Immigration Representatives

For purposes of the MPNP, an immigration representative is someone you pay and authorize to represent, advise, consult or look into the status of your application. A representative can be a lawyer, consultant or any other person, including a friend you hire to prepare your application for the Provincial Nominee Program.

MPNP has no official immigration representatives acting on its behalf and does not endorse or require the services of an immigration representative or recruiter. Any applicant or employer who uses the services of an immigration representative or recruiter does so at his or her own risk.

Anyone who uses the services of an immigration representative or recruiter in connection with an application to the MPNP must provide the MPNP with the complete name and contact information for the specific individual and company involved. Failure to give this information may result in the refusal of the application. Manitoba will only recognize or release information to paid immigration representatives who:

are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants or a law society within Canada
have signed the Manitoba Code of Conduct for immigration representatives
are named by the applicant and/or employer in a signed Information Release form
MPNP considers not to have engaged in activities contrary to the interests of MPNP program integrity as described by the Code of Conduct

MPNP is not responsible for the resolution of any disputes arising between applicants and their paid representative. Applicants may remove a named representative from an application at any time by providing a request in writing to the MPNP signed by the applicant. Applicants must remove an existing representative before changing to a new representative.

MPNP will disclose information to a maximum of one designated representative on each application. Under the Family Support Stream this designated representative must be the named close relative in Manitoba. Under the Community Support Stream this must be the designated representative for the community support agreement holder. Designated representatives must be named under the Authority to Disclose Personal Information of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Application form (MAPP). For purposes of assessing an application, the MPNP will communicate directly with the applicant whenever necessary.

Please consult our brochure Immigration Representatives: Who are they? What do I need to know about them? For more details about immigration representatives you may also find these websites useful:

New Federal Regulations for Immigration Representatives

www.csic-scci.ca

Manitoba supports new federal regulations requiring all paid immigration consultants to be either members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian law society or students-at-law under the supervision of a qualified lawyer. Effective June 1, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program will recognize only those accreditations for individuals acting as a paid immigration consultant or representative. Potential applicants are advised that Manitoba does not require the use of any consultants in the immigration process and are encouraged to deal directly with provincial staff.

This policy will apply only to applications submitted on or after June 1, 2004.Manitoba will continue to release information to representatives who have received signed authority to disclose from the applicant and have signed the Code of Conduct, on applications in process prior to this date.
However, applicants should be aware that if they are nominated by Manitoba and submit applications to CIC for permanent residence, CIC will only provide information to immigration representatives who are members in good standing of CSIC or a law society within Canada.
Manitoba will maintain its Code of Conduct and the requirement that it is signed by all applicants as well as paid immigration representatives with one change, effective immediately: immigration representatives may provide evidence of CSIC membership or membership in a Law Society within Canada in lieu of proof of status in Canada.
Any representative named on an application must still provide a signed information release from the applicant and Manitoba will continue to recognize only one name representative on an application.
Manitoba reserves the right to deal directly with the applicant, and only with the applicant, at any time this is considered to be in the best interests of Program Integrity.

What is a "representative"?

A representative can be a lawyer, a consultant or any other person, including a friend, who you hire, or ask for help, in preparing your application for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). It is someone you authorize to inquire about and follow up on the status of your immigration application.

Do you need a representative to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program?

No. The MPNP does not require you to have a representative. The application forms are designed to make them easy for applicants to understand and to complete on their own. You are welcome to contact our office with any questions about the application forms.

Be aware that:

All applicants are treated equally. Applicants with representatives will not receive preferential service, or be handled differently from other applicants.
Representatives cannot guarantee that you will get a nomination certificate, visa, obtain your citizenship or benefit from special treatment if you use their services.
Applications are free of charge and can be obtained at the address below. You do not have to pay a representative to obtain the required forms.
The MPNP is not associated with any representatives. If anyone tells you they are representing the Province of Manitoba, contact us immediately and we will give you the correct information.
Contact us at:

Who can act as a representative?

Anyone can act as a representative for the purpose of completing the MPNP application whether or not they charge a fee. If you choose someone to represent you, you must fill out #8 of the Manitoba Supplementary Information Form (MBSUP) and specify the name of your representative so that we may give them information on your behalf.

Be aware that:

The MPNP can provide information on your file to representatives who are either 1) Canadian citizens or 2) permanent residents of Canada. Representatives who live outside Canada, and are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents, might be unable to gain access to information on your MPNP file.

If you choose to pay for representation, how do you select a representative?

It is your responsibility to make sure that the representative you choose is ethical and competent to perform the services required. You should not be afraid to ask the representative for references or other proof that he or she has the necessary skills.

Lawyers:
Provincial regulatory bodies regulate lawyers practising in Canada. Only a lawyer who is a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial law society may practice law. The law societies can investigate complaints against members, impose discipline and provide financial compensation to clients who are victims of negligence or misconduct. Many lawyers will meet with you free of charge for a short consultation, after which you can decide if you want to hire them.

Immigration consultants:
Immigration consultants are not regulated or controlled by the federal or provincial governments of Canada. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that the consultant you choose is qualified to represent your best interests. You can:

Contact a local Better Business Bureau to find out if the consultant has a satisfactory rating or;
Ask if the consultant belongs to a professional association. Professional associations may have a code of conduct, entry requirements, training for members, and compensation financial or otherwise for dissatisfied clients. This information may assist you in making a decision.

Things you should know:

Be cautious when dealing with foreign-based representatives. Such companies or individuals may be outside the reach of Canadian law, and there may be no protection or remedy available in Canada to satisfy a client, should a problem occur.
Lawyers and immigration consultants charge for their services. These fees are determined by each representative and can vary significantly. The services outlined in your contract may also vary.
It is a good idea to ask lawyers, consultants or any representative how much experience they have handling successful immigration cases before engaging their services.
If you are successful in obtaining permanent resident status, there are services available at no cost to new immigrants. Examples of these services include obtaining a health card or finding a place to live.
If you have a representative, all correspondence, including requests for information and additional documents, will be sent to the representative.
Even if you have indicated the name of the representative you wish us to contact, you should give your own mailing address and the address of your representative. It is important that we have your mailing address as well because we will copy you on some correspondence, such as the final decision on your application.
If you change representatives, or stop using his or her services, you must notify the MPNP office immediately. We will then send you a form to sign, confirming your decision. Without your signed form, information may continue to be sent to the representative indicated on your application. Please telephone, fax or e-mail us for the required form at:

Telephone: (Canada 001) 204-945-2806
Fax: (Canada 001) 204-948-2256
E-mail: immigratemanitoba@gov.mb.ca

Note: We will only communicate with one representative at any given time.
You are responsible for any documents you or your representative submits to our office. Supporting documents are very important to your application and must always be truthful and verifiable.

Note: Submitting false or misleading information can lead to the refusal of your application, the cancellation of your visa, the revocation of your citizenship, your deportation from Canada, and even possible criminal charges against you. It can also limit your ability to reapply for a number of years.

What to do if things go wrong with your representative

Most representatives provide competent, honest services. However, there are some that do not. The MPNP cannot help you if you have a disagreement with your representative, as it is a private matter between the two of you.

Note: If you experience difficulties with your representative, you should file a complaint with the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. There may be time limits for filing a complaint.

What to do if you want to file a complaint against your representative

Find out if your representative is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or has a place of business in Canada. When the answer is "yes" to any one of these questions, you have these options:

If your representative is a lawyer, you can send your complaint to the law society of the province or territory where your lawyer practices. Law societies impose a code of conduct on their members to try to protect the public interest. They have rules for disciplining lawyers and compensating clients.
If your representative is a consultant and is a member of a professional association in Canada, you can file a complaint with that association. If your consultant is not a member of any association, you can ask the consumer protection office in the province or territory where your consultant works for advice. Some consumer protection offices may offer to contact the consultant to seek a solution to your problem.
If you believe your representative has committed an offence in the course of representing you, you can contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
If you wish to recover money you paid for services you did not receive, you can file a lawsuit in small claims court. You do not need a lawyer for this, however a fee will be charged and there is no guarantee that you will win your case.
You can report your problem to the Better Business Bureau in the province or territory where your representative works. They may offer to contact your representative to seek a solution to your problem.

If your representative is not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or does not have a place of business in Canada, you may:

Send your complaint to the appropriate authorities in the country where the consultant has a place of business or is a resident. The Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba cannot get involved in the matter.

Some important contacts in Manitoba:

Manitoba Labour and Immigration
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
9th floor, 213 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 1N3
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-945-2806
Fax: (Canada 011) 204-948-2256
E-mail: immigratemanitoba@gov.mb.ca
Web Site: http://www.immigratemanitoba.com

Better Business Bureau of Winnipeg & Manitoba Inc.
Room 205-309 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2J8
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-989-9010
Outside Winnipeg: (Canada 001) 1-800-385-3074
Web Site: http://www.bbbmanitoba.ca
Email Inquiries: bbbinquiries@mts.net
Email Complaints: bbbcomplaints@mts.net

Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Consumers' Bureau
Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs
302 – 258 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 0B6
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-945-3800
Fax: (Canada 001) 204-945-0728
Outside Winnipeg: (Canada 001) 1-800-782-0067
Web Site: http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/consumb

Law Society of Manitoba
219 Kennedy Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 1S8
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-942-5571
Fax: (Canada 001) 204-956-0624
Web Site: http://www.lawsociety.mb.ca

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Manitoba Branch
1091 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 2K2
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-984-6998
Fax: (Canada 001) 204-984-0813
Web Site: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Manitoba Telephone Directory
Web Site: http://www.mts.mb.ca

Small Claims Court
2nd floor, 373 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 4S4
Tel: (Canada 001) 204-945-3138

Contacting Citizenship and Immigration Canada

CIC cannot help you if you have a dispute with your representative as it is a private matter between the two of you.
However, you may write to the CIC office dealing with your case or to the following address to inform CIC of the situation.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Social Policy and Programs
Selection Branch
Jean Edmonds Tower North, 7th Floor
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 1L1

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Telephone Call Centres:
Montreal: (Canada 001) 514-496-1010
Toronto: (Canada 001) 416-973-4444
Vancouver: (Canada 001) 604-666-2171
Elsewhere in Canada: (Canada 001) 888-242-2100

Contacting Professional Associations:

If the representative belongs to a professional association, ask them to provide you with the appropriate contacts.

For more information please contact:

Manitoba Labour and Immigration
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
7th floor, 213 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 1N3
Telephone: (204) 945-2806
Fax: (204) 948-2256
E-mail: immigratemanitoba@gov.mb.ca
Web Site: www.immigratemanitoba.com