Demystifying The “I”s, The “C”s & The “R”s Of Canadian Immigration

IRCC, ICCRC, RCIC, CICC, CAPIC!


To be honest, at first glance it seems like a pocket text sent by mistake. Looking closely, you realise that these are rather indispensable & esteemed organisations which play a pivotal role in functioning of modern Canadian Immigration system. To further clarify the WHO, WHAT & WHY of these organisations lets talk about them one at a time and by the time you will be done reading you will already be smarter than “average Joe”.


IRCC


If you wish to step foot on Canadian Soils, your interaction with this department is inevitable. This is the department from where you receive your approval/refusal letters, as all the applications for entry into Canada rise and fall here.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the name given to the Canadian federal department that facilitates the arrival of immigrants to Canada, provides protection to refugees, and offers programs to help newcomers settle in Canada. IRCC also grants citizenship, issues travel documents (such as passports) to Canadians.


ICCRC


Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is the national regulatory body that promotes and
protects the public interest by overseeing regulated immigration and citizenship consultants and international student advisors. ICCRC’s current federal mandate stems from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Citizenship Act which require anyone providing Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee or other consideration to be a member in good standing of ICCRC.
In other words, this organisation is responsible for licensing individuals, if they meet the other criteria, who can represent and advice clients pertaining to Canadian immigration and regulating them.


RCIC


Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant is an individual who is licensed and regulated by ICCRC and is a member in good standing with apex body. The only people other a RCIC who can provide advice clients in lieu of compensations are Lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian law society and Quebec notaries.
Please make sure to check the legitimacy of your consultant before paying them or entering into any contract.


CICC


The Regulatory body for Immigration Consultants in Canada, Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, (IRCC) has now transitioned to CICC, College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.
A parliamentary committee had reviewed ICCRC in 2018 and made many recommendations. As a result, CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship consultants) came into force in November 2020, with a mandate to replace ICCRC on 23rd November 2021.All consultants licensed by ICCRC are now members of the CICC automatically. Their license numbers also remain the same. CICC through an Act of Parliament will now have a wide range of powers. CICC would now be able to raid and investigate offices of corrupt practitioners.


CAPIC


The Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) is the professional organization for immigration and citizenship consultants. Instead of being a regulatory body this organisation is rather an association of RCICs. It is a platform for the member RCICs to keep themselves updated and abreast with latest Canadian Immigration activities. It is a great platform for exchange of knowledge.

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