Hiring an Immigration Consultant? Only Hire a Member of the Canadian Society
of Immigration Consultants

MONTREAL , Jan. 27 /CNW/ - In light of recent events, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) warns consumers considering hiring an immigration consultant that their best protection is to hire a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant.

" Quebec has a long history of consumer protection. With tens of thousands of people a year looking to make Quebec their home they need qualified, well-trained people to help them make their dreams come true. If these people are thinking about hiring an immigration consultant to help them, their best assurance of quality is to hire a CSIC member known as a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant," said John Ryan , CSIC Chair and Acting CEO. "Our members are equipped with the latest information on immigration law, procedures and practices and they are held accountable to high professional standards."

The CCIC designation confirms that the consultant is an authorized representative in the eyes of the Federal government. It is available only to candidates who have successfully completed an approved formal academic program and passed a rigorous application process. CCICs must abide by strict rules of professional conduct and carry mandatory insurance coverage and contribute to a client compensation fund.

A list of accredited CSIC members is available on CSIC's website, at www.csic-scci.ca.

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants is the professional regulatory body for immigration consultants in Canada . Established in 2004 it currently has more than 1600 members. CSIC's mandate is to protect consumers of immigration consulting services. Consequently, it is responsible for ensuring the education, competency testing and the discipline of its members. CSIC also requires its members to carry errors and omissions insurance and to contribute to a compensation fund.

For further information: Nancy Tibbo, [phone], Toll Free: 1-866-308-CSIC, [email protected]