Immigrating to Canada is a dream come true to many, and just like any other important milestone, the process of immigration is not as easy. You will require expert advice to ensure your paperwork is all up to standard, and then you will also need to prepare, financially, mentally and socially for this transition. In this article, we examine the importance of getting a qualified immigration consultant and the likely process in engaging them towards your immigration process.
Who is an Immigration Consultant?
An immigration consultant is an expert, well versed in immigration processes and laws of a certain country or region. Immigration consultants may therefore, most likely be lawyers or proficient in immigration law, or they could be case workers who are versed in matters of refugee applications and resettlement. In Canada, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is a recognized, and certified professional in immigration. An RCIC is hired to evaluate a VISA applicant’s paperwork and applications and submit it for review. All authorized immigration consultants in Canada have to be registered by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) or (CICC).
Why Is It Important To Hire A Certified Immigration Consultant?
Most applications for immigration to Canada tend to fail because they were less prepared or qualified to immigrate to Canada. Some of the requirements are easy to obtain, and therefore sufficient preparation is key to attaining the points necessary to qualify for review. For laymen, these point structures are complicated and requires someone well versed in immigration law and policy to advice on which Visa status to apply for, and this affects the immigration status you might qualify for. A Certified Immigration Consultant understands the finer requirements to qualify for certain points such as work experience and spousal points.
For a new applicant, these rules are indeed quite complex and with over 60 Visa options, only a qualified RCIC can guide you through this maze based on your objectives. Whether you are seeking permanent residency, student visa with work option, permanent residency as a professional, or even asylum status, an RCIC will guide you to make sure you mark the correct boxes truthfully and to consider aspects that might be foreign to you. It is your RCIC’s work to file your application for you once they believe it has met all the standards for approval and they will be available for further updates and revisions on your applications where necessary.
Services Offered by Immigration Consultants
Immigration consultants in Canada offer the following services:
- Review and Evaluate Applicant profiles
Their in-depth knowledge of immigration regulations and requirements make immigration consultants the best in evaluating applicant profiles to determine whether they meet the basic requirements, and where to improve upon.
- Document Checklist
Immigration consultants check for validity of application documents. They know which institutions offer legitimate documentations.
- Writing applicant resume
The resume is a major part of immigration application and immigration consultants will write a detailed resume from the viewpoint of an industry expert.
- Preparing applicants for language test
The mandatory IELTS exam is a major obstacle to many smart applicants. However, an immigration consultant can train an applicant to answer the exam by training them on the areas of proficiency and grammar that would come in handy.
Overall, immigration consultants earn their income and status by how many applicants, who pass through them, successfully immigrate to Canada. Therefore, an immigration consultant will make sure their applicants become the most well prepared candidates by helping them earn points in every crucial area. They have to do this while also adhering to the ethical codes and regulations set out by the CICC and their overall responsibility to ensure applicants are qualified before entering Canada, rather than simply coached.
How to Check If Your RCIC Is Verified.
Immigration consultancy is regulated by the government through the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (CICC). The government regulation helps to streamline the practice by making sure only certified individuals and companies can operate as immigration consultants within Canada. As a prospective application, the first thing to don before engaging an immigration consultant is to check with the CICC list of professionals for an immigration consultant near your area or one who is most accessible to you. Some of the roles of the CICC is to ensure applications do not face fraudsters and to set ethical standards for immigration consultancy. These are the two main areas of concern for most applicants operating from outside Canada, and in some cases also for those seeking residency status within Canada but are unsure which process to follow. For foreigners chances of meeting fraudulent people purporting to be certified immigration consultants is quite high and this is why it is important to cross-check with the CICC list of certified immigration consultants first before engaging one.
When Should You Engage a RCIC?
Now that you know about RCIC and how to determine their validity, it is important to know at which point in your application process you should contact a RCIC. Timing is very important because some requirements require extensive planning and preparation to attain. For example, academic qualifications, language proficiency and work experience can only be attained after enough time, money and effort has been invested by the applicant. Therefore, it is best to seek out a RCIC when:
- Previous applications have failed
- If you want to maximize on the time you have and don’t have enough confidence in your ability to fill in all the requirements perfectly
- If your past features a criminal record
- If you are seeking a complex immigration status
Overall, these scenarios are not exhaustive as more scenarios might occur where an individual applicant may find it difficult to go ahead with their application. Some people might have attained all requirements but still find it difficult to attain the right confidence to file their application. This scenario is quite common especially amongst professionals in developing countries. Some Canadian provinces have a dire shortage of professionals but there are few such professionals seeking immigration to Canada for fear the process might be too cumbersome.