Difference between revisions of "Immigration Law’s Players (18:III)"

“Shadow” or “ghost” consulting refers to the practice of offering immigration consulting services without the proper accreditation. While  these consultants are not authorized players in the immigration process, their presence is nevertheless significant, and often harmful.    Whether acting within Canada or outside Canada, ghost consultants will never appear in the official record of an application, and clinicians will hear only of the advice they gave to the client. Since many immigrants are unaware of the regulatory requirement for authorized representation, those immigrants are exposing themselves to censure and even findings of "misrepresentation" if they employ ghost consultants,  and CIC and CBSA will aggressively pursue such findings if given the opportunity. If a clinician suspects that a ghost consultant was involved in a file, he or she should seek input from a supervisor before revealing this fact to CIC and prejudicing the client. There are methods for pursuing and censuring ghost consultants provided in the IRPA and IRP Regulations, and clients may also have civil remedies against them in certain situations. LSLAP clinicians can assist persons wishing to file complaints or small claims actions against consultants.