Plain answers to common questions.

Sitlan Immigration Consulting is the practice of Sithandweyinkosi Nxumalo, RCIC-IRB #R731453, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). She holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and has over three years of practice experience focused on family sponsorship, refugee and humanitarian files.

The RCIC-IRB designation means she is already authorized to represent clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board, including refugee hearings and immigration appeals, with no additional licensing required.

Only RCICs and Canadian lawyers may legally represent you before IRCC for a fee. You can verify any representative's status on the CICC public register.

An RCIC is licensed by the CICC to handle most IRCC matters, applications, retainers, correspondence with officers, and appearances before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in some cases.

Canadian immigration lawyers can do all of the above plus represent you at Federal Court for judicial review. For the vast majority of files, an experienced RCIC is the right fit. When a file requires court intervention, we refer to trusted immigration lawyers.

English, Ndebele and Shona. We grew up in southern Africa and speak the languages of our community. Interpretation in other languages can be arranged for consultations on request.

Yes. Sitlan is a fully virtual practice, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. We serve clients across Canada and around the world. Consultations happen by secure video or phone, wherever you are, whenever it works.

Yes, a complimentary 15-minute discovery call. It is designed to be enough time to understand your goals, give you an honest read on your options, and decide together whether a deeper paid consultation makes sense.

We work on fixed-fee proposals, never hourly, so you know the full cost before signing anything. Fees vary considerably by program: a straightforward visitor visa is priced differently from a complex spousal sponsorship or a refugee claim with country-conditions evidence.

You receive a written, itemized quote after the strategy session. The discovery call itself is free.

Study permit processing varies by country of application and IRCC volume, typically 4 to 12 weeks. Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) and proof-of-funds requirements have added complexity in recent years; we factor these into your timeline planning.

Super Visa applications usually process within several weeks to a few months, depending on the visa office handling the file. Proper documentation up front, including the qualifying medical insurance and the inviting child or grandchild's income proof, keeps things moving.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and, when intakes open, parents and grandparents. In limited circumstances, other relatives (orphaned siblings, nieces or nephews under 18) may be sponsored as well.

Spousal and common-law sponsorship currently runs 12 to 24 months from submission. Inland and outland applications have similar timelines today. We give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your specific circumstances.

IRCC is looking for a pattern of evidence rather than any single document, joint finances, shared housing, communication history, photos with context, statutory declarations from people who know you both, and consistent narrative across both partners' forms. We help you assemble the strongest possible package without padding it.

Often yes. Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are in Canada with valid status and an inland sponsorship in process can typically apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). This is one of the most common services we provide alongside the sponsorship.

A refugee claim is a request for protection in Canada because you fear persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual treatment in your home country. Claims are decided by the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). They can be filed at a port of entry or inland at an IRCC office.

An H&C application is a discretionary request for permanent residence based on the unique circumstances of your case, establishment in Canada, the best interests of any children involved, and hardship you would face if required to apply for a visa from outside Canada. It is not a substitute for refugee protection but can sit alongside or after it.

We assist with Basis of Claim narratives, evidence packages, and overall hearing preparation. For specific advocacy at the hearing itself, we coordinate with experienced refugee counsel where appropriate. We will tell you honestly when a lawyer is the better fit.

No. Decisions rest entirely with IRCC officers and no reputable consultant or lawyer can guarantee outcomes. Anyone making that promise is misleading you.

What we can guarantee: meticulous file preparation, honest assessment of your odds before you spend money, transparent communication throughout, and a strategy designed to put your best case forward.

First, we request your GCMS (or ATIP) notes from IRCC to understand the officer's reasoning. With that diagnosis, options usually include:

A reconsideration request (if the officer made an error); refiling with a strengthened application; appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division where the right exists (typically spousal sponsorship and removal cases); or judicial review at the Federal Court via licensed counsel.

Don't panic, but don't delay either. A PFL is IRCC's notice that they are concerned about something specific. You have a short window (often 7 to 30 days) to respond. A well-prepared response addresses every concern raised, with new evidence and, where appropriate, sworn affidavits. This is one of the most consequential moments in any immigration file, and we treat it with the seriousness it deserves.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call through the contact page, or email info@sitlanimmigrationconsulting.ca. We will review your goals and outline likely options.

If we are a good fit, we move into a paid strategy session. If we are not, or if a lawyer is better suited, we will tell you and point you toward the right help.

Absolutely. Documents are stored on encrypted infrastructure, accessed only by your assigned consultant. We comply with PIPEDA and CICC professional secrecy obligations. We never share or sell client data.

Through a combination of email, secure portal messages, and scheduled video calls. Emails are returned within 24 business hours; urgent matters are flagged for same-day response. You always have a direct line to the consultant working your file, never a junior, never a generic inbox.