What is a ghost consultant and why is using one risky for my application?

A ghost consultant is someone who prepares or substantially advises on an immigration application for a fee, or otherwise takes a controlling role in it, without being authorized to do so. Only a lawyer, a licensed paralegal, a Quebec notary, or a consultant licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants may represent or advise someone in an immigration matter for a fee — a ghost consultant is, by definition, none of these, even if they present themselves as experienced or knowledgeable.

The risk goes well beyond simply paying for unlicensed help. Applications prepared this way often appear on paper as though the applicant completed everything themselves, when in reality the ghost consultant controlled the content, sometimes including inaccurate or fabricated information the applicant may not have fully understood. Because applicants remain legally responsible for the accuracy of their own application regardless of who actually prepared it, this can support a serious misrepresentation finding against the applicant personally, even if they did not knowingly provide false information themselves.

Verifying that anyone charging for immigration help is actually licensed, before engaging them, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid this risk entirely.