Rather than just collecting individual reviews of one specific consultancy, group members pointed to a more reliable, general way to vet any immigration consultancy before signing up.
What to verify:- Check if the consultancy is licensed and regulated by the CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants) — this is the official regulatory body for immigration consultants in Canada.
- Confirm the specific person handling your case is an RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) or a licensed immigration lawyer. These are the only two types of representatives the Canadian government authorizes to charge fees for immigration advice and representation.
- Be cautious with large agencies in general — some group members suggested that bigger names aren't automatically more trustworthy, and recommended researching smaller, specifically-named consultants directly rather than assuming size equals reliability.
Takeaway: Before paying any consultancy, independently verify their CICC registration and RCIC/lawyer status rather than relying only on word-of-mouth reviews.