Tips for a Successful RCIC Practice Series
This is a first in a series of articles geared towards providing advice to licensees on how to achieve success in their immigration practice.
After speaking with a few RCICs about their business and what is integral to its success, several spoke about the importance of staying up to date and relevant on immigration policies and guidelines.
Clients of immigration consultants are, a lot of the time, people in difficult situations, often seeking advice from outside of Canada and relying on the knowledge that you, as RCICs have to offer. It is therefore critical that the information you provide is accurate, up to date and comprehensive to ensure the best outcomes for your client.
Some sources regularly referenced by RCIC Ben Fok, include IRCC’s Operational Instructions and Guidelines (OPS) and other news from IRCC. If you are tasked with a job in an area where you are not fully knowledgeable, it is critical to inform clients of this and either co-counsel or refer them to a colleague who does have the necessary knowledge. “Sharing the work and profit is a great strategy to enhance [client] service”, says Ben Fok in Vancouver.
Hjalmar Leon, an RCIC also in Vancouver, regularly reviews RSS feeds and social media sources including industry lawyers and RCICs on Twitter and on LinkedIn. Additionally, he is a member of an immigration education association that provides up-to-date educational resources and events, which count towards your CPD hours. Registering for automated update notifications ensures important updates are not missed. For example, IRCC provides this link to register for notice emails; Google news allows you to designate topics and key words to appear in your feed; and becoming a member of CAPIC is useful as key updates are shared to their membership.
Staying in touch with colleagues you meet at conferences and at professional development events is key. Through these contacts you can learn about new developments in the sector, discuss their implications on your business and expand your professional network.
In some areas such as permanent residency (PR), changes are frequent, and RCICs who do not keep up with the most current information are prone to making mistakes that will impact their clients and their business. The Start Up Visa program initially had an 8-month waiting period for PR but has now turned into a 26 to 32-month wait. Ben Fok recommends consultants to avoid ‘”locking in” any processing times when communicating with the client as any changes that happen after, are out of their control.
Confidently providing the most up-to-date information ensures you are fulfilling your professional obligations competently. It also translates into well-served and satisfied clients who will hopefully tell their friends and family about your immigration practice.