Overview
Understand what went wrong—and what can be recovered
A refusal does not, by itself, prove negligence. We compare the work the consultant agreed to do with the advice, documents and submissions actually provided. The question is whether a legal duty was breached and whether that breach caused a compensable loss.
Suspected fraud requires its own evidence: an error and a deliberate deception are not the same. We assess the relevant person or business, the connection to British Columbia, the available records and the practical prospects of recovery. This is a civil-claims service, not a promise to reverse an immigration decision.
Problems worth assessing
- Missed filing dates, incorrect advice, or an application submitted without informed authorization.
- False documents, concealed information, or misleading statements about qualifications or services.
- Fees taken for work not done, a file abandoned, or client funds not accounted for.
- Conflicts of interest, withheld records, or avoidable costs of correcting the file.
- Conduct by a licensed consultant, an unauthorized representative, or someone you understood to be a lawyer.
Three different routes—not interchangeable remedies
- Protect the immigration file: a refusal, removal notice or status problem may need urgent, separate immigration advice. A damages claim does not restore status or extend an immigration deadline.
- Report professional misconduct: a complaint addresses conduct and may involve a refund or other regulatory remedy. It is not the same as a court assessing all claimed losses.
- Assess financial recovery: a civil claim requires proof and a realistic recovery source. The CICC compensation fund concerns qualifying losses from dishonesty; it is not general negligence insurance. Check its current eligibility, limits and application arrangements.
How we assess a consultant claim
Identify the representative and the deadlines
Check who was retained, their licence and business, conflicts of interest, and the dates that may affect either the immigration file or a civil claim.
Reconstruct the work
Compare the agreement, instructions and filed documents with the required standard. Expert evidence may be needed; a disappointing outcome alone is not enough.
Connect the conduct to the loss
Examine what would likely have happened without the alleged error or deception. Separate demonstrable losses from assumptions, and consider reasonable steps to limit further harm.
Choose a proportionate recovery path
Consider the evidence, defendant, insurance or assets, costs, settlement and court options. The first consultation is free; a contingency arrangement may be available for a qualifying claim, with terms explained before engagement.
Before you decide whether to pursue a claim
I thought the person was an immigration lawyer. Does that change things?
The title used in conversation is not enough. Bring their name, agreement and registration details. We check whether they were a licensed consultant, a lawyer, or an unauthorized representative; the regulator, duties, insurance and possible defendants may differ.
Can I recover everything I paid or lost?
Not automatically. Wasted fees, reasonable corrective costs and other losses need evidence and a legal connection to the conduct. Lost opportunities or income require careful proof. Distress is not automatically compensable, and a judgment does not guarantee collection.
Should I wait for a complaint or compensation-fund decision?
Do not assume that either process pauses a court deadline. Have the civil limitation period checked independently, alongside any urgent immigration deadline. Prior payments and overlapping remedies must also be considered to avoid double recovery.
Can I pursue someone who had no licence?
Lack of a licence does not by itself eliminate possible civil remedies or reporting options. Identifying the person, where they operate and whether money can realistically be recovered is especially important. A fund for licensed consultants is not a universal remedy for unauthorized operators.
What if I am outside Canada?
We can assess a potential claim connected to a consultant retained or operating in BC. Your location alone does not decide the issue: jurisdiction, service of court documents, evidence, deadlines and enforcement all need consideration.