Immigration representatives: How to file a complaint
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not get involved in disputes between applicants and their representatives. If you have a complaint about your representative, there are ways you can get help.
First, you must find out if your representative is an “authorized representative.” Authorized representatives are members in good standing of a Canadian law society, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
For more information about regulatory bodies, see Contacts under Related Links at the bottom of this page.
If you have a complaint about:
an authorized representative
* File a complaint with the regulatory body to which the representative belongs (e.g., the appropriate Canadian provincial or territorial law society, CSIC, or the Chambre des notaires du Québec).
an employee of an authorized representative
* Discuss your complaint with the licensed immigration representative. If you feel your concern was not dealt with properly, you may file a complaint with the representative’s regulatory body.
a non-authorized representative
* If your representative is not in Canada, send your complaint to the appropriate authorities in the country where the representative lives or works.
* If your representative is in Canada, file a complaint through the Canadian Consumer Information Gateway or the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus.
What if my immigration representative breaks the law while representing me?
If you know your immigration representative broke the law while representing you, they could be charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Criminal Code of Canada or the laws of your country of residence.
If the law they broke was immigration-related (for example, if your representative submitted fraudulent documents with your application), immediately contact the CIC office processing your application or the Canada Border Services Agency.
If your representative has defrauded you personally (for example, if they charged you a fee, but did not fulfil what was promised or refuse to return your passport without another fee), contact your local law enforcement agency.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not get involved in disputes between applicants and their representatives. If you have a complaint about your representative, there are ways you can get help.
First, you must find out if your representative is an “authorized representative.” Authorized representatives are members in good standing of a Canadian law society, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
For more information about regulatory bodies, see Contacts under Related Links at the bottom of this page.
If you have a complaint about:
an authorized representative
* File a complaint with the regulatory body to which the representative belongs (e.g., the appropriate Canadian provincial or territorial law society, CSIC, or the Chambre des notaires du Québec).
an employee of an authorized representative
* Discuss your complaint with the licensed immigration representative. If you feel your concern was not dealt with properly, you may file a complaint with the representative’s regulatory body.
a non-authorized representative
* If your representative is not in Canada, send your complaint to the appropriate authorities in the country where the representative lives or works.
* If your representative is in Canada, file a complaint through the Canadian Consumer Information Gateway or the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus.
What if my immigration representative breaks the law while representing me?
If you know your immigration representative broke the law while representing you, they could be charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Criminal Code of Canada or the laws of your country of residence.
If the law they broke was immigration-related (for example, if your representative submitted fraudulent documents with your application), immediately contact the CIC office processing your application or the Canada Border Services Agency.
If your representative has defrauded you personally (for example, if they charged you a fee, but did not fulfil what was promised or refuse to return your passport without another fee), contact your local law enforcement agency.