Straight answers, written in plain language. This is general information, not advice for your specific situation.
Our Free Eligibility Assessment is exactly that — free, with no obligation. If you'd like an in-depth strategy session, we offer paid consultations starting at $150 CAD (see our Pricing page for current rates and durations). We believe advice worth acting on is worth paying for, which is why we don't offer free legal or strategic advice beyond the initial assessment.
Both are authorized to represent you for a fee under Canadian law. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is licensed and regulated specifically for immigration matters by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). An immigration lawyer is licensed more broadly by a provincial law society. For the vast majority of immigration applications, an RCIC provides the same authorized representation at a different fee structure. McCarthy Edokpa holds both an RCIC license and is called to the Nigerian Bar.
No — and you should be cautious of anyone who tells you otherwise. Only IRCC (or the relevant government body) decides any application. What we can guarantee is a properly prepared, honestly assessed, and professionally submitted application, built on an accurate understanding of your eligibility from the start.
Yes. We maintain an office in Abuja specifically to serve clients across Nigeria and West Africa, alongside our Ontario, Canada office. Most of our work is conducted remotely regardless of where you're located, so this doesn't limit the service you receive.
A past refusal doesn't automatically disqualify you from applying again, and in some cases it can be appealed rather than reapplied. The right approach depends entirely on why you were refused. Our Refusal Consultation is specifically designed to review your refusal letter, identify what went wrong, and lay out realistic next steps.
Processing times are set and controlled entirely by the government, not by us, and they change frequently. We'll give you the most current estimate we have at the time of your consultation, and we monitor your file continuously once submitted — but we won't promise a timeline we don't control.
Our professional fees cover our work: assessing your eligibility, preparing your application, and managing your file. Government processing fees, biometrics, medical exams, and similar third-party costs are separate and paid directly by you. Every retainer agreement sets this out clearly before you pay anything.
In many cases, yes. Payment structure is discussed and agreed upon in your written Retainer Agreement before work begins — we're happy to discuss what's realistic for your situation during your consultation.
We'll tell you that directly, along with what would need to change for you to become eligible in the future. We'd rather have that honest conversation now than take your money for an application that doesn't have a real chance.
Quebec has its own separate immigration system with its own licensing requirements. Please confirm with us directly whether your specific matter is one we're able to assist with.
Every RCIC has a public registration number you can verify directly through the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) online register. McCarthy's RCIC number is R511726 — we encourage you to check it yourself before booking anything.
"Do you offer services in languages other than English?" — pending confirmation, omitted from this prototype.
Still have a question?
Reach out directly, or start with a free eligibility assessment.
