ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 286 - March 18, 2011

Proposed Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Authorized Representatives)

This Operational Bulletin has expired.

Issue

The purpose of this Operational Bulletin (OB) is to clarify that the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) remains the governing body for immigration consultants. CSIC members are recognized as authorized representatives under Section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).

Background

Regulations have been pre-published in the Canada Gazette indicating that the CSIC may be replaced with a new regulatory body, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

Section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act indicates that Regulations may govern who may represent a person who is the subject of a proceeding before the Minister, an officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board.

The IRPR define “authorized representative” as an individual who is a member in good standing with a Canadian provincial/territorial law society, the Chambre des notaires du Québec or CSIC.

Instructions

The Regulations have not changed. CSIC continues to be the regulator of immigration consultants and CSIC members in good standing continue to be recognized as authorized representatives. The existing procedures as described in the IP 9 chapter “Use of Representatives Paid or Unpaid” should continue to be followed.

Should the proposed Regulations become enacted, further instructions will be issued indicating how transition from CSIC to a new regulator would affect processing of cases already in process and new cases.