How to choose an immigration or citizenship representative

Choose your representative carefully

To find a paid or unpaid representative:

  • ask people you trust to recommend someone
    • Be sure to get advice from several people before you choose
  • ask questions
    • Be careful of someone who won’t answer your questions

If you’re hiring a paid representative:

  • find out if they’re authorized
    • This means they have a license to practice and give advice
    • If you choose a paid representative who’s not authorized, we may return your application or refuse it
    • If you give a representative money or compensate them in any other way in exchange for their services, they’re considered paid and must be authorized
  • ask about the representative’s training and experience
    • Ask for references and find out how long they’ve been in business
  • discuss the services they’ll provide as well as their fee
  • make sure to get a written contract and read it carefully before you sign it
    • Make sure it lists all the services they’ll give you and clearly states the fee you discussed

If you’re using a representative who works in Canada, you can also contact the Better Business Bureau. It can tell you if it has received complaints about a citizenship or immigration consultant, lawyer or other representative.

Tips to protect yourself from fraud

Learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud.

If you’re having problems with your representative, see:

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