Updated January 2024
Looking for a quick route to an immigration career? An immigration assistant course may be just what you need.
An immigration assistant course will prepare you to become a key part of a team that helps newcomers navigate the complex process of securing visas and settling in Canada.
Immigration assistants are in charge of the administrative details that keep a client’s case moving forward.
They perform legal research, complete forms, draft submissions, manage deadlines, and communicate with clients and immigration authorities.
Sound like a path you’d like to pursue?
Before you jump into a training program, you need to be clear about basic details like what’s covered in class and what career options you’ll have after graduation.
Is an immigration assistant course right for you? Here are five things to think about as you decide.
1. HOW LONG IS AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT COURSE?
One of the first things you should know is how much time you will need to invest in your training.
Immigration assistant training is fairly quick. You can complete a program at a public or private college in less than a year.
These programs go by several names, including:
☑️ Immigration Assistant course
☑️ Immigration Legal Assistant course
☑️ Immigration Case Manager course
2. WHAT WILL AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT COURSE TEACH YOU?
An immigration assistant course is designed to give students the knowledge and skills to assist licensed immigration consultants and lawyers.
Training covers immigration procedures as well as legal office administration.
You can expect to learn:
☑️ The fundamentals of Canadian immigration law
☑️ Requirements for temporary resident visas, permanent residence, and Canadian citizenship
☑️ What could make a person inadmissible to Canada
☑️ The application process for federal skilled workers, family sponsorships, refugees, and other classifications
☑️ The various types of hearings conducted by the Immigration and Refugee Board
☑️ How to carry out legal research
☑️ How to complete immigration forms and write submission letters
☑️ How to manage client files
☑️ How to maintain a good professional relationship with clients
☑️ How to handle billing
☑️ Professional ethics
3. WHAT CAREER OPTIONS WILL YOU HAVE AFTER COMPLETING AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT COURSE?
Once you complete the training, you’ll be prepared to provide specialized support on an immigration team.
That means you can take on a position as an immigration assistant, immigration case manager, or immigration legal assistant (these are all different terms for the same role).
Licensing is not required, so you can go straight to work after graduation.
You can find opportunities with:
☑️ Law firms
☑️ Immigration consulting companies
☑️ Settlement agencies
☑️ Non-profit organizations
☑️ Companies that keep an in-house immigration legal team
4 . WHY CHOOSE AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT COURSE VS IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT TRAINING?
Immigration consultant training is a graduate-level program, meaning you must have a bachelor’s degree to enrol.
And after completing the training, you must pass a licensing exam and register with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
Immigration assistant training has fewer admission requirements and gets you job-ready sooner. When you’re finished, you don’t need to deal with licensing or registration; you can go right into the workforce.
Cassandra Fultz has many years of experience as an immigration consultant and now teaches the Immigration Case Manager program at Herzing College.
She says there are many advantages to completing an immigration assistant course.
“Upon graduation, it’s common for new immigration consultants to have a lot of legal knowledge but little practical skill. It takes time to attract clients, build a practice, and establish a good track record.
However, by the end of the immigration assistant course, graduates will have relevant legal knowledge and a wealth of applicable skills. They will be prepared to hit the ground running in any professional immigration environment. That makes them highly employable and sought after in the industry.
Overall, becoming an immigration assistant is faster, less expensive, and leads more quickly to employment.”
5. IS THERE DEMAND FOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS IN CANADA?
According to federal government data, Canada is set to welcome more than 485,000 newcomers annually over the next few years.
Those targets are the highest the country has ever seen. So the demand for immigration assistants should continue to grow.
Cassandra says the opportunities just keep expanding.
“There are more immigration consultants and lawyers than ever before. And as their practices grow, they need to support of knowledgeable immigration assistants to help manage the case load.”
READY TO TAKE AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT COURSE?
Check out the nine-month Immigration Case Manager program from Herzing College.
Students get comprehensive training in immigration procedures, document preparation, file management, and professional communications. They also get real work experience through an included five-week internship.
Training is available online, so students from all across Canada can enrol.
Need more details? An admissions advisor can answer all your questions about course schedules, start dates, admission procedures, and more.
Click below to explore the program and chat live with an advisor. We’re here to help!
