We are in the process of completing our VISA application form and are wondering how many of you used a specialist agent or went through the process independently???

Visa Centre (the agent) want £95 for an eligibility test and £2000 for completing the process in full. Does this sound reasonable? Or, are we better off applying for the Visa ourselves?

Any advice would be great. Thanks

The eligibilty test is FREE!!! You find it at CIC website.

An agent can not act on your behalf in your visa application. Only a CSIC registered consultant or an immigration lawyer can do that.

Start reading the wiki on this site before you do anything else.

Thanks,

They are CSIC registered but still taking your advice and having a look at the Wiki before I do anything else.

Are you still going through the process or have you made it to Canada?

I haven't actually started. Or maybe I have. I'm in the "collecting documents" stage. Going for a self employed work permit to start things off. Heading over to Toronto in March to do a proper reccie, meet with immigration lawyer and network.

If your agent is UK based than he/she is most likely not CSIC registered but just an agent and as said, that is illegal. Only a CSIC registered consultant can for a fee represent you. Not even an agent for a CSIC registered consultant is allowed to represent you.

Also, I have seen people here quoted 1500 Canadian Dollars for CSIC registered consultant so your £2k would be $4k Canadian and that is more than a reputed immigration lawyer quoted me 2 years ago.

It sounds very strange that they would charge, our Immigration consultant charged less than 2k and they take it in three instalments One when you apply one at AOR and one if you are successfull if you don't get in they give you a fee refund.

Although truth be told if we had known about this site we would have probably did it ourselves with the invaluable info you can get on here.

All the best
Danny

There was a thread and poll about this a couple of weeks back; I was actually surprised by how many didn't 'DIY' the process, though from what I remember several people had lawyers paid for by their employer.

Already read some of the Wiki and started to have ? on using the agent.

As Danny said this site could be all we need to complete the process. It's already proving invaluable and saved me money!

Thanks for your help and who knows you might bump into my husband whilst he does our reccie in March, however, we are still trying to decided on Vancouver or Toronto!

Good luck

Jemma

I recommend the Wiki article called Where to live.

We used an immigration consultant. They assessed our chances for free. However, the final decision comes down to CIC, so it's not really that important what the agent actually thinks at the time (assuming of course that they dont say you've got 0% chance of getting in).

The cost for us is under £2k.
In the scheme of things, it's not a lot of money in my opinion for piece of mind that everything has been done properly, by people who do this every day and know what they're doing... personally, we thinks its worth it.

I can recommend our consultants for you if you like. They're based in BC, and were highly recommended to us by others on here. They've generally been very quick at answering queries, and like the person above mentioned, you pay the fee in 3 installments.

I am using www.harveyetassocies.com

Very professional. Initial check free and the top man said "Based on the information supplied by you; if you do not get in I will refund all your money"

Got it in writing too


Cost 1500CAD

Hi
We are using consultants, and like other people have said you pay in instalments as you progress along the road!

Our cost is approx £3500

If you decide to use a lawyer - shop around some are cheaper than others!
Ours are based in Montreal.
In touch with us at least twice a week by phone/fax/email

I can give you their name if you want??

Please tell me that number includes all CIC costs according to your calculations and not just covering the cost of the consultant. If the latter, MHO is that you are being taken to the cleaners.

Not wanting to throw our money away but at the same time the whole process does seem complicated and somebody who is experienced in this area will hopefully prevent any delay and help the dream come true.

Jericho I would really appreciate your recommendation.

If anybody knows of any 'good agents' in Toronto that would be helpful as my husband is going over soon and we are currently torn between Toronto and BC.

Shaw, please understand that there is a difference between agents, consultants and lawyers.

Agents are illegal.

Consultants must be CSIC authorized members.

Immigration Lawyers need to be registered with whatever their controlling body is.

CSIC has a website. Google for it.

Agent could mean a real estate salesperson, a placement / recruitment agent (head hunter), or an immigration consultant. If you are looking for an immigration consultant, you don't necessarily need one in the city to which you're moving. My brother-in-law used an immigration lawyer in Vancouver (with whom he was very happy), but he settled in Toronto.

If, for some reason, your heart is set on an immigration consultant or lawyer in Toronto, some members of this forum have spoken highly of Abrams & Krochak.