Canada is to introduce new regulations for immigration consultants to protect people hoping to move to the country from unscrupulous operators who charge exorbitant fees.
The rules may be introduced as early as next year and will cover Hong Kong and mainland applicants.
Consultants will be licensed by Canadian embassies and consulates worldwide, according to the Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong.
The plan was revealed by Canadian Immigration Minister Denis Coderre during a visit to Hong Kong and the mainland early this month. But he did not go into specifics and would not comment on how an unlicensed consultant would be treated by consulate staff.
Mr Coderre said a committee would examine the criteria needed to be met in order to be called a professional consultant. Embassies and consulates would then publish lists of consultants who meet those criteria. Consulate officials in Hong Kong said the plan would target immigration consultants worldwide.
Immigration consultants have operated for years in a grey area and have been largely unregulated. Clients may have to wait one to four years to know if their applications have been accepted. Paper work and legal and other advice provided by a consultant can cost US$10,000 (HK$78,000) or more. An applicant must tell immigration officials the name of the consultant who prepares his documents and represents him.