Stephen Jones

Hello All,

I have been exploring a move to Canada and am wondering as to whether it can be done 'independently' or is it best to use a Migration Agent?



Steve

Almost Canadian

It really depends on how you feel about things - as this thread develops you will find as many advising you to do it yourself as you will advising you to go with an agent.

I guess that, if money wasn't an object, most would go with an agent

Whether or not you go with an agent - there is just no substitute for "research, research, research" your agent will not be able to decide where you will live, what job you do etc

Best of luck with your application

iaink

Unless you have a complicated past, do it yourself and save the money. A consultant will require you to do most of the donkey work anyway. Most of the answers can be found in on line resources now anyway.

IF you have a complicated background, criminal or medical issues etc, or a general dislike of forms and/or keeping hold of your money, just make sure any consultant you hire is registered with CSIC or is a canadian registered lawyer.

Start at the cic site if you havent already

Rich_007

Independently; having some reasonable level of intelligence, ability to use the innernet, a readin an ritin abilitee, like, and some level of initiative and self motivation helped. Satisfying, and saved a few UK pounds too.

Rich.

Biiiiink

Self, common-law sponsorship case.

The only mistake we made (he made, I never make mistakes!) was to send the forms to London instead of Mississauga. That was before finding this forum It cost us 3 or 4weeks but that delay was not worth 2,500 GBP to us - which is what an immigration consultant would have cost.

Post this same question on the immigration board (actually don't, it's been done to death and recently too!) and the pros will tell you that those who succeed independently are merely "lucky" and have "no business advising others to do the same". Of course we don't, they need the business

Butch Cassidy

Just a slight twist on the answers you have been given so far It is possible to do it yourself, it is not too intricate (assuming as already mentioned you havent lead too conplicated a past life) a Migration Agent will still require you to do most of the donkey work and its cheaper to do it yourself. Wether its 'best' is entirely down to you and if want to blame somebody else if it all goes tits up. Another point People have been experiencing LONGER waits using an agent (at least they were when I was in the queue)

Almost Canadian

That's my experience as well

Woodstock62

LOL! That'll go down well with Andrew Millar!

Butch Cassidy

LOL

As I would say in the UK Tuff Shit.

Woodstock62

I completely agree!

Atlantic Xpat

Going against the flow somewhat, we used an immigration lawyer. Cost CAD$2000 IIRC and was worth it for peace of mind and a comprehensive application that was processed promptly. (This is for a straightfoward common-law family class btw.) Hindsight and the subsequent discovery of this forum might have lead me to go it alone but in the whole context of the move over we considered it money well spent.

Daedra

I think it also depends on wether it's just you applying solo or if you have a spouse/partner and/or kids you are bringing along. It can get complicated and be alot of paperwork & documentation/proof thats required if its a family of 4 lets say, in comparison to just looking after your own application.

iaink

But you still have to gather all the documentation regardless.

dbd33

We're using a lawyer for a common-law sponsorship from within Canada. I think it's been as well as there have been a number of filings; the application, a request for leave to remain which the application's considered, a request for leave to remain while the request for leave to remain is considered, a request for a student visa so as to have some paperwork while the request for leave to remain squared, is considered, and so on. The forms themselves are not complicated and the lawyer doesn't actually do any work but he does know which form to file when.

Woodstock62

TBH, the thing we found the hardest was the gathering of the info need to be supplied. We've both lived in lots of places in a number of countries.
If we had used an agent we would still have had to do all that anyway.