Hiring a consultant? Do it Right!

Is a representative telling you he can guarantee your application will be approved? He can even fast-track it? No one can guarantee these things: protect yourself from fraud by learning more: Canada.ca/immigration-representative

Transcript: “Hiring a consultant? Do it right!”

Video length: 3:17 minutes

Title build: “Hiring a consultant?” text slides in from the left and settles on centre screen. Below the first title line, individual letters scale up to form the words “Do it right!”. Both title lines slide off screen right.

A red map of Canada fades up and slowly zooms forward. Five circular windows displaying animation-style characters pop up and float over the map.

Narrator: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people choose to immigrate to Canada.

Red and white diagonal bands wipe across the screen to reveal a person sitting at a desktop computer. Another person joins them at their side.

Transition to over-the-shoulder shot of person navigating Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) website and clicking the selection.

IRCC’s website text displays:

• “Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: How to apply”
• “How to apply”
• “How it works”

Narrator: During the immigration process, friends and family members may help you by filling out an application and communicating with us.

Transition to new scene where a person sits at a desktop computer and a representative stands next to them and reaches for the keyboard.

A graphic representing money appears at the top left of the screen.

Narrator: Some applicants also choose to pay for advice or representation to help with the immigration process, but you don’t need to.

Transition to over-the-shoulder shot of person scrolling through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act on the Department of Justice website.

Justice laws website text displays:

• “Immigration and Refugee Protection Act”

Narrator: Canada’s immigration laws say that only certain people can be paid to advise or represent you.

Transition to a new scene with 4 vertical-coloured bars (grey, blue, white and red). Four characters slide up from the bottom of the screen. Titles and graphics appear with each individual, representing a lawyer (map of Canada), notary (Chambre des notaires du Québec logo), consultant (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants logo) and paralegal (Ontario provincial flag).

Text displays

• “Lawyers”
• “Notaries”
• “Consultants”
• “Paralegals”

Narrator: These are lawyers who are members of a provincial or territorial law society, notaries who are members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, consultants in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, and paralegals in Ontario.

Red and white diagonal bands wipe across the screen to reveal an exterior university campus scene with people walking, standing and sitting.

A second panel slides in displaying a classroom or training scene with an instructor pointing at a diagram and numerous students.

A third panel slides in displaying a clipboard checklist and a certificate with a seal.

Text displays “Certificate”.

Narrator: These licensed professionals are educated, trained and certified to give you advice and guidance on immigration or citizenship applications.

Cut to a new scene with a certificate mounted on the wall. The camera zooms out to reveal a person at a desktop computer.

Cut to a new scene with a person at a desktop computer. The camera zooms in and a red exclamation point appears next to their surprised reaction.

Cut back to the previous scene as a red “X” is displayed over the certificate mounted on the wall. The person is alarmed. Cut to closer perspective of the person looking dismayed as the certificate slides down the wall and begins to fade away.

Narrator: If they break the law or act unethically, they can be fined, disciplined or have their licence to practise taken away. This is for your protection.

Cut to a new scene with a person sitting at a table in a coffee shop with a laptop. Floating circular windows appear containing characters with untrustworthy facial expressions. One character has green checkmarks behind them.

Narrator: Stay away from individuals who claim to be immigration consultants or lawyers, but can’t prove they are officially licensed.

The camera zooms toward the character with the background of green check marks. Transition to reveal the laptop screen displaying a website where the header is the character with the background of green check marks. The mouse arrow moves over a graphic page of text.

Text displays “Approval guaranteed!”

A representation of an application with a green checkmark and sun rays emanating behind it floats on the left of the screen. A stack of money drops down over the website.

Cut to the person at the laptop with an imagination bubble displaying an application with a green checkmark and sun rays emanating behind it.

Cut back to the laptop screen as the website scrolls down. A green arrow extends from the approved application representation to a pop-up appearing over a graphic of an outreached hand with a green checkmark.

Text displays “Pay now!”

Narrator: Beware of people who guarantee immigration or citizenship approval or ask for money upfront without providing any services or a written contract.

The mouse arrow moves over and clicks on the “Pay now!” button. A green background slides in from screen left. In the footer, faded green check marks in the background turn to red, and a yellow progress bar loads for a few moments, before displaying a pop-up.

Text displays “Payment received!”

An envelope icon appears at the bottom left of the screen with the number “1” indicating a new email message. The mouse arrow moves over and clicks on the icon, and the envelope opens.

Cut to the reverse angle of the person in the coffee shop reacting. The camera zooms in to a close-up of their upset expression.

Narrator: These people are not trained in Canada’s immigration laws and may take advantage of you, because they are not licensed.

Cut to a laptop screen displaying a pulsing red “X” over an application image. The camera zooms out to reveal an email.

Text displays “Subject: Application refused”.

Narrator: No one can guarantee the approval of your immigration application.

Cut to the person in the coffee shop looking disappointed. A drop of perspiration appears on the side of their head as they put their face in their palm.

Narrator: You could lose your time and money.

Dissolve to new scene of a person with glasses at a desk with a laptop. The camera zooms in to a medium shot, as an IRCC website screen slides up in the background.

Narrator: Be careful! Check our website before hiring someone for advice or to represent you.

The mouse arrow clicks on one of the selections.

IRCC’s website text displays:

• “Find out if your representative is authorized”.

Text overlays displays “Free!”

The website scrolls down.

Text overlays displays:

• “Find”
• “Choose”
• “Use”

Narrator: You will find all the forms and guides you need for free, along with information on Canada’s processing fees and how to find, choose and use a licensed immigration professional.

The website scrolls down to reveal a list of organizations.

IRCC’s website text displays:
“Law societies in each province and territory

• Law Society of British Columbia
• Law Society of Alberta
• Law Society of Saskatchewan
• Law Society of Manitoba
• Law Society of Ontario
• Barreau du Québec
• Law Society of New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
• Law Society of Prince Edward Island
• Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Law Society of Yukon
• Law Society of the Northwest Territories
• Law Society of Nunavut
• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
• Chambre des notaires du Québec (French only)”

Narrator: There is also information on the organizations that license these professionals.

IRCC’s website fades out, and the camera slides over as a new screen fades up on the right.

The law society’s website text displays:

• “Find a representative”
• “Find”

The mouse arrow moves over to click on a radio button. Text overlays pop up on the screen.

Text displays:

• “Fined?”
• “Suspended?”
• “Lost licence?”
• “Being investigated?”

Narrator: Check to see if the person you want to hire has been fined, suspended, lost their licence or is being investigated.

Cut to a close-up of the same person in a videoconferencing window on a laptop screen. The camera zooms out as a mouse arrow clicks on a green telephone circle button. The caller’s window slides to the bottom left of the screen, as the consultant’s video window appears and settles at the top right with call function buttons appearing below. The 2 callers wave at each other.

Narrator: Once you’ve done your research, you can then decide which licensed professional to hire for your immigration path.

The consultant’s window scales up and rotates to the left. Their green background turns red, their cheeks become flushed, and an angry facial expression is directed to the caller with white lines emanating from their mouth to suggest they are yelling. The consultant ends the call, and their window disappears, leaving the caller stunned.

Transition to medium shot of the person with a laptop and the law society’s website in the background.

The law society’s website text displays:

• “Make a complaint”
• “More”

The mouse arrow moves over to click on the “More” button. The website scrolls down to reveal a website form. The mouse arrow clicks in the field next to “Name” and in the words “John Doe” appear. Grey bars representing the text complaint populate the field below.

The law society’s website text displays: “Name: John Doe”.

Narrator: If a licensed person acts unprofessionally or unethically while representing you, you can submit a complaint online with the regulatory body that licenses them.

The mouse arrow moves down and clicks on the “Submit” button. A red message is displayed.

The law society’s website text displays:

• “Submit”
• “Thank you. Your complaint has been received.”

The law society’s website fades away, and the camera frame is adjusted as the person gives a thumbs up. A second panel slides in from screen right displaying the person from the coffee shop scene with a thumbs up. A third panel slides in from screen right with the person from the first scene with a thumbs up.

Narrator: It’s important to understand what the rules are and what could happen if you don’t follow them. Protect yourself from fraud. Know how to find a licensed representative.

Cut to a Canadian flag with the Toronto skyline in the background. The camera zooms out to reveal a smiling person sitting in a park.

Narrator: Your future in Canada could depend on it!

Dissolve to red map of Canada with website text overlay.

Text displays “Canada.ca/immigration-representative”.

A mouse moves toward the text on screen.

Narrator: Please visit Canada.ca/immigration-representative for more information.

The IRCC corporate signature is shown.

The “Canada” wordmark appears.