IRCC reminds its clients who decide to use an immigration consultant to be careful to avoid misinformation and scams. Using a consultant is completely voluntary. It will not draw special attention to your application and does not automatically guarantee that IRCC will approve it. You can download and fill out all of the forms required for permits, visas, and citizenship for free.
Before you choose, we suggest you ask people who have used immigration representatives about their experience. Paid representatives must be authorized, meaning they have a license to practice and give advice. This includes lawyers and consultants. Lawyers and notaries must be members of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society or the Chambre des notaries du Québec. Citizenship and immigration consultants must be members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
It’s also important to be aware of and protect yourself from fraud. As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Anyone who encourages you to use false information in an application is encouraging you to break the law. Applications with false information could cause the applicant to be refused a visa, denied entry, or deported once they arrive.
IRCC will never ask an applicant to deposit money into a personal bank account or transfer money through a private transfer company. Processing fees are in Canadian dollars and they are the same for everyone around the world.
If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud or that you have been provided misinformation about your application, you can report it.
Check out the featured video below to learn more on how to avoid getting scammed!
