Consultants or On Your Own?

[OrangeCounty]

FYI - David Cohen's firm generously hosts this forum ...

Yes, I and several of my friends have used them. They are not perfect, but IMHO definitely one of the most trustworthy and reputable.

 

[charninder]

deos anyone knows about David Cohen's firm?
has anyone used it?

Hi Pooja,

My humbel advice to u - you are just wandering here and there. Do one thing find a consultant nearby where you live. B'coz it would b easier for u to contact him/her and interact. There are numerous consultants all over the world but u may not have access to get them personally. I think one which has been mentioned by sanjeev may be right for u. At least this consultant is in India (Ludhiana). For overseas consultants, if they prove to be fraudulant, u have little choice and u may lose your hard earned money. I know many persons who have lost their $$$ in overseas so called consultants. You may know little about them. About WW one of my friends had consulted them and he had given them Rs.25,000/-. Later on WW told him that he did not qualify because he did not do his graduation regularly and they did not refund his money. Check for yourself, visit 4-5 of them personally. I had visited one SEN. They are looking reliable, but they charge very high fee. There are plenty of consultants online, u can find their nos. and check them personally.

And one more thing (important) - as long as you can read, write and understand English (and off course internet facility) u can read CIC guidelines, they are easy and do not require immediate action. CHC people are very fair, they give u sufficient time and guidance to take every step and hence, u need not require help of any consultant (this is my personal opinion). Every required informaion is there on their website. And you have so many well wishers in this Forum also.

Good Luck.

 

[pooja82]

hi orangecounty
i know that cohen is the host of the forum
what i meant was if anyone has used them in the past. first hand info, i mean.
got it.............

 

[shibuya]

my personal opinion is if you have not paid the consultant your entire service charges in one shot.
like in my case i paid cad550 on retainer file
i paid cad 650 after getting file no from sydney nova scotia
balance i have to pay cad 500 on getting visa
Now once i get my AOR since i submitted full application on 2nd dec i will cancel the USE OF REP SINCE many consultants play around in this stage .i will cancel the consultant and give my mailing address to CHC since they do not send the medical requests to the consultants who in many cases sit on it and keep the aspiring immigrant looming in the dark.

shibuya

 

[qorax]

No, shibuya...

That's not the case always. Most consultants worth their salt, Do Not Sit on it. They have a reputation to maintain & they also need ur next instalment, asap. So, they will send u the med forms, asap too.

Morover, 99% CHC will send u also an email notification, prior to the meds, asking ur latest pics (provided ur email add is on the forms). Thus, u'd know. I got it & so did many.

U r right with the payment instalments. U must always pay in instalments fomat only, 'pay-as-u-go'. Do not pay in 'one lumpsum', though there'd be a discount. Generally consultants agree to 3-4 instalments, as:

1. Retaier fee: Imdt after they have assessed ur apps vis-a-vis ur quals+exp+supporting docs.
2. Instl-2: After AOR.
3. Instl-3: After Meds.
4. Instl-4: After Visa+COPR.

If it's 3 instls, then the inst-3 & 4 above, r clubbed. Thus, u r never a loser and needn't worry that he/she is not going to pursue ur case any more. Mine was in 4 instls. I'm with Worldwide.

And there is no need in cancelling the consultant, until he really goofs up with u, case wise or attitude wise. As I informed u earlier, ur consultant has no say in ur case, neither he can mess with it thru the CHC, nor can he try & fasten it up. He always remains an 'advisor' & a 'courier service' to u.

End note: With the new 'fast track' system of 2009, u actually do not need a consultant at all. We needed them as those days the apps process were different. However, if one thinks that even now, collecting & collating one's docs is a time consuming effort, one may then chose a consultant. Besides, these guys can/do provide u with imp tips, under complicated issues. Rest abt the matter is well dealt earlier in this thread. It's basically, is one's own call.

 

[basraranjit]

I have sent my application file with the help of my husband and his friend who has been already sent his file by own.

I have been already have a bad experience with Oceanic Consultants when they have sent my file for PR of Australia in 2003. My case was rejected only due to one big mistake which was done on the Application Form by the consultant instead of writing my designation Electrical Supervisor as per my qualification and exp. but they had written Electrical Technician.


After sending my updates to Delhi in Jan 2009 we went to CWC to know the further information about our case. They told us If you want to know..whether your file is in process or not ..means your Case will be successful or not for this you have to pay IND Rs. 20,000/-. Thanx to this Forum and the supportive persons of this forum by their knowledge we came to know the actual truth.

Thats why I donot have faith in some of that kind of Consultants who misguide their clients.

 

[mtlguy]

Friends,

I have been monitoring this topic for a while and finally decided to chip in. Firstly I would like to clarify that there are consultants and there are "LAW FIRMS". There is a big difference.

Anyone could be a consultant...any senior board member, you or I could be a consulatant and charge a fee to provide expertise. On the contrary, a LAW FIRM is a company that represents its clients for various purpose. Most moderate to large firms have a set of lawers specialized in Business law, criminal law, immigration law, so on and so forth. The immigration lawyers have extensive knowledge and experience in the immigration matters and hence hiring one of them is worthwhile. The law office of Campbell Cohen is one such law firm. There are plenty all over Canada.

I am not sure if there are law firms in India but i am aware of several reputed and established ones in Canada. One of my friend is a consultant and I decided to go with a law firm simply because I am aware of the fact that the Law firm will not represent me unless they are sure about getting a positive reply (except for medical and PCC related denials) and also because my employer was paying for it.

I would also like to add that one of my family member is going through the AINP on their own and they are finding it absolutely doable. Yes, it takes time and effort but it can be done...specially with the help of excellent forums such as this one and senior members chipping in with quality input.

One of my cousins used a consulant from India several years ago (yes calgirl you will love it if i named them ;D) and it did not work out.

If i were to give anyone an honest input, I'd say do it yourself if possible...else go with a law firm and not with a consulatant. Agreed that hiring a reputed law firm in canada as your legal rep means a little bit of communication delay...however they will not take up your case unless they are sure of a positive reply. Also that the retainer agreement will specifically say that you will be provided with a 100% refund if your case is rejected except for medical or PCC reasons.

Good luck guys! This forum rocks 8)

 

[jnathan]

Pooja,

I am doing it all by myself. I can afford paying the representative but Why would I . its not that hard, all it requires you to devote some time. But I will show all to an immigration lawyer before dispatching it to make sure everythings alright for which he wouldnt charge more more than $10-20

 

[Vince]

We did our SINP application together with an immigration consultant and we were very happy with it. Especially when things got a little difficult and delayed it was nice to have someone who would set up professional letters we could sent to the department that was dealing with our application.
I do think that there are a lot of consultants who charge too much and try to take advantage of the unknowing immigrant. So beware with who you go with and get some references before signing a contract!
Vince

www.wvincanada.com

 

[aamirdr]

Always better that you file on your own.... no consultant..thats my opinion

 

[FTICS]

use cic.gc.ca guide as ur consultant

 

[raoolr2007]

I intend to go with either Abhinav Consulting or Y-Axis Consultants (Bangalore). Does anyone have any idea as to how good they are. I read horror stories about WWW-ICS and i had a bad experience even during counseling with them.

Dont even think of Y axis, I had a tough time with them , they are very careless and irresponsible

 

[accounts]

All Forms are very simple, you can go ahead at your own..
But i Hired one...

 

[SD2009]

Hiring a consultant, depends purely on case to case basis.

If your case is simple and straight, then may be you can fill out the forms by yourself, as there is user guide and ample information on net available to help you with that, but if your case has some complications and need consultation, then better hire a good, well recognized consultant.

I also went through same emotions and thoughts that when almost all of the information can be filled easily, then why should i shell out my hard earned money to a consultant for what I can do it by myself easily (and infact I almost did that as well), but finally I hired one, as I needed some help in filling some of the information.

It is also true that I am having a real tough time with my consultant, but i would still say if you can afford and have some complexity in your application then let a professional and experienced people handle your case, that way you dont have to think or worry day and night whether you filled the forms correctly or not and by hiring them you are passing your headache to them as it is their responsibility to make your case successful, as with your success only they can sustain in market. More importantly, when considering such a big decision of migrating to another country by leaving your existing well paid and settled jobs then why to take chance for it. There is a lot to think and plan for your survival and settlement in a new country, where you need to start everything from scratch, so let your energy directed towards some of the real things, which can fetch you more than what you are going to pay to consultant.

Here is a word of caution, be careful in choosing a consultant. Verify their credibility and success stories of what they claim (To get a customer they may say anything and everything). I interacted with around 10 consultants, but only one was somewhere near fitting to my expectations, rest others were nowhere near and finally whichever consultant you decide or choose, lay down your terms and conditions (this is what i did) to them, so that worst case, you dont lose your money, even if your case is rejected for some or the other reason.

 

[papmanindia]

deos anyone knows about David Cohen's firm?
has anyone used it?

Hi Pooja,
H r u doing,
I read this thread fully and found you very active and determined. I am one of like you who is confused in either to hire consultant or DIY. Just want to check what u decided and it will be help for me too. I went to WWICS office and inquired. I have noticed that one has to entered with an agreement with them for their services. But in there agreement they will not mention anywhere regarding refund policy which is very alarming. Being Chartered Accountant, I am very professional in paper work. To be frank i m confused fuly. As i dont want to put my self in a situation in PR rejection for handful of money by paying consultant nor I want to get it rejected due my carelessness or lack of knowledge of immigration.

I would request each and every person posting here to mention how they approached ( Consultant or DIY). If by consultant, name them please and there experience with them. I found calgirl very aggressive and informative, I would request her to please guide us as she did before..

Please guide properly I am confused what to do, both approches have its pros and cons, but now we need to make an standpoint what to do exactly.

Is there anyone who is chartered accountant applied itself, kindly come forward and guide. I would be obliged.

Thanks in advance,