You might be wondering why a body such as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) needs to exist, given that most people in the UK probably have not even heard of the OISC! The OISC, however, plays a vital role within the immigration legal sector, regulating immigration advisers and thereby helping to protect the many families that receive immigration advice. To read about the benefits of becoming an immigration adviser, read our blog post here.
Raison D’Etre of the OISC
Simply put, the OISC’s purpose is to attempt to prevent migrants and their families from receiving incompetent immigration advice. By maintaining a list of immigration advisers that are allowed to give immigration advice, the OISC improves the public image of the immigration profession. Second, the OISC helps stem the tide of injustice that migrants in the UK can face…we have all heard stories of migrants who received the wrong advice. The OISC regulates the immigration advisers, OISC businesses and OISC organisations that provide immigration advice.
The story starts, though, with UK legislation, and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which make it illegal for anyone to provide immigration advice unless they are a qualified person. In fact, the OISC has been known to prosecute individuals who give immigration advice unlawfully, so it is imperative that people consider becoming accredited with the OISC if they want to give immigration advice.
OISC Accreditation
OISC accreditation can be complicated to understand, however what you need to know is that there are 3 Levels of OISC accreditation available: OISC Levels 1, 2 and 3. Each level governs the areas of immigration and asylum work you can carry out. OISC accreditation is, therefore, the stepping stone on which many begin their immigration career. To read another of our posts on OISC accreditation, visit this blog post.
OISC Courses
To find out more about OISC accreditation, take one of our OISC Courses. We hold courses across Levels 1, 2 and 3, all of which help prepare you for the specified level of OISC accreditation. You can view our upcoming OISC courses here on our website.
