Immigration Minister Warns Consultants Over Unethical Asylum Advice to International Students, Writes to CICC

In a candid letter to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has sounded the alarm about a troubling trend. With thousands of international students flocking to Canada each year, the number of those claiming asylum has surged—and reports suggest some licensed consultants may be advising students to misuse the system.

Miller’s letter, addressed to CICC CEO John Murray, both praised and warned. While he applauded the college’s recent efforts to crack down on unauthorized immigration practices—such as shutting down over 3,000 fake immigration websites—he expressed real concern about the ethical boundaries some licensed consultants might be crossing.

My letter to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants related to the growing number of international students claiming asylum in Canada and potentially unethical advice being given by some of its members. pic.twitter.com/XUqYw0FIPm

— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) November 14, 2024

“I am concerned by reports that some of these students are being counseled by third parties to… provide false information,” Miller wrote. His message is clear: the asylum system should not be a fallback for students struggling to secure permanent residency. With Canada’s asylum system already under strain, he reminded consultants of their responsibility to uphold the integrity of the immigration process.

To understand why this issue is raising eyebrows, it’s worth looking at the numbers. In recent years, asylum claims from international students in Canada have jumped dramatically—by over 500%. In 2023 alone, more than 17,000 international students applied for asylum, a stark increase from just 2,500 claims a few years back. These applications have added pressure to Canada’s already stretched asylum system, which is designed to help people genuinely fleeing persecution or danger in their home countries.

The growing number of student asylum claims has led to longer wait times and diverted resources away from vulnerable people in urgent need of protection. IRCC’s data shows that processing times for asylum claims have extended by several months as the system tries to keep up.

Miller’s letter referenced Section 12 of the CICC’s Code of Professional Conduct, which explicitly states that consultants must not engage in or encourage dishonesty or fraudulent activities. In short, any consultant counseling a student to make a false asylum claim could be in serious violation of the code—and could face consequences.

“Counseling asylum seekers to misrepresent themselves would be contrary to the objectives of Canada’s immigration system,” Miller emphasized in the letter. He urged the CICC to investigate potential misconduct and to remind all consultants of their professional obligations.

For the thousands of students who come to Canada with dreams of building a better future, immigration consultants play a pivotal role in guiding them. But if that guidance veers into unethical territory, it risks undermining the public’s trust in Canada’s immigration processes and hurting those who genuinely need asylum.

To tackle this issue head-on, Miller has asked the CICC to partner with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to reinforce ethical standards and make sure consultants understand the consequences of advising on dishonest asylum claims. He requested the college to communicate with its members, reminding them that any advice on misleading asylum applications is both illegal and unethical.

As immigration rules and pathways continue to evolve, consultants are being called to a higher standard of accountability. Miller’s letter signals the government’s commitment to upholding a fair, transparent, and secure immigration process—one that works for genuine refugees and offers legitimate options for international students who want to stay in Canada.

The CICC has yet to publicly respond to the minister’s letter, but Miller’s message will likely resonate throughout the industry. With the spotlight now on the ethics of immigration consulting, the government may introduce even stricter oversight to safeguard the integrity of the system.

For international students and immigration professionals alike, Miller’s letter serves as both a warning and a reminder: Canada’s immigration system depends on honesty and trust. And as Canada continues to welcome thousands of international students each year, the importance of ethical guidance from consultants has never been clearer.