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RCIC client onboarding and retainer document package

RCIC client onboarding and retainer document package

The CICC file starts at retainer, not at invitation to apply. Practices that only open a folder when police certificates are due already missed the regulation's first requirement.

Direct answer

On the day the retainer is signed, collect the agreement, client ID, use-of-representative form, and a consultation record on a Hivi-X onboarding checklist. Then attach the program-specific checklist. See CICC client file management.

Onboarding vs program documents

Onboarding (day 0)Program (ongoing)
Signed service agreement / retainerPolice certificates, medicals
Government photo IDECA, language tests
IMM 5476 (or current representative form)Employer letters, proof of funds
Consultation summaryIRCC forms package
Billing / engagement confirmation PDFsTranslations

Keeping these mixed in one email label is how IMM 5476 is unsigned at submit.

IMM 5476 is a document, not a vibe

IRCC's Express Entry apply page lists Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] when a representative is hired. Collect it as its own line, signed by the right people, and reject incomplete scans.

E-signature can happen in Hivi-X's built-in signing or in DocuSign or similar; either way Hivi-X stores the final PDF on the client file. Comparison: DocuSign vs collection.

Consultation notes and CICC communication

Hivi-X keeps the documents and their review history. It does not capture consultation notes or WhatsApp — pair it with a communication log.

Trust money stays out of Hivi-X

If you hold client funds, CICC client-account rules apply (segregated Canadian account, deposits, reconciliations). Hivi-X is not a ledger.

Related: principal RCIC oversight, small firm standardization.

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Start a free trial or download the free Express Entry checklist PDF.

General information only. Not immigration advice. Hivi-X is document-collection software — not a licensed immigration consultant. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CICC or IRCC. Verify all requirements against current IRCC guidance and each client's profile.

Answers are general operational information only — not legal, tax, regulatory, clinical, privacy, immigration, or professional advice. Requirements vary by matter, client, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

When must an RCIC open a client file?
CICC's Client File Management Regulation requires a file when the retainer is signed. Do not wait for the first IRCC portal login.
What belongs in an onboarding package versus a program package?
Onboarding: agreement, ID, IMM 5476, fee/billing basics, consultation notes. Program: police certificates, ECA, employer letters. Two templates, one client.
Can the client sign the retainer in DocuSign and still use Hivi-X?
Yes. Upload the signed PDF onto the retainer checklist line. You can also send the retainer from Hivi-X's built-in e-signature, so signing and supporting documents live in one client file. See DocuSign vs collection in this folder.
Does Hivi-X replace a trust account?
No. Client-account / trust compliance stays in accounting software. Hivi-X can store a PDF invoice or receipt you upload; it does not reconcile funds.
How do I document the initial consultation?
Write the consultation notes in your communication log. You also log other channels (email, WhatsApp) separately; Hivi-X keeps the documents and their review history.

Collect complete immigration client files without the chase

Hivi-X helps Ontario RCICs collect passports, police certificates, employer letters, and IRCC forms with reusable checklists, the my-id.ca client portal, automatic reminders, and exportable PDF packages for your client file archive — alongside your immigration CRM.

RCIC Client Onboarding Document Checklist | hivi-x Docs