The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (known as the OISC for short) regulates UK immigration advisers to make sure they are fit for their role to act with their clients’ best interests at heart. This regulating body of immigration advice was set up by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
By virtue of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the OISC was granted certain powers, which included:
- being allowed to look at an immigration adviser’s records and premises;
- prosecuting advisers for providing or advertising immigration services or advice illegally;
- Regulate the levels of work which UK immigration advisers can undertake, which includes OISC Level 1, OISC Level 2 and OISC Level 3; and
- Bringing disciplinary charges against advisers in certain circumstances.
The OISC, therefore, holds an important role within the UK to make sure the standard for immigration advisers is kept high. To do this, one of the OISC’s main duties is to create and publish a set of standards for immigration advisers to be guided by. The OISC is responsible for registering regulated advisers and cancelling advisers who don’t keep to its standards. Unfortunately, some advisers do have to be disciplined or prosecuted depending on the circumstances, and it is the OISC’s job to oversee this.
The OISC wants to ensure that regulated immigration advisers are kept at exceptionally high standards so that they are competent to carry out their individual roles. Anyone not acting competently may be subject to OISC audits and enforcement action. With UK immigration being such a crucial sector, the OISC plays a vital part in trying to improve the fare of those entering or residing in the United Kingdom.
If you’d like to find out how we can help you at Pacific Legal Training, whether over OISC Courses or OISC exams, do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 066 2219.
