Ten Questions To Ask An Immigration Consultant

Author: Johnson Varughese | | Categories: Atlantic Immigration Pilot , Business Investment , Canada Immigration Consultant , Canada Study Visa Renewal , Canada Tourist Visa , Express Entry Canada , Immigration To Canada , Parent Sponsorship Canada , Permanent Residency Canada , Provincial Nominee Program , Self-Employment Visa Canada , Spousal Sponsorship Canada , Start-Up Visa Canada , Study Abroad , Study in Canada , Visitor Visa Canada , Work Permit Renewal Canada

Blog by Life Ashore Immigration Consultancy Inc.

If you’re looking for an immigration consultant, whether to help you with your immigration application or assist you with family sponsorship, it’s important to pick a reliable professional with high standards. After all, you want your immigration application to be accepted in the first attempt! Therefore, it’s essential to choose an immigration consultant that you can rely on for your immigration application needs. 

If you’ve never worked with an immigration consultant before, you may not know where to start when it comes to choosing the right one for your situation. To make the whole process easier for you, we’ve outlined ten valuable questions to ask a potential immigration consultant.

During your initial consultation, ask these questions to help you understand if this professional is the right fit for you, and capable of assisting you from start to finish of the immigration process.

1. Are you registered with ICCRC? What is your Canadian license registration number?
Every country has in place a licensing system to protect immigration clients. If you are dealing with a non-registered agent, you may get misled or misguided. A few companies claim to have tie-ups with registered agents overseas. These tie-ups should be visible on the government websites - www.iccrc-crcic.ca for Canada. You can also call the local embassy to check if your migration agent is registered with them or not. You should know the license or registration number of your agent or your representative. If your agent does not have this number, they will not represent your case, but rather file your case directly under your name, which essentially means that you are filling your case yourself.

2. Can I talk or correspond directly with the registered agent?
If you are paying someone to represent your case, it is your right to communicate directly with that agent to avoid any communication gaps. If your agent is making excuses in providing you the registered consultant’s details, you are better off not hiring that agent.

3. How long have you been in the industry? 
An experienced consultant will efficiently navigate you through the process of immigration and ensure that you make a successful application the first time around. As the longevity of an immigration consultancy is important, a few companies may also claim to be working in the industry for a decade or so. Verify this by asking them for their company registration.

4. How are you different from others?
See what strengths this agent or company has as compared to other competitors in the market. This will help you decide which agent or company you need to hire.

5. Which immigration program may be right for me, and why?
Before signing a contract to work with a consultant, the representative should be able to tell you which program is best for you and why. Be careful of consultants who try to prescribe a single program or who cannot explain to your satisfaction why the particular program is best for you.

6. What are my chances of success through this program?
No reputable consultant or lawyer can guarantee your success in an immigration program. If someone guarantees with 100 percent confidence that they will get you a visa, be careful! This is a big red flag. However, a consultant or lawyer should be able to give you some idea of your chances before you sign a contract. This is most relevant to you if you’re applying through Express Entry. Express Entry is extremely competitive - while you might meet the eligibility requirements for a program, this does not necessarily mean you will ultimately be successful in obtaining a visa or work or study permit, as the case may be. If you want to apply through Express Entry, ensure that your consultant or lawyer can tell you your approximate CRS score and whether or not you’re in the competitive range to receive an invitation to apply. If you’re not currently in a competitive range, you should receive reassurance that there are ways to potentially increase your points total, or perhaps pursue other immigration options as well.

7. What if my application is rejected?
Generally, you will hear a common answer in the market - “we will refund your money.” Offering refunds is not what will solve your rejection. Does your agent have the knowledge or registration to file a review for your file? Can they offer you alternates? Usually, the unregistered agents will leave you after the rejection as on the first stage as they do not have the access to case officers for negotiations. This is why hiring a registered agent is all the more essential.

8. What is your service charge?
Ask about the fees for all of the services that will be provided to you by the immigration consultant and how they will break down. A good immigration consultancy will be able to explain these clearly, and not be vague about how much they charge.

9. Are my family members eligible to apply? If I include them, will your fees increase?
Many immigration programs allow you to include your family members on the application. However, you should not assume that this is the case for the program that may be best for you. Check with your consultant or lawyer if you can include your family members on the application.

If the answer is ‘yes,’ then make sure you check how this will impact the cost of services. While adding family members can create additional work for your representative, any increase in cost should be somewhat proportional to the increase in their workload.

10. How frequently your immigration firm will contact me and update on the file status?
Ask the consultant how they will contact you and how frequently. Keep in mind that some immigration applications can take months or even years to process, so there may not be much to report on your case every week. However, the immigration consultant should be able to respond to your calls or emails in a timely manner and keep you updated when possible. In other words: they should be available.

Are you looking for the services of an immigration consultant to navigate the immigration process for you? Then reach out to us at  Life Ashore Immigration Consultancy Inc. Backed by a team of experienced professionals, we offer efficient and personalized immigration services and personalizing that match our clients’ needs and situations. Whether you are looking for express entry, study visa, or family sponsorship, we assure you that we will go above and beyond to help you make a successful immigration application. Besides immigration services, we can also help you prepare for your IELTS exam. 

We serve across Etobicoke, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Vaughan, Markham, Guelph, Milton, Burlington, Hamilton, Newmarket, Scarborough, St. Catharines, Canada, India, Middle East, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and many other countries.

To learn more about the services we offer, please visit our website by clicking here. To get in touch with us, please click here 



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