Professional Fee Agreement

[ameliasriram]

Hi

I recently applied for immigration and in a month's time received the file number. On receipt of the file number my agent sent me a document stating the following:

Option I: Professional fees of US Dollar 3000 (US Dollar Three Thousand Only) per person is due and payable with-in 90 days from the date of signing the agreement.

Option II: Professional fee of USD 5000 (US Dollar Five Thousand Only) per person is due and payable immediately on receipt of Visa.

Is this actually to be paid to the agent or the high commission?... Has anybody heard about a new change in the rule?... I just cannot understand this because my agent never disclosed this to me in the beginning.... Please if anybody can help... Has anybody else received anything like this before?.... I applied from India for immigration... Thanks

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi

I recently applied for immigration and in a month's time received the file number. On receipt of the file number my agent sent me a document stating the following:

Option I: Professional fees of US Dollar 3000 (US Dollar Three Thousand Only) per person is due and payable with-in 90 days from the date of signing the agreement.

Option II: Professional fee of USD 5000 (US Dollar Five Thousand Only) per person is due and payable immediately on receipt of Visa.

Is this actually to be paid to the agent or the high commission?... Has anybody heard about a new change in the rule?... I just cannot understand this because my agent never disclosed this to me in the beginning.... Please if anybody can help... Has anybody else received anything like this before?.... I applied from India for immigration... Thanks

Agent, you hired him and he wants to get paid. I assume you signed a contract with him?

PMM

 

[NewYorker]

This is too much fee, whoever is your agent, may be trying to scam you with the fee, usually they disclose this in advance, it is unbelievable amount that at least I never heard of. Make sure the AOR number you receive is real also, one month and AOR, this looks really fast.

Go to CIC web site and verify your AOR file number by checking your application online.

https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en

 

[ameliasriram]

Hello

Please tell me how to check the file number, online application in CIC website.

 

[BCguy]

This is too much fee, whoever is your agent, may be trying to scam you with the fee, usually they disclose this in advance, it is unbelievable amount that at least I never heard of. Make sure the AOR number you receive is real also, one month and AOR, this looks really fast.

Go to CIC web site and verify your AOR file number by checking your application online.

https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en

Actually thats the going rate for most agents for India,For other countries,It even reaches 15,000$,That being said you can do it yourself for free and other nationalities pay less,Going rates vary from country to country

 

[ameliasriram]

thanks, but actually the consultancy told that this is for their services that they would provide when we reach Canada.

that is for

1. Free pickup from port of entry
2. Providing Complimentary one-day’s food supplies.
3. Assisting in getting SIN No.
4. Assisting in applying for Permanent Resident Card
5. Assisting in opening a Bank A/c.
6. Assisting in getting telephone connection.
7. Providing free Internet facility during training.
8. Briefing the client about the importance of family doctor and how to get one.
9. Assist in taking out medical insurance.
10. Assisting in getting admission in Schools.
11. Assisting in renting out a house.
12. Assisting in use of public transport system, how to travel on a bus familiarization with metro station and travel by train.
13. Assist in car purchase and taking out vehicle insurance
14. Assisting to ensure that at least one member of the family is getting a transitional job within one month after landing in Canada.
15. Organizing periodic client meeting for ongoing assistance in matters related to settling down in Canada.
16. Assisting in getting assessment of qualification done in Canada.
17. Assisting in getting Professional Memberships in Canada.
18. Assisting in getting admissions in Universities in Canada.
19. Assistance for applying for Child Care Benefits.


so is it better to take their service or reject it................because once we reject their services we are totally on our own without any know how about Canada. Would it be possible for us to go without these services and obtain our own accommodation, job, etc.....

thanks

 

[Leon]

All these things on their list seem very basic to me. You can get a lot of help for free just by asking. You can start off as you arrive by going to a motel. Then pick up a paper and look for apartments or houses to rent. You get your SIN card at Service Canada. You can find their locations on the web. The bus system usually has a website as well where you can look up schedules and route maps, even plan your trips for where to change buses and how long you have to wait. To open a bank account, you walk into a bank and say you want to open an account. To get a telephone, best to start with a cell phone until you have an apartment, you can a cheap pre-paid phone at sales desks at any mall. There are also newcomers or immigrant centers that will help you for free.

 

[ameliasriram]

Thanks for your reply....The way you have mentioned seems to be very easy in getting all these things done, but what about getting a job.......how easy is that being a newcomer in Canada.

 

[Leon]

It depends on where you are. If you go to a city with high unemployment, of course it is harder. Also depends on your CV. Also depends on your standards.

A friend of mine moved to Edmonton last year and I was helping her a bit to get set up here. She started looking for apartments on the web but could not find so much in her price range. I told her to get a paper and phone the ads and she did and found some cheaper places there. She had found an apartment in less than a week.

She had very little job experience. She went to art school and dabbled in art, different contract jobs but never a regular 9-5 job. Inspite of that, just by going around and applying for everything, she had found a job also in about one week working in a restaurant. In the beginning they had hired her part time but because they liked her they asked her to work more. At the same time she got hired there she had interviewed for another job at a hotel front desk and got it so she went there as it was not as hard and better paid. She worked there for about 3 months, then got an even better paid job in a store. Of course if she had been picky, it would be harder.

 

[ameliasriram]

thanks........Is it worth paying this amount to the agent as they are providing an entry level job, also the job location is in Vancouver. Is it easier to find a job in Vancouver location...

 

[BCguy]

If you want to pay for convinience,But you can do that for free and There are those who would do that service for much less

 

[NewYorker]

You are moving to a different country so get prepared to be on your own. You don't need to pay for all that, lets say you keep this money with you and take it there, you will find and will do all this in less than what they are charging. As Leon said, this is the list of basic things, and everything is a assistance, once you are there, I am pretty sure you can do all that on your own.

I sent you a link in a earlier post to check your application status, first go there and see if the AOR is real.

 

[Leon]

thanks........Is it worth paying this amount to the agent as they are providing an entry level job, also the job location is in Vancouver. Is it easier to find a job in Vancouver location...

What kind of entry level job? Working in Walmart for $10 an hour? You can find this kind of entry level job yourself easily. Finding a good job is a bit harder especially when you are new so you should look and apply but not a bad idea to take a low job to start to have a bit of money. You can look for better jobs at the same time.

 

[NewYorker]

I agree, the job meter need to be keep running so you get by your basic necessities i.e. utilities and food - no need to pay for an entry level job, you can find this on your own in BC.

it looks like a rip off but with your consent.

 

[Sisifo]

if you are moving to Ontario the following link has very useful info for migrants. www.settlement.org/
USD 5,000 per person is a lot of money. If you are married then it is USD 10,000 or approx CAD 11800. CIC has set CAD 13,198 as the minimum settlement funds required for 2 family members for a year. If you try it on your own , Straight up you have saved yourself funds for a year. As stressed here and elsewhere there are many people and orgs who are willing to help newcomers.