Differences Between RCICs and Canadian Immigration Lawyers

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada as a worker, student, or permanent resident, the legal formalities involved in the immigration process are not easy to wade through without professional assistance. However, with an immigration agent by your side, your dream can soon become a reality.

Now or later, you are most likely to have come across phrases like RCIC or Canadian immigration lawyers. Though familiar with these words, you might want clarity on these terms. Knowing about them can help you approach the right professional for assistance. Continue reading this article to learn more about these terms and understand the differences.

RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants)

RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) is a group of licensed representatives. They are members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). According to this, an individual should have undergone an approved training program (of 500 hours) and have good knowledge of French or English, among many other requirements, to become an RCIC expert.

In other words, an RCIC is an authorized citizenship and immigration representative who assesses your visa application for Canada and submits it on your behalf.

Also Read: Role, Benefits and Best RCIC Consultant

RCIC is trained in immigration practices and laws. They don’t get trained in any other law field. Simply put, an RCIC is primarily in the immigration process. They walk applicants through the complicated visa process by giving them beneficial visa options and taking care of everything from the paperwork to meeting the deadlines. With such professional aid, you can submit your application correctly for a better chance of getting approved.

Canadian Immigration Lawyers

Each Canadian province and territory has a law society (for example, the Law Society of British Columbia, the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, and the Law Society of Ontario). Canadian lawyers have a membership in one of these law societies. According to the IRPA, any Canadian lawyer who is a good-standing member of one of these law societies can be a representative of a client in front of the immigration authorities.

For anyone on the list of immigration lawyers, the scope of practice is not confined to immigration alone. They may also deal with other lawsuits, such as criminal lawsuits, civil litigations, real estate transactions, etc. Canadian immigration lawyers take at most three subjects in the field of immigration at law school.

Canadian lawyers can carry out many duties like advising their clients to get a study permit, work permit, permanent residence status, and reuniting the family after assessment of eligibility. They can even help you find out why you’re denied to enter Canada and advise accordingly. If you are barred from entering Canada for reasons such as criminal inadmissibility, they are authorized to advise here to help overcome challenges.

Canadian immigration lawyers also assist individuals who want to sponsor a family member. They help their clients understand whether their loved one is eligible for a PR status in Canada. Also, letting you know about the tests that need to be taken to evaluate whether or not you can gain entry to Canada.

Differences between RCICs and Canadian Immigration Lawyers

Hiring an RCIC or a Canadian immigration lawyer is to help clients with Canada work visa applications, student visa applications, PR visa applications, or any other immigration-related service. However, there are a few differences between these professionals.

• Qualifications

RCICs don’t attend a law school but complete a certification (for one year) and register themselves. They are trained to handle immigration cases and are experts in refugee and immigration laws. But, they are not trained to advise clients in any other field of law. Canadian lawyers are regulated and licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada. These professionals would have specialized in immigration laws after studying at a law school.

• Services

As far as practicing immigration laws is concerned, an RCIC and an immigration lawyer offer more or less the same kind of services with just a few differences.

An RCIC is authorized to offer legal immigration and refugee services. They act as an advisor in the immigration process.

A Canadian immigration lawyer can offer advice related to immigration. In addition, they can also represent before a judge if needed.

Hire Authorized Experts

Whether you are hiring RCICs or immigration lawyers, it is important to ensure that they are authorized so that you can stay assured of working with a legitimate professional.
RCICs and Canadian immigration lawyers should be members of the CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants). A quick check through the CICC website can give you clarity on this. Here’s how you can do it:

• Go to the website of CICC.
• Enter your immigration lawyer’s details (company name or RCIC number). Click on the ‘search.’
  If the lawyer is authorized, you will find his details. If the name does not appear in the results, he is not a legitimate lawyer.

With this, you can avoid fraudulent agents and ensure that you hire an authorized expert. With this, you can rest assured that the visa process is taken care of by legal professionals.

Also Read: How to Check ICCRC Authorised Consultant

Now that you know the differences between an RCIC and a Canadian immigration lawyer, we recommend that you make a choice depending on your particular immigration case, as each case is different. Evaluate your needs and make a well-informed choice. With these experts by your side, you don’t have to worry about any immigration process as they are well-versed in all the latest updates in immigration laws. The whole experience can be hassle-free and smooth. It’s always worth the money invested in hiring RCICs or Canadian immigration lawyers against trying to wade through the intimidating process on your own.