What to ask before hiring a Canadian immigration advisor or attorney?

Do you intend to apply for immigration to Canada and require assistance? You are joining the many thousands of people who seek assistance with Canadian immigration from regulated Canadian immigration advisors and attorneys each year.

Though not required, engaging with an immigration consultant or lawyer is an excellent choice if you want expert advice on your application or just want to relieve stress by having someone else do the heavy lifting. But be cautious! The Canadian immigration sector is riddled with deception.

Working with a consultant who has been suggested by someone you trust is one of the greatest strategies for avoiding getting scammed. That’s why we recommend, CVIS IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – Canadian immigration professionals with years of expertise and excellent comments from our community.

You may, however, take extra precautions to prevent being misled. We highly advise you to ask the following questions to any Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer with whom you are contemplating working. A few simple inquiries upfront might save you thousands of dollars, not to mention your time and energy.

CVIS IMMIGRATION PROFESSIONAL TIP: Get these questions addressed in writing whenever possible so that you have documentation to turn to if you need it in the future.

What is your RCIC registration number or your provincial bar association listing?

All paid Canadian immigration agents are required to hold the proper license to practice as an immigration consultant or attorney. You shouldn’t work with a representative if they can’t provide documentation of their qualifications.

For consultants who are members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), which regulates Canadian immigration, they must possess a current RCIC number proving they are in good standing (CICC). Get the RCIC number of your consultant and look up their status on this website.

For immigration attorneys in Canada: Their provincial or territorial bar organization regulates attorneys. Before you sign a contract or send any money, ask your attorney to send you a link to their listing.

Please be aware that paralegals may also represent you on your application in Ontario, but they must be members in good standing of the Ontario Bar Association. Notaries may also act as your representative in Quebec, but they must be in good standing with the Quebec Chamber of Notaries. Finally, unpaid representatives may also represent you, but only if they do not ask for cash or other forms of remuneration in exchange for their services.

Similar services are offered by immigration consultants and attorneys in terms of providing advice, creating documentation, and filing applications. While it is allowed for attorneys to represent individuals in court, very few immigration applications ever go to trial, typically because of a foreseen problem. In the end, neither consultants nor attorneys are necessarily “better.” It is best to weigh the qualities of each expert or attorney you speak with, and to judge them according to their background and recommendations.

How much will your services cost in total, and what is the payment schedule?

Make sure to estimate the whole cost in your own currency and determine whether it is within your means. Keep in mind that hiring a representative is not required; thus, if the financial burden will be too great, you can make a valiant effort to complete part or all of the application process on your own.

Comparing the prices of several experts and attorneys might help you find peace of mind by helping you determine what is acceptable and what is excessive.

Understanding the payment mechanism is crucial. When are you supposed to start paying? Is there a promise that the job will be finished in between payments? Do taxes figure in?

Make sure you have a contract or retainer agreement that specifies all costs and is signed by both sides. If you are working with Canadian immigration agents, never rely on verbal commitments.

What to ask before hiring a Canadian immigration advisor or attorney?

How long is our contract/retainer valid? Is the complete immigration procedure covered or only a portion of it?

Make sure you understand how long your retainer agreement or contract will run in relation to the stated or anticipated processing period of your chosen immigration program before you sign it.

For instance, the processing of your application under the family class immigration’s spousal sponsorship stream is expected to take 12 months or longer from the day your application is submitted. If the duration of your legal retainer is simply six months, something is not right.

Express Entry CVIS Tip: Some attorneys and consultants may charge you one cost for the building of your Express Entry profile and a completely different amount for the application following your ITA. Ensure that everything is covered under your contract. And think about creating your Express Entry profile on your own; it’s doable!

Does your company provide ad-hoc consultations?

One-time consultations are offered by the majority of trustworthy consultants and attorneys that provide personal immigration services. You can schedule an appointment with the consultant or attorney for a single session to go through your personal information and your needs for Canadian immigration. Your best alternatives will be selected by the consultant or attorney, who will also go through them with you. You may now sign a retainer agreement to have the consultant or lawyer handle your application if you need help with the procedure. If you decide to establish a retainer with a lawyer or consultant, many are gracious enough to subtract the cost of the initial consultation from the standard price they charge.

This kind of conversation is not always required. For instance, if you are aware that you qualify for a program and that you need help. The refusal of a lawyer or consultant to give a single consultation to go through your alternatives, however, should raise a red flag.

Which immigration route, if any, is likely to be suitable for me, and why?

The representative should be able to explain which program is most suitable for you before you sign a contract to work with a consultant or lawyer, as well as why. Watch out for consultants or attorneys who try to prescribe a single course of action or who are unable to satisfactorily explain why a certain course of action is appropriate for you.

How likely am I to succeed in this program?

Be aware that no respectable consultant or attorney can promise that you will be successful in an immigration program. Be wary if someone promises to obtain a visa for you with absolute certainty! This is a huge warning sign.

Before you sign a contract, a consultant or attorney should be able to give you a general estimate of your prospects. If you’re using Express Entry to submit your application, this applies to you the most. You could be eligible for a program, but since Express Entry is so competitive, there is no guarantee that you will eventually be granted a visa, work permit, or study permit.

Make sure your consultant or attorney can provide you with an estimate of your CRS score and an assessment of your chances of receiving an invitation to apply if you choose to submit an Express Entry application. You should be reassured that there are ways to perhaps boost your point total or possibly explore alternative immigration possibilities if you’re not now in a competitive range.

Can my relatives submit applications? Are your costs going to go up if I add them?

You can apply for several immigration programs with your family members included. However, you shouldn’t assume that the program that could be the greatest fit for you operates in this manner. If you have any questions about including your family on the application, ask your consultant or lawyer.

If the response is “yes,” be sure to find out how this will affect the price of services. While having more family members might give your representative more work, any pricing increase should be roughly proportionate to the increase in their effort.

Check out read CVIS Immigration post on the warning signs of phony consultants and attorneys if you’re still uncertain about hiring a lawyer or consultant.