15.The Act sets out provisions for the regulation of immigration advisers. They provide for the appointment of an Immigration Services Commissioner to administer this. Only persons who register with the Commissioner, or persons authorised by the various legal professional bodies (such as the Law Society or Bar Council), or who fall into certain other categories, will be able to give immigration advice or provide immigration services. The Act sets out the criteria for the appointment of the Commissioner, his deputy and staff and their funding. It makes provision for an Immigration Services Tribunal before which the Commissioner may lay disciplinary charges and to which aggrieved persons may appeal against certain findings of the Commissioner. It also creates an offence of giving immigration advice or providing immigration services when not permitted to do so; and gives the courts power to restrain unauthorised persons from giving immigration advice or providing immigration services.
Summary Immigration advisers and immigration service providers