How to Verify an Immigration Consultant and Protect Yourself From Immigration Fraud

Immigration fraud and ghost consulting are serious problems in Canada. Only licensed RCIC and RCIC-IRB consultants are legally authorized to provide immigration advice for compensation. This guide explains how to verify a consultant and what to do if you suspect fraud.

This resource explains who is legally authorized to provide immigration advice and representation in Canada, how to verify a consultant's credentials using the CICC public register, the warning signs of immigration fraud, and how to report unauthorized consultants.

Immigration fraud devastates lives. Individuals who pay unauthorized consultants — sometimes called 'ghost consultants' or 'immigration agents' — risk having fraudulent applications submitted in their names, losing significant sums of money, and being barred from Canada for misrepresentation. The harm is often irreversible. Knowing how to verify a consultant before engaging their services is one of the most important steps anyone can take before pursuing an immigration matter.