Protecting immigrants from crooked consultants

The Government of Canada has recently introduced new legislation in order to protect immigrants against fraudulent immigration consultants, sometimes known as “ghost” consultants. This legislation aims to ensure that only authorized lawyers, notaries, and consultants who are in good standing with a Canadian provincial or territorial law society may charge fees for immigration applications. If a consultant who is not authorized attempts to provide immigration advice or represent a client for a fee, this “ghost” consultant can face criminal charges.