As per current policies of the Government of Canada , it is illegal for individuals and companies to consult on any immigration and visa related manner unless one is certified and approved . Dealing with matters relating to immigration/visas etc by unauthorized /crooked /ghost consultants may lead to legal action punishable by fines and jail terms. Canadian Government spends millions of dollars on reaching out to potential applicants on matters regarding choosing consultants.Authorised consultants should be members of bodies like ICCRC or Canadian Bar Societies .

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is increasing awareness by featuring a link to the ICCRC ( the regulatory authority for immigration consultants) website on their page. Under the new Canadian law Bill C-35 , unauthorized/unlicensed agents are not permitted to assist any individual in any dealings with the immigration department . Its application to the education consulting industry prohibits an agent from assisting a student in visa application , thereby not allowing any form of assistance in applying for a study permit . Anyone doing so as a part of their business would be committing a crime and harming the outcomes of the applicant student etc .Detailed information is available at www.cic.gc.ca Further to CIC releasing IP9 – Use of Representatives, ICCRC has developed immigration advisories for various affected industries.

Canada has just published revised regulations for its International Student Program (ISP), effectively concluding a process of consultation and regulatory reform that had unfolded over the past year. The new regulations will come into force in June 2014. The major change under the amended regulations is that only students enrolled at designated institutions in Canada will now be able to apply for a study permit (that is, an international student visa). Importantly, each province or territory in Canada will now be responsible for designating which institutions are eligible to receive international students. So far only British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province and a leading destination in the country for international students, has formally announced its intentions with respect to the designation process with a Education Quality Assurance EQA designation for colleges to accept International students.