The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Officially Opened Today
Today, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) formally became the official regulator of immigration and citizenship consultants across Canada.
The CICC will have significant new powers and tools to investigate professional misconduct and to discipline its licensees. It will also be subject to appropriate government oversight. Its main goal is to protect the public and strengthen Canada’s immigration system.
“It will be an arm’s-length institution, regulating the profession,” said IRCC on a news release. Moreover, the College will protect both “the public and consultants” in good standing from those who take advantage of people.
The College can protect the public from unlicensed consultants by
- entering a consultant’s premises to gather information for an investigation
- compelling witnesses to appear and testify before its Discipline Committee
- requesting court injunctions to address unlicensed actors providing immigration or citizenship advice without authorization
Opening conference
The virtual conference was hosted by John Murray, President & CEO of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Stan Belevici, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and former Chair (officer) of ICCRC, was also part of this presentation. During the launch, Murray and Belevici introduced the new logo, new certificates, and the new CICC’S website which promises to be user-friendly.
Furthermore, they played a video of the new Minister of Immigration, Sean Fraser, who congratulated and showed his support to CICC.
“We have an obligation to protect those who wish to come to our country—and we’re fulfilling it. The new College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants will ensure that aspiring Canadians get the professional and honest advice they deserve, and strengthen our immigration system so it can continue building the Canada of the future.” – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
In addition, institutions like the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) welcomed the new entity:
“The opening of the College marks the culmination of a years-long advocacy effort by CAPIC to achieve federal statute and self-regulation for the consultancy profession. With the advent of the College, the protection of the public will be enhanced with improved safeguards.”
Moreover, CAPIC thanks the Government of Canada for their work bringing the College to fruition. “We would also like to thank the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to achieve this objective, without whom we could not celebrate this achieve today.” Said CAPIC in a newsletter.
Read: What is ICCRC, IRCC, RCIC, CIC, and CAPIC?
Current Practitioners
If you have hired a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, don’t panic! They remain the authorized representatives. Current practitioners will soon receive a new certificate and card, with the logo of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.
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