Responsibilities
The OISC is responsible for:
- Admitting immigration advisers into its Regulatory Scheme,
- Maintaining and publishing the register and list of advisers,
- Prosecuting those that operate illegally outside of the Scheme,
- Regulating immigration advisers in accordance with the Commissioner’s Rules and Code of Standards,
- Receiving complaints about immigration advisers irrespective of whether or not they are regulated by the OISC, and
- Promoting good practice in the immigration advice sector.
The OISC maintains and publishes a roll of those advisers that it has found fit and competent to provide immigration advice and services. This roll is divided into those that charge to provide advice and services (the register) and those that do not charge (the list).
Legal advisers regulated by the OISC must complete a detailed regulation process. They can be regulated at 3 levels of competence:
- Level 1 – Initial advice
- Level 2 – Casework
- Level 3 – Advocacy and representation
The Commissioner may refuse or withdraw permission to practice if they believe that an adviser is not fit and competent to provide immigration advice and services. The Commissioner may also take other disciplinary action against advisers found in breach of the OISC Rules or Code of Standards. These decisions may be appealed to the Immigration Services Tribunal. Legal advisers making applications for people to come to or remain in the UK are required to provide their full details along with their OISC number with each application to the UKBA.
Read more about this topic: Office Of The Immigration Services Commissioner