The Globe and Mail reported today that there are more unregistered immigration consultants in Canada than registered members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC). According to the article, CSIC investigators have tracked nearly 2,000 “ghost” consultants in Canada who are providing unethical advice and in some cases counseling prospective immigrants to commit fraud for fees that range between $1,200 and $30,000 each. CSIC itself has only 1,655 registered members.

We have previously raised the issue of immigration consultants in our article on choosing a legal representative for a Canadian immigration matter. Unlike in the United States, registered Canadian immigration consultants are deemed not to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) if they represent clients in Canadian immigration matters (practicing U.S. immigration law is still considered UPL). However, CSIC has no authority to enforce ethical rules against unregistered consultants and has been only marginally successful in disciplining its own members.

The Globe and Mail article is available here.