Financial stability vital for Canadian immigration - says Sikandar Lalani CEO Lalani and Associates

INTERVIEW Moonis Ahmed Daily Times' (15 April 2011) Business Reporter 

A chartered accountant by profession, Sikander Lalani has been an immigration practitioner and consultant for over 16 years. In addition to his immigration expertise, he brings to the table extensive assurance, taxation, management consulting and business planning experience. After spending eight years at Price Waterhouse, he took over as partner at Daudally Lalani and Co in 1985. Lalani launched Lalani and Associates in 1992 and has since built it into one of the leading and most reputable immigration consulting firms in Pakistan. As a seasoned professional, Lalani has a strong network and reputation in professional, business and investment circles in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Due to his reputation and respected professional acumen, he is regularly invited to appear on television to speak on topics such as immigration, finance and business opportunities. Lalani holds a B Com from Government Commerce College, University of Karachi. He also completed an executive programme in Management at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, fellow member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan, CPA - State of Colorado, fellow member of Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants CSIC), member of Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants and a fellow member of Canadian Migration Institute. He completed an immigration practitioner's course from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada and continues to attend immigration focused professional development seminars and courses to ensure that his clients receive high quality services that are in line with current immigration law such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. 

Daily Times: How can you differentiate between genuine and treacherous immigration consultants in Pakistan? 

Sikander Lalani: Yes, this is a big concern for people, but I suggest people to first analyse and check that the consultant is an authorised member of CSIC or is he authorised to practice. Secondly, the thing that should be analysed is his professionalism and expertise in the field. People often get angry with us as we generally refuse them upfront of ineligibility. Some of the clients want us to talk sweet that you will be eligible to go. If any consultant gives guarantee for the case it means he is lying because there is no guarantee at all in immigration process. Our probability of success is 98 percent but if I guarantee its means I am not a professional. 

DT: What is the minimum eligibility criterion to apply for immigration? 

SL: There are different criteria for students - working professional and for permanent immigration. Let’s start from student, a student first has to pass ILETS exam to check language capability in which a student needs to get a minimum 6.5 mark. Good academic record is also very important for getting admission in any university. 

Besides language capability and good academic record, finally financial capability is checked whether the applicant is financially strong to afford expenses there. Most importantly students' intentions are checked whether they are going to study there or want to go for earning. According to Canadian law the visa officer has to check students' intentions strongly. 

Age does not matter for immigration as a person of any age group can go to Canada. 

Except for scholarship most of the people want go there to get settled. If any person is between 35-40 age group or more and wants to go for research or scholarship then he will be warmly welcomed in Canada. The visa officers mostly I prefer students having fluent language capabilities and also strong balance sheet that could support them financially.  Normally students, who have completed their 0 and A levels from Pakistan are preferred, as they after finishing their studies in Canada normally go back to handle their parents' business and run factories and become professionals like doctors and engineers. Such sort of applicants preferably get selected by the visa officers. Almost every government's procedure is the same, but before sometime UK government relaxed the procedure very much and was running its economy on private schools by issuing every type of visas. However, new government closed down almost 100 schools and universities. Before six months and a majority of students had to face trouble there.  

There are three professional categories. First - applications that were filed before February 2008 since 2001, in which people from 300 occupations could go, took almost 6-7 years to be approved. 

Secondly, applications field after June 2008 till June 2010 in which 37 professions were open and lastly applications till June 2011 in which only 27 professions are open and four professions have been capped. 

In a profession a maximum of 1,000 people can go to Canada. Similarly, in the upcoming policy in July 2011 it is most likely that the number of professions would also be reduced to some extent. 

These professions have been categorized into white collar and blue collar jobs. From a less developed country like Pakistan, hardly people go for blue collar jobs as they are not much literate and also don't know English.

The immigration policy has been completely changed now as it takes students four years to get a work permit and after getting a job three years' experience is required for getting Canadian immigrations. 

Keeping these factors in mind immigration process is getting a little tougher, but it is eligible. In some of the professions biologist, insurance adjusters, mining managers and medical radiation technologist are in demand. 

DT: Why is Pakistan witnessing a decline in the number of applications? 

SL: Because of strict response and checking of visas by visa officers the number is continuously showing a declining trend. The deteriorating law and order situation in the country coupled with terrorism activities and frequent bomb explosions have put a very negative impression of Pakistan on the entire world. Although the number is declining as Pakistanis are in the limelight, but according to the Canadian law no single community can be closed for immigration to Canada. 

There may be a negative perception that the Canadian government can not handle but once any Pakistani is there he is 100 percent protected under the law. 

DT: Why should a person go to any expensive immigration consultant having a big name if that person is already eligible? 

SL: Yes, this is a big question that arises in many minds before coming to us, but the 'risk factor' is its simple reply. The professional's job is to steer you out of trouble. According to any court of the world you can fight your own case, but then why do people hire lawyers to fight their case, because you can be eligible, but do not have complete knowledge about the process. 

DT: What is the expected expense for this whole procedure? 

SL: Professional single applicant fee is $2,000 and married couple is $2,500, excluding government fees. If the government's fee is included, skilled individual fees will be $1,040 a married couple $2,080, and if they have a child then $2,500. 

The whole amount is calculated to almost $5,000 or Rs 400,000. The whole amount is paid in installments, first they have to pay $500, then government fee $1,040, then after getting first approval applicant gives $500 more, then the same amount after second approval. Normally the whole procedure ' takes two-and-half-year. The applications filed before 2008 may take 6-8 years.

DT: Does practice of preparing fake documents like bank statement by consultants help applicants?

SL: Not at all, if any consultant does this just for the sake of submitting the applicant's file then it would be open injustice with the applicant. The act if done by any consultant is fake and forgery (results in imprisonment) and if caught would be treated as an illegal case filed. Under the law of Pakistan, criminals' procedure court and as per Canadian law, it is a forge. Never will any good consultant suggest you to go this way.

DT: How many immigration consultant are working in Pakistan? 

SL: As far as Canadian law is concerned only four or five qualified and licensed consultants are working in Pakistan. 

DT: How has your experience been so far this business? 

SL: I have got an excellent experience in this business, as I enjoy working with people and meeting people who want to make their children's career. We have been expensive in the market and still are, but we have realised that instead of people going to cheaper consultants and wasting their money they should go to the proper channel, and we have been doing our best. 

DT: Are you satisfied with your achievement and how has your company progressed so far? 

SL: Yes, I am happy as now my second generation is joining my business; recently my son has joined my company. The company has also progressed well during the meantime and has succeeded in making a good name and reputation.