Quebec announces tougher rules on unethical immigration consultants
by Harleen Kaur - February 20, 2010
Quebec, February 20: Quebec has announced stricter norms for cracking unethical immigration consultants.
The latest move is aimed to combat fraudulent immigration advisors who cheat innocent prospective Canadian immigrants by making them believe that their applications for Canadian immigration can be fast-tracked.
A similar action is expected by the Federal government of Canada nationwide, although it is yet uncertain as to when it will be done.
So, as per the new rules by Quebec, immigration consultants desirous of practicing in the province will need----
• To clear a test;
• Show their knowledge of French;
• Have never violated any of the Quebec immigration laws; and
• Get registered with the CSIC (Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants).
Any immigration consultants found to be breaking any of the rules will be disbarred or face prosecution.
Quebec’s much awaited step to save newcomers is being applauded by the Canadian government and the CSIC.
The acting CEO and the chairperson of the CSIC, John Ryan, stated that the latest measures will make immigration consultants accountable for going against their professional conduct.
The Immigration Minister Yolande James stated that three types of professionals will be eligible for consulting services. These include—
• Lawyers
• Notaries
• Registered members of the CSIC.
An online database will provide updated list of all registered immigration consultants and those who have been debarred to work as
immigration consultants in Quebec.
This means newcomers needing the services of immigration lawyers will get access to a large number of competent consultants abide by professional conduct.
The move is to prevent increasing number of bogus consultants who make false promises and cheat several people of huge amounts of money. The creation of the CSIC way back in 2003 was to put a curb on the growing menace of bogus immigration advisors in the country.
The society has already caught hold of nearly 2,000 illegitimate consultants in the country through an ad campaign.
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