Canada to discourage third party immigration consultants

The Canadian High Commission has decided to discourage visa applications made through third party immigration consultants.

However, it has simplified visa application procedures and also has increased its footprint by opening nine visa application centres across the country.

Dominique Collingue, counsellor, Canadian High Commission, said that the Canadian High Commission will not accept visa application forms from any immigration consultant who is not registered with the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC).

"All the immigration consultants are not bad, but all are not good either. We have nothing against immigration consultants, but people end up paying a lot of money to these consultants," said Collinge.

He added that when visa application procedures have become so much simplified, there is really no need for approaching the high commission through immigration consultants. If all the necessary documents are provided by an applicant at a visa application centre, a visa is granted in 48 hours, the official said.

"In cases where people might not be conversant in English and have a problem in writing it, we are ready routed these applicants through immigration consultants. However, others can take the direct route," Collinge stated.

The Canadian High Commission deals only with immigration consultants registered with the CSIC, which means that these immigration consultants, apart from having been approved, also have to pass a test of knowledge of in visa regulations, immigration laws and the like. Besides, these agents have an insurance policy to safeguard money of applicants.

"There is a set of rules that the CSIC has in place to ensure that the interests of the applicants are protected," Collinge said.

In 2004, about 20,000 Indians went to Canada on a permanent visa, while 48,000 went on a temporary visa. Temporary visas are issued to temporary workers, students and visitors.

With the opening of nine visa application centres across the country apart from the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and Canadian Consulate General in Chandigarh, Canada expects a spurt in visa applications in 2005 from the country.