An IT professional (2 years' experience, Indian master's, no Canadian education or work, CRS ~400) was assured by a paid consultancy that a provincial nomination would come through, and asked the group whether to believe it.
What members advised:
- 400 is not a nomination-ready score for a generic IT profile. The reality check came fast: if PNPs handed nominations to IT professionals at CRS 400, 'do you think any IT professional would still be in India?' Members were clear that 400 isn't sufficient even for most provincial streams without an in-demand niche, a job offer, or provincial ties.
- The consultant's promise inverted the process. A nomination adds 600 points after a province selects you — it isn't something a consultancy can procure for a below-threshold profile. Promising the outcome without explaining the eligibility mechanics is the tell.
- The honest plan members laid out: complete 3 years of work experience and score CLB 9+ in IELTS — with the existing master's, that projects a CRS around 469–478, a genuinely competitive range. Patience plus two concrete, self-controlled improvements beats lakhs of rupees in fees.
- On paid consultants generally: members warned about the pattern — large fees, file lodged, then 'everything depends on your luck.' Free/official resources and self-research were recommended first; you can always pay later for a specific, verifiable service.
- For tech-targeted draws, members noted cutoffs vary draw to draw and no nomination is needed to be selected in a federal tech-focused draw — but the score still has to be there.