Glossary · Paid help that is less than full representation on an IRCC or CBSA file.

Written service agreement

Practice slang: limited-scope retainer

Paid document advice, profile or web-form review, a checklist, or a final proof check. The applicant stays the principal contact. There is no IRCC form with this name.

On the official record

• Practice: paid work that is less than conducting the whole file. Typical scope is document advice, a profile or web-form review, a checklist, or a final proof check.
• The applicant stays the principal contact with IRCC.
• CICC Code section 24 still requires a written service agreement before consulting services, with an itemized list of the services and their scope.
• IMM 5476 still discloses the true help when someone is appointed to conduct business. There is no IRCC form named limited-scope retainer.
• Some help is not acting as a representative. Using the website, a computer or scanner, navigating e-services, viewing forms, translations, travel plans, or course registration does not need a representative form.
• A person who advises on which program to apply for, completes or updates the application as the applicant, or acts as the applicant is a representative.
• IMM 5475 is status-only access. It is not conducting business.

Common mix-ups

• Not a way to skip a written College service agreement on paid application advice.
• Not a checkbox that keeps IRCC mail flowing to the applicant after a full IMM 5476 appointment. The live 5476 page says the appointed representative gets all correspondence, not the applicant.
• Not a fee schedule. This site does not print prices.

Confirm on the official page

Start here: CICC Code of Professional Conduct, section 24.

The catch

You remain responsible for the information in the application. Paid representatives must be authorized. Forms and instructions on Canada.ca stay free.

What people mix up

There is no IRCC form named limited-scope retainer. A full 5476 appointment sends all correspondence to the representative.

Related

IMM 5476 · Web form

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