In Surrey, British Columbia, a troubling situation has emerged that exposes a significant flaw in Canada’s immigration consultancy regulations.
Despite having his license permanently revoked for serious misconduct, Raghbir Singh Bharowal continues to operate and even expand his immigration consultancy firm, Bharowal Immigration and Education Solution Ltd.
This case highlights a regulatory gap that allows unlicensed individuals to own and profit from immigration firms, potentially putting vulnerable newcomers at risk.
In this in-depth exploration, we’ll uncover the details of Bharowal’s case, the systemic issues at play, and what this means for Canada’s immigration landscape.
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The Case of Raghbir Singh Bharowal: A License Revoked, Yet Business Booms
Raghbir Singh Bharowal, once a licensed immigration consultant, had his credentials permanently stripped by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) on September 27, 2024, following allegations of severe misconduct.
The disciplinary action stemmed from complaints by three former clients who claimed Bharowal charged exorbitant fees—up to $40,000—for services between 2019 and 2020.
The CICC imposed over $110,000 in fines, including $68,875 in restitution to clients and a $50,000 penalty to the college, plus additional legal costs.
The allegations against Bharowal are alarming.
According to the CICC’s disciplinary report, he engaged in practices that included threatening clients with deportation, reporting them to authorities, and advising them to endure exploitative working conditions.
In two instances, clients who secured visas and jobs at John White Trucking, a Manitoba-based company, through Bharowal’s services alleged he silenced their complaints about poor working conditions.
One client was reportedly told to “keep his mouth shut” or face deportation, while another was pressured to withdraw a complaint filed with a temporary foreign worker adviser, with threats to cancel their visa and permanent residency application.
A third client claimed Bharowal held their passport until full payment was received, a practice that raises serious ethical concerns.
Despite these violations, Bharowal’s firm remains operational, with a prominent storefront in Surrey adorned with his larger-than-life image and signage advertising “Visa and Immigration Consultant” services.
Bharowal Immigration Solutions boasts over 300,000 TikTok followers, where the firm continues to promote its services.
Even more startling, Bharowal has announced plans to expand, with intentions to open a new office in Kamloops, British Columbia.
A Regulatory Loophole: Unlicensed Owners, Unchecked Power
The core issue lies in a regulatory gap within the CICC framework.
While Bharowal is barred from practicing as an immigration consultant, current regulations do not prohibit unlicensed individuals from owning or operating immigration consultancy firms.
This means Bharowal can legally continue to run his business, profit from it, and advertise its services, as long as he is not personally providing immigration advice.
Immigration negligence lawyer Eoin Logan, whose office is near Bharowal’s firm, calls this a “glaring gap” in the system.
“Immigration consulting companies don’t have to be owned by immigration consultants; they can be owned by anybody,” Logan explains.
“He’s benefiting, profiting off [immigration consulting] even though the college has deemed he’s somebody who should not be engaging in immigration services.”
This loophole allows Bharowal to maintain a public persona as the face of his firm, leveraging his social media presence to attract clients, many of whom may be unaware of his revoked license.
This issue is unique to the immigration consultancy industry.
In contrast, other regulated professions in British Columbia, such as law, prohibit non-lawyers from owning or holding majority shares in law firms.
Logan argues that this discrepancy creates significant regulatory challenges, as unlicensed owners are not subject to the same ethical codes and professional standards as licensed consultants.
This lack of oversight increases the risk of exploitation, particularly for vulnerable newcomers who rely on these services to navigate Canada’s complex immigration system.
The Broader Context: Misconduct in the Immigration Consultancy Industry
Bharowal’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of misconduct within Canada’s immigration consultancy sector.
With over 13,000 registered immigration consultants across the country, only a small fraction have faced penalties as severe as Bharowal’s.
However, the industry has long been plagued by issues of fraud, misrepresentation, and unethical practices.
A 2017 parliamentary committee investigation into the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), the CICC’s predecessor, recommended sweeping reforms to address these problems, citing years of poorly enforced standards.
For example, in 2022, Vancouver-based consultant Liza Lucion faced allegations of defrauding dozens of migrant workers through a fake COVID-19-related immigration program, leading to her license suspension.
Similarly, a 2020 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigation resulted in charges against four Surrey businessmen for immigration fraud, highlighting schemes involving fraudulent work permits and credentials.
These cases underscore the vulnerability of newcomers, many of whom invest their life savings in the hope of securing a better future in Canada.
Critics argue that the CICC has been slow to address these “bad actors.”
A 2025 CBC News survey revealed that more newcomers are choosing immigration consultants over lawyers due to their affordability and accessibility, yet the regulatory body has struggled to protect clients effectively.
A promised victims’ compensation fund, intended to provide recourse for those exploited by unethical consultants, remains non-operational, with regulations still under review as of February 2025.
The Human Cost: Vulnerable Newcomers at Risk
The consequences of regulatory gaps like the one in Bharowal’s case are profound, particularly for immigrants and refugees who rely on consultants to navigate Canada’s immigration system.
Hugo Velazquez, director of family settlement at MOSAIC, a Vancouver-based newcomer services organization, emphasizes the devastating impact of such misconduct.
“We have people who probably spent their whole life savings to come to Canada, and then they are fraudulently mistreated,” he says.
Velazquez advocates for stricter oversight, including regular audits of consultancy firms to prevent exploitation.
Newcomers often turn to consultants because they are perceived as more approachable and cost-effective than lawyers.
However, without proper regulation, they risk falling prey to unscrupulous operators.
Bharowal’s case illustrates this danger: his firm’s continued operation and aggressive marketing could mislead clients who are unaware of his revoked license or the allegations against him.
The fact that Bharowal still lists himself as a licensed consultant on LinkedIn further complicates the issue, potentially luring clients under false pretenses.
Proposed Solutions: Closing the Regulatory Gap
In response to growing concerns, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has signaled its intent to introduce new regulations to strengthen enforcement and protect applicants from exploitation.
CBC News reports that a proposed bylaw to prevent unlicensed individuals from owning or operating immigration consultancy firms is under serious consideration.
Such a measure would align the industry with other regulated professions and ensure greater accountability.
The CICC has taken steps to address Bharowal’s case specifically, filing its disciplinary decision in federal court as an injunction to enforce compliance.
The college also has the authority to issue cease-and-desist letters and pursue contempt of court orders against unlicensed practitioners who continue to provide immigration advice.
However, these measures are reactive rather than preventive, and critics argue that more proactive reforms are needed to address systemic issues.
Logan and other experts advocate for stricter ownership regulations, mandatory audits, and the establishment of the long-delayed victims’ compensation fund.
These changes would not only deter unethical behavior but also provide a safety net for clients who suffer financial losses due to misconduct.
Additionally, increasing public awareness about how to verify a consultant’s credentials—such as checking their status with the CICC—could empower newcomers to make informed decisions.
The Path Forward: Protecting Canada’s Newcomers
The case of Raghbir Singh Bharowal serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within Canada’s immigration consultancy industry.
While the CICC’s disciplinary actions demonstrate a commitment to addressing misconduct, the ability of unlicensed individuals to own and operate firms undermines these efforts.
Closing this regulatory gap is essential to protecting newcomers, many of whom are already navigating significant challenges as they build new lives in Canada.
As Ottawa works to develop new regulations, stakeholders like Velazquez and Logan emphasize the urgency of reform.
By implementing stricter ownership rules, enhancing enforcement mechanisms, and establishing a functional compensation fund, Canada can better safeguard its immigration system and ensure that those seeking to contribute to the country are not exploited by unethical operators.
A Call to Action
The ongoing operation of Bharowal Immigration and Education Solution Ltd., despite its owner’s revoked license, exposes a critical flaw in Canada’s immigration consultancy regulations.
This loophole not only undermines the integrity of the system but also puts vulnerable newcomers at risk of exploitation.
As the government considers new bylaws to address these issues, the public must stay informed and advocate for stronger protections.
For now, Bharowal’s case serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for urgent reform to ensure that Canada’s immigration system remains fair, transparent, and trustworthy.
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