About us
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulates immigration advisers; ensuring they are fit, competent and act in their clients' best interests
We investigate complaints about immigration advisers and can prosecute those who operate illegally.
Who we are
We were set up under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Under this act the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and the Immigration Act 2014 we have powers to:
- limit or vary levels of work advisers may undertake
- lay a disciplinary charge against a regulated adviser
- apply for a restraining order or an injunction
- prosecute for illegally providing immigration advice and/or services
- prosecute for illegally advertising immigration advice and/or services
- enter an adviser’s premises
- seize an adviser’s records
Our structure
Our responsibilities
Our main duties are to:
- publish a code of standards and other guidance for immigration advisers
- maintain a register of regulated advisers
- refuse entry to or cancel advisers who don’t keep to our required standards of good practice, and discipline, restrain or prosecute as appropriate
- maintain oversight of the designated professional bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland with this duty
OISC does not provide immigration advice or recommend or endorse any specific immigration adviser.
Our priorities
We aim to:
- To ensure that advisers who enter the OISC’s scheme, or move to a higher OISC advice level demonstrate they are fit and competent to do so.
- require regulated advisers to take more responsibility for ensuring their continued fitness and competence
- identify and take enforcement action against persons and organisations acting improperly
- continue our efforts to spread good practice throughout the sector
- seek to raise further OISC’s profile and influence
- maintain motivated and dedicated staff equipped to do the job
Please note
www.GOV.UK is the only official UK immigration website and provides all of the information necessary to successfully complete an application.
We have received reports of customers using non-GOV.UK websites to support their UK immigration applications. If you have made use of these websites, please be aware of the following:
- Some non-GOV.UK websites deliberately attempt to deceive customers by making it appear as though they are an official part of the application process.
- These websites can pose a risk to a customer’s security and data.
- They will often charge applicants extra, unnecessary fees in addition to any fees related to the official immigration application.
- The information included on these websites is not moderated by the Home Office and may be inaccurate or misleading.
If you think you may have been a victim of a non-GOV.UK website seeking your data and/or money, please report this to
Reporting fraud and cyber crime |
Action Fraud.
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