Who can legally charge for immigration help
- RCICs, licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
- Lawyers and paralegals who are members of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society
- Notaries who are members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec
Anyone else who charges a fee for Canadian immigration advice, including many "agents" abroad, is breaking Canadian law. Friends and family can help for free.
What each can do
| Work | RCIC | Immigration lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Study, work and visitor applications | Yes | Yes |
| Express Entry, PNP and other PR applications | Yes | Yes |
| Family sponsorship | Yes | Yes |
| Responding to IRCC letters and refusals | Yes | Yes |
| Representing clients with IRCC | Yes | Yes |
| Federal Court (judicial review) | No | Yes |
For Federal Court, RCICs work with immigration lawyers. At Trueman Immigration, Manu Sharma, RCIC, handles applications and works with lawyers when a case needs court.
How to check a licence
- Search the consultant's name on the CICC public register and check the status is active.
- For a lawyer, check their provincial law society directory.
- Ask for a written retainer agreement that sets out the work and fees before you pay.
See how to check Manu Sharma's licence.
Red flags to avoid
- Guaranteed approval: no one can promise a visa.
- Selling job offers or LMIAs: that's illegal.
- Asking you to lie or use false documents.
- Payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or to a personal account.
- No written agreement, or a name you can't find on any register.
Next steps
- Meet our licensed consultant: Manu Sharma, RCIC.
- See everything we help with on our services page.
- Not sure what you need? Start with a free assessment.