In this edition:
Annual Renewal 2024
The annual renewal process is a requirement for all Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs).
This year, you must complete the Annual Renewal Form through the College Portal.
Deadline to complete the Annual Renewal Form
The Annual Renewal Form must be completed between June 1, 2024, 12:01 am ET and June 30, 2024, 11:59 pm ET. If you do not complete the Annual Renewal Form by the deadline, you will be charged a late fee and may receive a notice of suspension for non-compliance.
Resignations
If you wish to resign your licence and avoid being charged the annual licensing fee for FY2024-2025, submit your resignation application by June 1, 2024, through the College Portal.
Payment of Annual Fees
Your annual fees will be invoiced to you through the College Portal under the Invoices tab. Failure to pay by the invoice deadline will result in additional penalties and the suspension of your licence to practise.
During the annual renewal process, licensees are also encouraged to review the current By-laws, Regulations, and Code of Professional Conduct.
Mark Your Calendars! New Education Session for Licensees to be Held in June in Toronto
The College will host an education session for licensees in Toronto this summer.
Licensees will be able to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours at the session, which will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Toronto Airport & Conference Centre at 655 Dixon Rd, Toronto, ON M9W 1J3.
The education session (topic(s) to be confirmed) will run from 1 pm to 3 pm and will be followed by a “Meet the Board” reception with the Board of Directors from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Licensees who would like to attend should register here before May 17, 2024.
New-Licensee Mentoring Program to Launch and Mentors Wanted!
The College’s New-Licensee Mentoring Program is a requirement for new Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and is developed to improve competence, ethical practice, and professional conduct in the profession.
The next enrolment for the New-Licensee Mentoring Program will begin in September 2024 and the College is looking for experienced licensees to serve as mentors.
RCICs eligible to be mentors will be emailed with details to apply. Mentors will benefit from enhanced leadership skills, contribute to raising the standards of practice across the profession, earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours and a stipend of $1000.
In the coming weeks, RCICs required to join the program as mentees will receive an email with registration instructions. Failure to complete the mentoring program promptly may lead to suspension of licence. Licensees required to complete the mentoring program will be provided with 2 attempts to complete the New-Licensee Mentoring Program successfully.
For questions about the Mentoring Program, please visit the College website, refer to the updated New-Licensee Mentoring Program Policy or contact mentoring@college-ic.ca.
Left to right: Stef Lach, Manager, Issues Management and Stakeholder and Government Relations, Ingy ElSeddawy, Investigator (Bilingual) and Sabrina Cigana, Coordinator, Corporate Communications
Out and About: Representing the College at Key Conferences and Events
The College was represented at the 26th Metropolis Canada Conference in Montréal, Quebec, in March. The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in the non-profit sector to discuss emerging policy needs, best practices, and research findings in the field of Canadian immigration.
College staff welcomed visitors to our exhibitor booth and had good conversations with people who work with newcomers to Canada, including some who have experienced fraud at the hands of Unauthorized Practitioners (UAPs).
These conversations emphasized the College’s critical role in keeping Canada’s immigration system safe from fraud and also highlighted the importance of raising awareness about using the Public Register to verify a consultant is licensed.
In May, College staff will attend the 19th National Citizenship and Immigration Conference (NCIC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This conference is hosted by the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) and provides learning and networking opportunities to RCICs.
John Murray, President & CEO, will join the panel discussion “LMIA: Recruitment and Ethics” with RCIC Peter Veress.
Later in the month, College staff will be attending the Salon de l’immigration et de l’intégration au Québec at the Palais de congrès de Montréal.
This annual fair attracts more than 13,000 visitors including temporary residents, prospective immigrants to Canada, and newcomers. If you plan to attend, please visit College staff at booth 205.
Specialization Program Registration is Open
Registration for the Specialization Program to obtain the RCIC-IRB class of licence is now open.
If you wish to enrol in the Specialization Program to obtain the RCIC-IRB class of licence, complete the Specialization Program Pathway Application Form and pay the invoiced registration fee before the Pathway Application Deadlines.
As you proceed with registration, please be aware of:
1. Limited Availability – Licensees are encouraged to register early as spaces are limited.
2. Course Schedule – Review the Course and Live Tutorial Dates Schedule before indicating your preferred group in the application form. Some groups do not include all 5 Specialization Program Education Pathway courses.
3. Program Withdrawal – If you withdraw from the program after registration, program and course fees are non-refundable. Refer to the Withdrawal Policy for more information on program withdrawal, penalties and deadlines.
For questions about the Specialization Program, please visit the College website or contact sp@college-ic.ca.
The College Portal is Now Online!
On April 2, 2024 we were pleased to launch the new College Portal – the all-in-one platform designed to simplify your regulatory tasks.
With a single sign-on, licensees can access their annual renewal, courses and programs, report CPD activities, pay their annual fees and more.
How to Log in to the College Portal
An account has been created for all licensees on the new College Portal. Please log in at your earliest convenience to verify your account.
Please follow the steps below to log in for the first time:
- To access your account, visit https://portal.college-ic.ca/
- Click the “Forgot Password” link. Do not click on the “Create a new account” link.
- Please enter your username, which is your registered email address and click the “Submit” button.
- You will receive an email with instructions on how to change your password. Please select a secure, complex password.
Please be sure to check your email in the coming weeks for important news and updates that will be sent to you directly from the College Portal.
Thank you to everyone who contacted the College about public confusion arising from use of the term “Restricted Practice” on the Public Register and on the website. This issue has been resolved.
If you have any questions or technical issues, please contact info@college-ic.ca.
The College’s Tribunal Committee is an independent adjudicative committee that hears and decides regulatory cases about licensees in accordance with the College’s core values of fairness, transparency, and public protection.
Below is a summary of the most recent decisions of the Tribunal Committee. Full decisions are available, without charge, on the Canadian Legal Information Institute’s (CanLII) website at:
https://www.canlii.org/en/ (please enter “ICCRC” or “College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants” in the “Document text” field).
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Discipline Committee Decision
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Licensee
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Jun Cheng |
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Company Names/Location
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Winners Immigration Consulting Inc.; Canmax Legal Consulting Group Ltd.; Canmax Immigration Legal Services Inc.; Trusty Immigration Sevices; and Kaiyao Corporation.
Toronto, ON |
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Proceedings
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Conduct, Sanctions and Costs |
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Findings
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The Disciplinary proceeding dealt with 3 complaints against the RCIC, and a finding of Professional Misconduct related to violating sections 3 .1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1 and 7.4 of the 2012 Code of Professional Ethics.
The facts found by the Discipline Committee included that the RCIC:
• Failed in their duty to provide immigration services honourably and with integrity.
• Failed to assume complete professional responsibility for all work entrusted to them and adequately supervise employees and agents who have been assigned specific tasks.
• Failed to conduct client affairs in an efficient, cost-effective manner, communicate with the client at all stages of a matter in a timely and effective way, and comply with the Code.
• Failed to be honest and candid when advising clients.
• Failed to exercise due care and knowingly assisted in or encouraged dishonesty, fraud, crime or illegal conduct and the provision of misleading information. |
| Outcome |
Licence suspension for 18 months; payment of a fine to the College in the amount of $20,000; payment of restitution to clients in the aggregate amount of $15,000 and completion of Practice Management Education Course: Ethical Practice.
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Costs
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RCIC is to pay costs to the College in the amount of $24,795.36. |
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Registrar Appeal Committee Decision
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Appellant-Former Licensee
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Osama Ebid
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Company
Name/Location
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Fast to Canada
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
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Proceedings
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Written Registrar Appeal Committee Hearing |
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Findings
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The Registrar Appeal Committee considered the Appellant’s appeal against a decision of the Registrar relating to their reapplication. The Registrar’s decision included requirements that the Appellant pay outstanding costs arising from the proceedings before the College that resulted in their revocation and to fulfill specific educational requirements.
The committee concluded there was no error in the Registrar’s decision. In the Registrar’s decision letter, the Registrar had accurately stated the conditions that the Appellant was required to fulfill to be licensed again. There was no evidence to support an error on the part of the Registrar or a breach of natural justice or procedural fairness with respect to the process followed by the Registrar. The Appellant did not make any submissions or provide any evidence to suggest why different educational requirements should apply to them. |
| Outcome |
The appeal was dismissed.
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Costs
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Costs in the amount of $2,000 was awarded to the College. |
The College is looking for some talented professionals to join our team.
Do you or someone you know want to be part of a team that protects the public by overseeing regulated immigration and citizenship consultants and international student advisors?
Policy Analyst
Research Associate
Interested in any of these opportunities? Submit your resume and a brief cover letter indicating why you feel you are a fit for the role.
For more information on these positions and the most up-to-date College career postings, visit the College's Career page.
Reminder - Career Opportunity at Queen’s University
The Faculty of Law at Queen’s University is accepting applications for several instructor positions. The instructors will teach courses in the Graduate Diploma Program in Immigration and Citizenship Law to be offered in the 2024-2025 academic year. The application deadline is April 30, 2024.
For more information visit Sessional Appointments | Queen's Law (queensu.ca).
Queen’s University offers the Graduate Diploma Program, the only English-language educational pathway for individuals who want to become Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs).