How to begin an Immigration Consultant Business

Canada has a constant need for immigrants who will add value to its ever-growing economy. Every year thousands of people are moving to Canada and thousands of people prepare to move. Most of them seek assistance from Immigration Consultants who offer advice in all aspects of the immigration process.

An immigration consultant needs to possess a license from Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and accredited as a Regulated Immigration Consultant. To obtain this, applicants are required to write and pass a Full Skills Exam (FSE).  It is required to submit an online application following instructions given on the website. When registrations close, the ICCRC will confirm exact locations of exam. In case there are not enough registrations for the nearest centre, so it would be needed to travel to the next closest exam centre. In cases where the applicant is required to take extreme travel to the exam centre, it is possible that Registrar may allow for writing the exam by remote invigilation.  One of the preconditions to access the exam is to have graduated from an accredited immigration practitioner’s program.

Required steps to access an exam are to:
•    Submit documents by required deadlines
•    Confirm the exam centre. List of exam centres will be e-mailed on time.
•    Pay exam fee online – the ammount is $400.00.
•    Download the FSE study guide with sample questions.

Exams are being held four times a year – February, May, August and November. After three weeks the results are sent to the applicant via e-mail.  If the exam is passed, the applicant has a deadline of 120 days to complete the registration process.

The first step is to submit the final documents requested in the e-mail:

•    Statutory declaration – Agreement to regulation – where the applicant  agrees to comply to the ICCRC regulation
•    Proof of Immigration Consultant Business Registration  – a proper business name and legal form would be needed
•    ICCRC Membership dues method of payment form – where a new member defines whether they will pay their membership annually or quarterly.

Upon reception of invoice, the applicant needs to pay initial membership dues. The annual ICCRC membership fee is $1809.25 plus applicable tax. Note that the fee can be changed without notice. For the first year the consultant will be due to pay only a pro-rate portion between the date of becoming a member and the year end.

Within 30 days of becoming a member, the new Immigration Consultant needs to submit a proof that they opened both the Business account and client (trust) account, where funds charged in advance are being held. It is required no matter the business has an intention to charge its clients in advance or not.

Each ICCRC member is due to maintain Professional Errors and Omissions insurance. The deadline for this is 30 days after becoming a member. After a new membership is signed, ICCRC notifies the insurance broker, who will e-mail the new member about all details needed regarding this insurance. Insurance premium is $235 (which can change without notice) and is paid directly to the broker.