How to Become a VISA Consultant? [Investment, Steps & more]

When someone is relocating internationally, a VISA and immigration consultant comes into play. They are the primary person who helps the clients bypass the legal complications that might occur regarding the related processes. This is accomplished by getting the visas and related documents for immigration. Let us see more on how to get into this job.

Visa and the types

Before knowing more about the visa consultant, it is better to understand the different aspects of a visa. When you intend to visit a country for a short duration temporarily, you need a visa that serves as an entry permit. It has a period of 90 days,

The following guidelines need to be adhered to for a visa application:

• Decide the type of visa you need along with an authorised place of application.
• Find a suitable time for filling the application and then book a slot for the visa interview.
• Gather the required documents, fill-up the form before attending the interview, and then wait for the visa application results.

Here is the list of common documents needed, though the exact ones will vary with the nations:

1. Passport having a validity of at least 6 months once you arrive abroad, along with the previously expired passports.

2. Digital and hardcopy of your photograph following the mentioned specifications.

3. Confirmation page of visa application stamped at VAC.

4. A valid receipt showing payment of visa fees.

5. Visa interview appointment letter is a hard copy.

6. Other supporting documents are advised to show legality, validity, any illegal history(if applicable), affordability, and intention of moving back to the home country.

Roles and responsibilities of a visa consultant

A visa consultant does the following tasks:

• Advice and guides the clients in obtaining documents for international migration to ensure smooth process flow.
• Operate with strict timelines to communicate with the authority and client through email and telephone
• They treat every client individually and ensure that the complete process is customised to match their requirements.  Translators are also hired as per the requirement.
• They need to have a clear understanding of the procedures related to border control and legislation. If there are any changes introduced in the legislation, they need to be fully aware of it.
• They conduct face-to-face interviews of the clients and check if their visa application is suitable.
• The relevant visa-related documents have to be submitted within the deadline set by the government.
• Preparation of fee quotes and information that the client or authorities would need.
• Maintaining a strong relationship with the colleagues and clients
• They may need to train the HR personnel to understand the immigration rules better so that they can fulfil their roles efficiently.

Skills needed to become a visa or immigration consultant

Some key skills needed for this job include:

• Candidates must have a degree or any other qualification needed for a Visa and immigration consultancy.
• Fluency in English is needed. Being bilingual might be needed for some roles.
• Experienced in immigration processes and OISC accreditation.
• Experience in lobbying is an added advantage.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills to interact with the authorities, clients, and colleagues.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines and operate under pressure besides providing satisfactory customer service.
• Proficiency in software like Microsoft Office or similar options for visa and immigration consultancy services.

Need for visa consultant

Getting a visa is very intricate, which tires people up and is a major cause that prevents many from applying for it. But it is the most crucial part that must be fulfilled for travelling to a foreign country. Visa applicants have the feeling of appearing for an exam. They never know if the Consulate or Embassy will approve the embassy deciding whether to get the visa after reviewing the application. Any unsatisfactory aspect in the form can lead to rejection. This is why it is essential to approach a visa consultant who can use his expertise to identify the issues and ensure that the process is completed properly for a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Reasons for hiring a visa consultant

Here are the reasons why you need a visa consultant before applying for a visa:

i. You won't have to do all the complex work

A visa consultant will do all the intricate work in the visa application process. This includes filling up the forms, letter preparation, booking an appointment, fees paid to the bank, and completing the DD, passport collection, and others. He will give you a list, and all you need to do is submit all the required documents according to it.

ii. Visa consultant has more data related to visa process

This makes the visa consultant the right person to get data on the whole process. Thus you can be assured that the efforts and investment made in a visa application for travelling abroad become fruitful. He can guide perfectly on any increments or cancellations needed in the procedure. All this prevents the need for you to investigate anything.

iii. No need to invest time in researching about visas

Various online sources offer different data on researching the visa process and how to get it successfully. So it is quite common to get confused in the scenario. Then deciding on this basis can result in mistakes which can waste all your efforts in the end. But with a visa consultant, all these issues can be avoided.

iv. Complete professional support for first-time travellers

Besides processing the visas,  the visa consultants play a major role ins showcasing the application to enhance the chances of its approval. Even during last-minute changes, they guide us perfectly to provide all the documents to complete the process.

Shortcomings of visa consultants

Though there are various benefits of visa consultants, they have some shortcomings too:

i. Process involves a lot of dependencies

The Visa application process involves dependency on the following:

• Courier services for shipping the documents to the destined metro cities where there are embassies.
• Submission centres
• Occurrence of natural calamities
• Public holidays

ii. Visa consultant is just an intermediator

This implies that the visa consultant can't affect the choice of visa, and the Embassy or Consulate solely does things to be considered. He will just assure you that it can be completed successfully, but there is no guarantee.

Bottom line

From the advantages and drawbacks, it is clear that visa consultants can't guarantee anything about getting the visa. Still, with their expertise and experience, they carefully complete all the intricate procedures. With all their best efforts, the outcome is usually positive, and hence for a hassle-free migration, it is essential to seek their guidance.

Also read:

1) Best Tips for Customer Retention for a Small Business
2) Tips to Understand Your Market while Starting a Small Business
3) Tips for Businesses to Overcome the Covid Blues - Revival Tips for Businesses
4) What are the keys to success when operating a small scale business?
5) OkCredit: All you need to know about OkCredit & how it works.

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FAQs

Q. What are the types of visas?

Ans. Depending on an individual's requirement and reason for travelling, visas can be of various types. It includes business visas, investor visas, work visas, student visas, visitor visas, dependent visas, etc. A visitor visa is meant for tourists. Similarly, a student visa is meant for those planning to study abroad. Work visa can be temporary, i.e., for a fixed period or permanent. You can take your kids and spouse with a  dependent visa.

Q. What is the duration needed for getting a visa?

Ans. Based on the category of visa and location, the processing time will vary from some weeks to months. For example, it takes 1-16 weeks to get a Canadian study permit. Similarly, a PR visa for Australia needs about 12-18 months.

Q. What is the cost of a visa?

Ans. It varies depending on the location and can be some hundreds to thousands of dollars. For example, considering Canada, the study permit costs $150, a work permit is $155, and a visitor visa is $100. Similarly, it costs 92 pounds for a visitor visa in the UK, which can be 822 pounds for less than 10 years, and a short-term student visa costs 97 pounds.