Pahl & Associates
“Canada promises a new life to thousands of individuals and their family members each year based upon a belief that Canadian immigration can benefit a country in a positive manner. The decision to move to Canada is a major step in the lives of many who have to leave close friends and family members behind. The process of adapting to a new country can also be a challenge. At a personal level having emigrated to Canada from the UK, I fully appreciate the immigration journey from both a legal and practical perspective.
Pahl & Associates specialise in Canada immigration law and have been assisting individuals from all over the world to immigrate to Canada since 2003. We always appreciate the challenges of moving to a new country. Pahl & Associates are based permanently in the UK, our services are comprehensive as we incorporate an in-depth initial assessment followed by full legal representation and management of your application throughout the visa process. We have hundreds of satisfied clients and remain confident that you will also experience a professional level of personal service from Pahl & Associates”
Balvinder Pahl LLb RCIC
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
As a member of The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), all RCICs are obliged to comply with high standards of ethics in both professional and personal capacity. Therefore, all applications submitted by Pahl & Associates will be completed to a strict professional standard.
Prior to accepting a case, it will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that it stands a reasonable chance of success and being accepted by the Government of Canada.
In the event that an application is weak as to eligibility or legal merit, a prospective client will be so informed in an honest and frank manner to avoid a client wasting their time and hard-earned money.
If you would like to view The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) website and check details of qualified representatives in Canada and the UK. CLICK HERE
2003 – Pahl & Associates Canada was founded by Balvinder S. Pahl LLB (Hons) whilst based in Vancouver, BC Canada.
2005- Pahl & Associates relocated office from Vancouver to London UK.
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A dual British and Canadian national
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Graduated with a law degree from the U.K. in 1985
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Successfully completed the University of British Columbia Immigration Practitioners Certificate Program in 2003 to qualify as a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC)
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25 years of experience working exclusively in the field of immigration in both the U.K. and Canada.
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Work experience achieved in the voluntary and private sectors including law practises in both UK and Canada
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Regularly deals with Canadian Government departments and their overseas posts whilst helping hundreds of individuals and families with their immigration applications.
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Qualified to practise immigration law in both the UK and Canadian jurisdictions. This places Balvinder in a unique position to deal with individuals who have to consider their status in the UK when contemplating their Canadian immigration options.
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Regularly attends and participates in legal seminars/courses/conferences relevant to his immigration practice in both UK and Canada in order to keep abreast of the ever-changing immigration regulations and to provide competent professional services for the benefit of his clients.
RCIC – The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Member Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants CAPIC
The Office of Immigration Services Commissioner -Level 3 UK Immigration Consultant
• A brief initial telephone discussion to assess your Canadian immigration requirements
• A detailed in-depth personal or Skype consultation to assess merits of the proposed application and to explain your visa options
• Full representation service of your Canadian visa application from submission to a final decision
• Partial case management if you have started the visa process but need assistance
• Application checking service prior to submission if you have prepared your own application.
Our professional fees are charged in addition to any fees payable to the Canadian government or any third party including medicals, police certificates or language testing. The vast majority of our professional fees are fixed in advance and stated clearly in a retainer agreement. Further, whenever possible we charge in stages as we progress your application.
Pahl & Associates professional fees include:
• Completing and submitting immigration/visa application forms
• Advising and collating relevant documentation in support of your application
• Receiving and making telephone calls and responding to emails.
• Management of your application until your a decision is made by the Canadian government
When you decide to appoint Pahl & Associates as your legal representative your application will be assigned to Balvinder Pahl who is a registered RCIC based permanently in the UK and has 15 years of experience in managing Canadian immigration applications. We do not sub-contract work out to other visa companies. We are confident that you will experience a personal and friendly service from Pahl & Associates who have proudly and successfully helped hundreds of people start a new life in Canada.
Choose an immigration or citizenship representative
To find a paid or unpaid representative:
Ask people you trust to recommend someone. Get advice from several people before you choose.
Ask questions. Be careful of someone who will not answer your questions.
If you’re hiring a paid representative:
Find out if they are authorized. This means they have a license to practice and give advice.
If you choose a paid representative who is not authorized, we may return your application or refuse it.
If you give a representative money or compensate them in any other way in exchange for their services, they’re considered paid and must be authorized.
Ask about the representative’s training and experience. For instance:
Ask for references and
Find out how long they have been in business.
Discuss the services they’ll provide and the fee.
Make sure to get a written contract and read it carefully before you sign it.
Make sure the contract lists all the services the representative will give you and clearly states the fee you discussed.
Choose your representative carefully
If you’re using a representative who works in Canada, you can also contact the Better Business Bureau. It can tell you if it has received complaints about a citizenship or immigration consultant, lawyer or other representative.
Tips to protect yourself from fraud
Be careful of anything that sounds too good to be true.
Using a representative will not draw special attention to your application or guarantee that we will approve it.
Beware of representatives who encourage you to give false information in your application. It is against the law. You could be denied entry into Canada or deported after you arrive.
Don’t leave original documents or photos with your representative.
Don’t sign blank application forms.
Don’t sign forms or documents unless you can read them.
If you don’t understand them, ask someone to translate.
Make sure to get copies of any documents that your representative makes for you.
Any time you pay your representative, get a signed receipt.
Make sure your representative updates you on your application often.
Protect your money and remember that:
We’ll never call you and ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account.
We’ll never ask you to transfer money through a private money transfer company.
Our processing fees are in Canadian dollars and they’re the same around the world.
Learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud.
If you’re having problems with your representative, see:
How to file a complaint
How to report fraud
Finding a qualified legal representative for a Canadian immigration case in the U.K. or any part of the world is often a challenging task. The first issue that potential clients should consider is whether their proposed legal representative is lawfully permitted to represent them.
Only three regulatory bodies allow their members to practice immigration:
1. Members of a Canada Law Society or Canadian Bar Association
2. Quebec notaries
3. Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs)
These are the only three groups that are authorized to represent clients for immigration purposes in Canada including matters of admissibility and citizenship. These are commonly referred to as “Representatives” by the government of Canada.
ICCRC is the national regulatory authority designated by the government of Canada to safeguard consumers who seek and retain the services of immigration specialists. Prior to entering the immigration consulting profession, and following completion of a study program, immigration practitioners must pass a rigorous exam and show good character and conduct.
Once admitted to membership of the ICCRC and licensed to be a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), ICCRC members must complete a series of mandatory Practice Management Education courses and a minimum 16 hours of Continuing Professional Development each year.
RCICs must also participate in an annual Compliance Audit to ensure that they meet the requirements of ICCRC Regulations and its Code of Professional Ethics. They must also carry Errors and Omissions Insurance.
For government information about who can legally represent clients in Canada, click here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/rep-who.asp
Canadian-licensed lawyers are clearly authorised to represent clients in Canadian immigration matters. Uncertified immigration consultants who are not members of ICCRC act in violation of both federal and provincial laws.
Please Note: Lawyers or Immigration Consultants licensed in other countries (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, etc.) are considered uncertified immigration consultants and may not act as legal representatives in Canadian immigration cases. As such, potential clients should retain a Canadian-licensed lawyer or ICCRC registered immigration consultant for their Canadian immigration case whenever possible.
The only way that a U.K. licensed lawyer or consultant will be permitted to act as an authorised representative in a Canadian immigration matter is if he or she is also a member of a Canadian provincial law society or a member of ICCRC.
Under no circumstances should an uncertified immigration consultant be hired for a Canadian immigration case. Uncertified consultants act in violation of both Canadian federal law and provincial law.
Anyone who retains an uncertified immigration consultant does so at his or her own risk. In particular, beware of U.K. based unauthorised agents who falsely claim to be qualified in Canadian immigration law and offer dubious advice and services. We often have to deal with the consequences of their incompetent actions and inflated promises
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Canadian immigration law and procedure
Undertake continual professional development to maintain knowledge of immigration regulations
Prepare your application in accordance with latest Canadian immigration regulations
Complete your immigration application forms.
Manage your immigration application throughout each stage of the visa process
Keep you informed of processing developments as and when they arise.
Advise you of any changes to immigration regulations that could impact on your eligibility.
Our family will be eternally grateful to Mr Pahl for assisting us in navigating the minefield of relocating to Canada with the correct visa in the shortest time possible. Mr Pahl is professional, friendly but most importantly very knowledgeable in his field, catching and challenging errors from the High Commission that we would never have realised on our own. If we had to do the process over again, we would choose to do it exactly the same with Mr Pahl guiding and advising us every step of the way. We can’t thank you enough!
Mr Pahl is undoubtedly a first class lawyer. I went to him to get spousal visa for Canada. Mr Pahl soon realised that I could still be a permanent resident of Canada. So he set about getting me a PR travel document, this means I can get to Canada. This meant that I didn’t need to get a visa,which would have taken a year!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Pahl for his efforts in getting me on the move!
I have recently received my final documents and am preparing for the move to Vancouver, which is very exciting. I feel a huge amount of gratitude toward Mr Pahl for his expertise and assistance these last months and can confidently recommend the services of Pahl and Associates without reservation.
