Migrating to Canada involves placing absolute trust in a Canadian immigration lawyer or regulated consultant, as well as making a significant financial and emotional investment. It is a journey filled with hope, but also uncertainty. However, there are little-known legal and technical details that can make the difference between success and failure in your immigration process.
In this article, you will discover three truths that every applicant should know before entrusting their future to a representative.
1: Your Immigration Process Belongs to You, Not Your Representative
A little-known but fundamental principle: the immigration file belongs to the applicant, not the consultant or lawyer.
This right is clearly supported by:
• The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
• The Law Societies of each province in Canada that regulate lawyers.
This means that all documents, forms, and evidence that make up your application—whether digital or physical—belong to you. Therefore:
• You can request copies of your file at any time.
• You have the right to request your complete file if you wish to change representatives.
• You can obtain a second opinion without your case being “held hostage” or withheld.
This right is not only legal, it is your first line of defense against negligence. It allows you to ensure that deadlines are met, confirm that no key documentation is missing, and maintain control over your future in Canada.
The Secret “Migration Clock”: Canada is Governed by UTC
One of the most common causes of technical rejection is ignorance of the time system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The system is not governed by the time in Toronto, Vancouver, or your city of residence. All deadlines are based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The time difference between UTC and the main areas of Canada is significant and variable:
• Ontario (EST): 5 hours behind UTC in winter / 4 in summer.
• British Columbia (PST): 8 hours behind UTC in winter / 7 in summer.
• Alberta (MST): 7 hours behind UTC in winter / 6 in summer.
• Saskatchewan (CST): 6 hours behind UTC all year round.
This may seem like a minor detail, but its consequences are serious:
Imagine that you have to send a document before midnight and you upload it at 10:00 p.m. in your local time in Vancouver. For the IRCC system, it may already be “the next day,” resulting in an automatic rejection due to late submission.
A representative who is not familiar with this technical detail could compromise your process without even realizing it.
3. Verifying Licenses and Competence is Your Responsibility
In Canada, only lawyers regulated by a Law Society and consultants authorized by the CICC have the right to legally represent applicants before the government.
Working with unaccredited individuals known as “form fillers” is not only risky, but also constitutes a crime under Canadian law.
Bad advice or negligent representation can destroy an immigration project. It’s not just about losing money:
• You can lose valuable years that will then prevent you from applying to another program.
• You can receive a permanent rejection that will affect future opportunities.
• You can jeopardize your legal status in Canada.
Always verify that your representative has a valid license and is listed in the public registry of the CICC or the appropriate Law Society.
These three “secrets” — ownership of your file, the operation of the IRCC UTC clock, and the obligation to verify professional licenses — are key to regaining control of your immigration process.
In Canadian immigration, knowledge is not a luxury, it is your defense. Being informed protects you from mistakes and fraud and brings you closer to your goal of obtaining permanent residence in Canada.
👉 Now that you know this, have you verified your representative and requested access to your immigration file?