How to Choose a Licensed Immigration Consultant in Canada
Reviewed by Amanjit K., Principal RCIC, Earnest Immigration · About our team
Choosing who handles your immigration application is one of the biggest decisions in the whole process. The right professional will be licensed, honest about your chances and clear about costs. The wrong one can cost you money, time and — in the worst cases — your application. Use this checklist before you sign with anyone, including us.
THE CHECKLIST
The 10-Point Checklist
Verify the Licence Yourself
Search the consultant’s name on the CICC public register and confirm their status is active. Do this before you pay anything.
Check the Licence Class
Some matters, such as representation before Immigration and Refugee Board tribunals, require a specific class of RCIC licence. Ask which licence the person handling your file holds.
Confirm Who Works on Your File
Ask whether a licensed RCIC prepares and signs off your application, or whether it is passed to unlicensed staff without oversight.
Expect a Written Service Agreement
It should list the services, fees, payment schedule and what happens if either side ends the engagement.
Ask for a Clear Fee
A licensed firm explains its professional fees separately from government fees before you commit.
Be Wary of Guarantees
No one can guarantee an approval — decisions are made by IRCC and provincial authorities. A promise of a guaranteed visa, job or "fast-track" is a red flag.
Watch for "Ghost Consultants"
An unlicensed adviser who prepares your application but will not be named on it puts you at risk. Your representative should be declared to IRCC.
Read Real Reviews
Look for reviews that describe a specific application type and outcome, not just star ratings.
Test Their Honesty in the First Call
A good consultant will tell you when a pathway is not a fit and explain realistic options.
Check Communication
Ask how often you will get updates and who you contact when IRCC sends a request.
WHO CAN REPRESENT YOU
Who Is Allowed to Help You for a Fee?
In Canada, paid immigration representation is limited to authorised professionals: Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), and lawyers who are members of a provincial or territorial law society. You never have to use a representative — but if you pay one, they must be authorised. For how lawyers and consultants differ, see immigration lawyer vs consultant.
Questions to Ask in Your First Consultation
- Which licensed RCIC will handle my file?
- Which programs am I realistically eligible for, and which am I not?
- What are your fees, and what do they include?
- What documents will I need, and what are the common reasons applications like mine are refused?
- How will you keep me updated?
WARNING SIGNS
Red Flags at a Glance
"Guaranteed approval" or "guaranteed job"
Outcomes are decided by government authorities; no one can promise them.
Refuses to share a licence number or name
You cannot verify authorisation or file a complaint.
Asks you to lie or leave information out
Misrepresentation can lead to refusal and a ban on applying.
No written agreement
You have no record of scope, fees or refund terms.
Pressure to pay immediately
A licensed firm lets you review terms before you commit.
PUT US TO THE TEST
How Earnest Immigration Measures Up
We ask to be judged on the same checklist. Earnest Immigration and Citizenship Services Inc. is a CICC-licensed firm led by founder and Principal RCIC Amanjit K. (Amy), with a team that includes a licensee holding the RCIC-IRB class of licence. We explain fees before you commit, we do not promise outcomes, and we are rated 4.9 from 286 Google reviews — many describing cases approved after earlier refusals. Meet the team · Read client reviews · Read our company policy
Visit us in Windsor, Leamington or Regina, or find an immigration consultant near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — a professional licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants to give immigration advice and represent clients for a fee.
Both can represent you before IRCC. Lawyers are needed for Federal Court matters. For most applications, the individual’s licence, experience and honesty matter more than the title.
A licensed consultant can review the refusal and advise on re-applying or reconsideration. See IRCC refusal letter: what to do next and visa refusal remedies.
Yes. Using a representative is optional. Some applicants prepare their own file and ask a licensed professional to review it — see professional review of your application.
Put Us to the Test
Book a free 15-minute consultation and use the checklist on us. We will tell you honestly whether a pathway fits — and what it will cost before you commit.
