3 Tips for Choosing the Right Immigration Consultant (for International Students)

Immigration is a big move and it can be quite a heavy task to do the required research, gather all the relevant information while trying to keep up with your 9-5 job. Consultancy fees are often a one-time expense depending on the help required. Other fees are normally requirements of the schools. So here's my list of what to look for in an immigration consultant:

1. Someone who keeps up with the requirements of International study. Canadian Immigration law changes often, very often... sometimes several times in the same year. A general complaint of applicants is often encountering immigration consultants advising them with outdated information. If a consultant is advising you with information based on a year ago it is definitely outdated information. Ask around to find out if any of your family and friends have been victims of outdated information and stay far. Find someone who enjoys research and keeping up to date with Canadian Immigration changes.

2. Someone who can advise you on Immigration (Permanent Residence) beyond the requirements of International study. 99 percent of international students in Canada pursue International study as a means to permanent residence. Currently, many Canadian schools are not legally authorized to give immigration advice and many schools are now training Canadian advisers to be able to offer this service. Ideally you want to find a consultant who can help you paint a picture of immigration after your studies, by pointing to immigration law or recent success stories. You also want someone who believes that there is always a way. Which leads to my last check point.

3. Someone who understands your journey and genuinely cares about your success. Again, you can discover this information by asking around and doing background checks. Is it a person who goes above and beyond to provide help for you as a client. Are they easily accessible to you while you have questions during your process? 

These are just a few considerations. Feel free to share any other check point to look for when selecting an Immigration consultant.

Form an Encouragement Committee

I recently got the wording, 'encouragement committee', from a friend but the concept I had to learn from experience...

If you are going to accomplish anything worthwhile in life you need to surround your dreams and plans with people who believe in them and believe that you can succeed. You need people who will listen, advise and genuinely cheer you on when you feel like giving up on your dream. In other words, you need to form an encouragement committee.

This means...
It's not the best idea in the elementary phases when you are contemplating a move to tell everyone what you are considering. You may share your emigration dream with someone who intentionally or unintentionally squashes your dream before it even gets a chance to take flight. There is much wisdom in the saying, 'misery loves company.'

Sadly, the phrase 'crab in a bucket' is very real in our Caribbean context. So avoid this pitfall. And again, surround your dream and your plans with people who can help you believe (we're not even talking about finances and funding at this point...just moral support.)

When I was planning to leave for Canada back in 2010, my mother was the only person I told. This wasn't my first attempt at leaving though...in late 2009 I was 'invited' to go to Canada and quite a few people knew and that fell through faster than the speed of lightening. My mother, however believed in my dream so when one route fell through she was on the look-out with me for another route to accomplishing this dream. She was my encouragement team of 1 in the initial stages and when my plans became more concrete I sought out more people who were able to offer advice and counsel on the journey.

Take Away: Form an encouragement committee and shelter your dreams so that they can take flight when the time is right.

Welcome Future Janadians!

Welcome to the Janadian Immigrant blog! This blog will mostly discuss various immigration policies, strategies, planning advice and survival tips as it relates to immigrating to Canada as a Jamaican national. Occasionally, we will also touch on immigration policies in other countries, particularly as it relates to International Education.

We believe that with a little bit of faith and a little bit of work, any Jamaican can immigrate and live the life they've always dreamed of. We hope the information shared here will spark something or help make your immigration journey easier.

Blessings.