Registered immigration consultants have rolled up their sleeves to combat ghost agents from exploiting consumers, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants announced Feb. 3. “Immigrants come to Canada because we have a reputation for protecting the vulnerable. And yet many immigrants arrive here only to be exploited by a ghost agent,” says John Ryan, CSIC chair and acting CEO. “Our mandate is to protect consumers of immigration consulting services through the accreditation of our members. Today we're taking further action to protect consumers from these unscrupulous individuals.” As part of National Immigration Protection Day the CSIC announced new initiatives, including a $1 million national advertising campaign. The ads feature the image of a shark eating a seal, a reminder that ghost agents see consumers as their prey. Ghost agents provide immigration services without holding the mandatory CSIC membership. They don't have to prove their competence and they're not a...

Many immigrants, leaving less than ideal circumstances in their own countries, choose to come to Canada in search of a better life. It's sad, then, that the first experience many of these vulnerable people have in Canada is one of exploitation. The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants drew attention to this problem last week, with the announcement of a $1-million advertising campaign. The campaign, which features the image of a shark attacking a seal, draws attention to the fact the unscrupulous, unaccredited immigration consultants -- known as "ghost" consultants -- treat prospective immigrants as prey. The ads will appear in a number of languages and will include a toll-free line to help immigrants find an accredited consultant. The society, which was created in 2004, accredits and educates consultants, and by law, members are only allowed to take money in exchange for help in the immigration process. The problem, however, is that consultants need not be members ...

Listen to Amir Ismail's upate on the transfer of processing responsibility from the Canadian High Commission Islamabad to Canadian High Commission London for residents of Pakistan. Click the play button below to listen. For more information please contact us on info@amirismail.com or visit www.amirismail.com