- How to verify a Canadian immigration consultant from anywhere in the world
- What you will see to know that an immigration agency is fake
- And lastly, how to avoid fake immigration agencies and consultants.
At the end of this guide, you will have all you need.
And certainly, you will never be a victim of fake Canadian immigration again.
Who is an immigration consultant?
An immigration consultant is a professional who helps people with the visa application process.
Immigration consultants can work with individuals, families, or businesses.
They provide guidance and assistance with the paperwork and requirements for applying for a visa.
Immigration consultants can also help with other aspects of the immigration process, such as finding a job or a place to live in the new country.
With a clear understanding of who an immigration consultant is, you can picture why people need them.
Aside from that, here are more reasons why people need the services of an immigration consultant.
Why do we need an immigration consultant?
There are many reasons why people may choose to seek out immigration agencies when looking to move to a new country.
Here are 6 of the most common reasons:
1. To receive professional help with the immigration process.
2. To receive expert advice on which visa is best for their particular situation.
3. To have someone else handle the paperwork and red tape associated with moving to a new country.
4. To get assistance with finding a job or housing in their new country.
5. To receive help with adjusting to their new culture and lifestyle.
6. To have someone to support and guide them through the entire immigration process.
Even though the services of immigration consultants/agencies are highly important.
Immigration consultants are frequently taking advantage of people who are seeking help with their immigration status.
Some give them false information or even scam them out of money.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed and should be done quickly.
One thing you must do to protect yourself from these scams is to verify any immigration agency you wish to work with.
This you can do by following the steps below
There are several ways to identify if your Canadian immigration consultant is legitimate.
Here are 7 ways to do so:
1. Make sure the agency is a member of the Canadian Immigration Consultants Council.
If you’re looking to work with an immigration agency, ensure they are an ICCRC-registered agency.
The Canadian Immigration Consultants Council (ICCRC) is a national regulatory body that ensures immigration consultants are qualified and held to the highest standards.
When you’re looking for an immigration consultant, be sure to check that they’re a member of the ICCRC.
You can search the ICCRC website to find a list of registered consultants.
Checking the ICCRC website is one of the easiest ways to know if an immigration consultant is real and you shouldn’t sleep on it if you want to migrate to Canada and desire to work with an immigration agency.
If an agency is not a member of the Council, you should be wary of them.
2. Check the agency/consultant website and make sure it is professional and up-to-date.
A professional and up-to-date website is a good sign that your immigration agency (or consultant as the case may be) is legitimate.
Here are some things to look for when checking their website:
-A physical address: A legitimate immigration agency will have a physical address that you can visit.
-Contact information: A legitimate immigration agency will have contact information, such as a phone number and email address, that you can use to get in touch with them.
-A detailed website: A legitimate immigration agency will have a website that is professional and informative.
It should answer any questions you have about the agency and the services they provide.
If an immigration agency doesn’t have these things, likely, they’re not a real immigration agency.
The website should also have information about the agency’s services and staff.
If an immigration agency doesn’t have a website, or if the website looks suspicious, be careful when dealing with these types of agencies.
At best, avoid such agency
3. Check for client testimonials or reviews online.
Another good way to check if an immigration agency is legit is through testimonials or reviews online.
Checking testimonials and reviews online is a good way to get an idea of what others think of a particular agency.
This can give you a good idea of the level of customer service and satisfaction that a company can provide.
Also, the quality of service you can expect and whether or not the agency is reputable.
Of course, it is always important to take any online reviews with a grain of salt, as they may not always be 100% accurate.
However, checking for reviews can be a helpful way to narrow down your options and choose a Canadian immigration agency that is right for you.
There are a few different places you can look for reviews or testimonials.
The first is the immigration agency’s website – most agencies will have a page dedicated to reviews or testimonials from past clients.
You can also search for reviews on third-party websites like Google Reviews, forums, or Yelp.
Finally, you can ask friends or family members if they know the agency.
You must do a thorough job in getting people’s opinions about the agency and reading testimonials and reviews is your best bet.
4. Make sure the agency is accredited by the Canadian government.
Legitimate Canadian immigration consultants are accredited by the Canadian government.
Therefore, to verify a Canadian immigration consultant credibility, check if they are accredited by the Canadian government.
Only accredited agencies are allowed to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information about Canadian immigration laws and procedures.
They are also regulated by the government, so you can be sure that they will provide you with quality service.
There are a few ways to check if an agency is accredited.
On the IRCC website, you will find a list of all the accredited agencies in Canada.
The second way to check is to contact the agency directly and ask them if they are accredited and insist they show you evidence of their accreditation.
If you are not sure whether an agency is accredited, it is always best to ask or avoid them entirely.
5. Check to see if the agency is a member of the Better Business Bureau.
Another way to ensure that an immigration agency is legitimate is to check to see if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization that helps consumers find trustworthy businesses.
When looking for an immigration agency, it is important to check if they are a member of the BBB.
This will help ensure that you are working with a reputable and legit company.
The BBB has a simple process for checking if a business is a member:
1. Visit the BBB website (www.bbb.org)
2. Enter the business name in the search bar
3. If the business is a member, you will see their BBB rating and profile
This organization holds businesses to a high standard and only accredits those that meet their criteria.
If an immigration agency is a member of the Better Business Bureau, you can be sure that they are a reputable and reliable company.
It is important to note that not all businesses are members of the BBB, so this should not be the only factor you consider when choosing an immigration consultant to work with.
However, it is a good way to see if the company is legit
6. Ask the agency for references from past clients.
Another awesome way to verify a Canadian immigration consultant’s credibility is by asking for a reference from past clients
If they are unable to provide, then you need to be worried about such an immigration consultant, it’s best to find another agency to work with.
An immigration agency (or consultant) with no single reference probably just started and has little to no ground to provide you with quality service.
You are traveling to a new country (you probably do not have anyone else to go to if anything happens in the new country) so you mustn’t take risk.
If a Canadian immigration consult you wish to work with doesn’t have any reference, is not registered with Better Business Bureau, or doesn’t have a professional-looking website and contact address.
You better not work with such an agency, they are most likely fake and unequipped to provide you with quality immigration services.
7. Check to see if the consultant has any complaints filed against it with the Canadian government.
One way to check if your Canadian immigration consultant is legit is by checking with the Canadian government to see if there are any complaints filed against them with the Canadian government.
You can search the government website to see if any complaints have been filed against an immigration agency.
If you find any, you can read through them to get a better idea of what the issue is and whether or not it is something that would impact your decision to use the agency.
If it’s something that would concern you (a negative complaint against them) you should look for another immigration agency.
Remember, it is important to do your research before using the services of an immigration agency.
This will help you to avoid using an agency that is not reputable and could save you from being scammed.
8. Make sure the consultant is licensed to offer Canada immigration services
If you’re looking for an immigration consultant to help you with your visa application, it’s important to make sure the consultant is licensed to offer immigration services.
There are many unlicensed consultants out there who are not qualified to provide you with the help you need.
To find a licensed immigration consultant, you can check with the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC).
CSIC is a national organization that regulates immigration consultants in Canada.
To be a member of CSIC, consultants must have a valid license and pass a professional standards exam.
You can also check with your provincial or territorial licensing body.
Each province and territory has its own body that regulates immigration consultants.
When you’re meeting with a potential consultant, be sure to ask for their license number.
You can then use this number to verify that the consultant is licensed.
9. Ask your friends or family if they have heard of the agency and if they would recommend them.
May not look like the best way to ascertain if your immigration consultant is real or fake but this can be helpful if you have someone who knows a lot about Canadian immigration.
Ask your friends or family if they have heard of the immigration consultant you are considering.
This can help you to get an idea of their reputation and whether or not they are someone you can trust.
10. Get the agency’s verifiable contact information.
This is very essential, you need to get your immigration consultant’s verifiable contact information.
Many people are reluctant to give out their contact information, but it is a necessary step in finding a reputable consultant.
There are a few ways to get verifiable contact information. The first is to check the consultant’s website.
Most reputable consultants will have their contact information listed on their websites.
If the website doesn’t have any contact information, or if the information is outdated, it is best to avoid that consultant.
Another way to get verifiable contact information is to check online directories.
These directory listings usually include the consultant’s name, address, and phone number.
Getting and confirming your immigration consultant’s address and contact information can help you avoid some fly-by-night immigration consultants that may take your money and run, or worse, provide you with fraudulent information that could get you in trouble with the authorities.
If after taking every necessary measure and you are still unsure about an agency.
It is always best to contact the Canadian government directly to get more information.
