the authorized representative and if required, the authorized representative’s regulatory body.

If you are considering using an agent, ask for their name and contact information (address, phone number and e-mail and Web site addresses). Also ask the following questions:

• What is the name and contact information (mailing address, phone number and e-mail and Web site address) of the authorized immigration representative whom they work for? (Keep this information for future reference.)
• What regulatory body does the authorized representative belong to?

For your protection, contact the authorized immigration representative before hiring an immigration agent to verify these arrangements.

Where can I get more information about an authorized immigration representative and/or their company?

To ensure that you hire an immigration representative that meets your needs, representatives should be able to provide you with information about themselves. For instance, they may give you their company’s Web site address, company details, information from their regulatory body, and a list of their qualifications. They should be able to clearly describe the range of services offered for the fee charged.

Visit the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Web site for further information regarding representatives appearing before the IRB.

You may also inquire about an immigration representative with consumer protection associations such as the Better Business Bureau in the region(s) where the representative works.

What qualifications does the immigration representative have?

Authorized immigration representatives can have a variety of qualifications. It is important to hire a representative with the qualifications that are important to you.

• To find out more about the immigration representative’s qualifications, you may consider asking the following questions:
  • Do they have a post-secondary education related to immigration and/or law matters?
  • Have they taken extra courses or passed tests offered by their regulatory body to upgrade their skills (i.e. language courses and/or professional development courses)?
  • Do they belong to any other immigration organizations?
  • How many cases have they submitted to CIC?
  • What experience do they have in immigration cases?
  • How successful have they been with immigration cases?
• To find out more information about the types of qualifications that an authorized representative may have, contact the regulatory body to which they are a member.

Beware of representatives who claim that you will get a visa, obtain citizenship or benefit from special treatment from the Canadian government by using their services.

What services will the authorized representative provide you and what are the fees for these services?

Regulatory bodies do not have set fees, but members must follow the standards in their regulatory bodies’ professional codes of conduct. You may obtain opinions from more than one authorized representative.

Consider asking the following questions before hiring an immigration representative:

• What services will they provide you and what are the costs for these services?
• Will you receive updates on the status of your application? How often?
• Do you pay the fees in advance, or do you pay as the services are delivered?
• Will you receive a signed and dated written retainer agreement/contract on company stationery identifying the costs and services they will provide you?
• Can you receive the retainer agreement/contract in your language of choice?

You may wish to keep all original documentation for future reference.
Please note: It is a serious offence to give CIC false or misleading information. If the information on your application is inaccurate and/or incorrect, you may be inadmissible to Canada for a period of two years.
For your protection, it is in your best interest to understand what you are signing and not to sign a blank form or application.

Find a representative that is best for you and ask for references.

You may obtain opinions from more than one authorized representative to ensure that their services meet your needs.

Any authorized immigration representative should give you reference information upon request. Contact the people named as references and ask whether they were satisfied with the service they received.

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