Why seek the help of a professional in immigration?
First and foremost, you are under no obligation to hire a professional for your immigration procedures. You are entirely free to complete the process on your own.
Who to choose?
Two professions are legally authorized to advise and assist you with your immigration procedures.
- Immigration lawyer – member of a Canadian Bar (Barreau du Québec)
- Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) – regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. They comply with provincial requirements related to the profession (which vary by province).
In Quebec, notaries with expertise in immigration law – members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec – are also authorized.
Each professional organization maintains a registry of all regulated immigration professionals who are in compliance with their ethical obligations.
A lawyer or an RCIC is there to support you throughout your immigration process. They act as an advisor and partner during the development of your immigration project, whether it’s for obtaining a work permit, a study permit, or any other document.
As a general rule, immigration professionals do not offer job search assistance services. Do you have a job offer from an employer who is ready to hire you and support you in your immigration process? A lawyer or an RCIC will assist you until you obtain your work permit.
Why seek the help of a professional?
Whether it’s due to lack of time, a complex case, or for added peace of mind, there are many reasons to seek help from a professional!
An immigration professional will help you explore the options available and the steps you can take based on your individual profile.
Depending on the challenges you face, whether it’s a specific family situation, a medical or criminal record, or time constraints, both lawyers and RCICs will offer solutions tailored to your situation.
Relying on a professional to manage the administrative steps offers a sense of reassurance.
When to seek help from a professional?
It’s important to know that a professional generally cannot assist you once your application has been submitted to the authorities. While some professionals may agree to do so, it is best to designate them as your representative at the beginning of the process.
If you receive a refusal, you can also work with an immigration professional to help identify the reasons for the refusal. When possible, they can contact the authorities to request a reassessment of your application.
A lawyer or RCIC can also be consulted on a one-time basis, to assess your immigration options or to address a specific concern. The possibilities are numerous!
You may also opt to retain a professional to guide you through every step of the process, all the way to securing your desired immigration status.
Benefits
Beyond peace of mind, having professional support increases the chances of success for your project. While the final decision on an application always rests with the competent authorities, working with a professional helps avoid the most common mistakes.
As for processing times, the timelines provided by the government are non-negotiable and apply to everyone. However, thanks to their expertise, a professional can submit your application promptly upon receiving the required documents. This ensures full compliance with the authorities’ expectations, helping to avoid additional requests or refusals due to missing documents.
Choosing the right program can also help avoid wasting weeks or even months following the wrong immigration path.
Immetis is a law firm and a team of regulated consultants in immigration and professional mobility to Canada. We support individuals from around the world in all their efforts to settle in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.
If you have any questions, or if you would like guidance in identifying the best immigration program for your project and support throughout the process, feel free to contact our professionals.