First Consultation for an H&C Application: What to Bring and What to Ask (2026)
The short answer: Bring your passport, every IRCC and CBSA letter you have received, proof of your current status and when it expires, and a simple timeline of your time in Canada. Bring details about your family and any health, school and work records. Ask who will do the work, what the fee includes, what it does not include, and what other options you have besides H&C. A regulated consultant should be able to show you their licence and give you a written service agreement before work starts.
Why prepare for the first meeting?
H&C applications are decided on the individual facts of your life. A first consultation is more useful when the consultant can see your status, your history and your documents. You do not need a perfect file. You need an honest one.
What documents should I bring?
Bring what you have. Missing items can be found later.
Identity and status
Passport and any other travel documents
Current and past permits, visas and visitor records
Proof of when your status expires or expired
Immigration history
Every letter from IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency
Refusal letters, procedural fairness letters and any removal or departure order
Copies of past applications, if you have them
Details of any refugee claim, including the decision
Your time in Canada
A timeline of where you lived and worked, with dates
Proof of work, taxes, leases, community or faith involvement, and relationships
Family
Names, dates of birth and status of your spouse or partner and children
School records and any medical or special-needs records for children
Health
Medical records or letters about any ongoing condition, if relevant
Anything difficult
Any criminal charge or conviction, anywhere in the world
Any past immigration problem, including a refusal or a finding about misrepresentation
Tell the consultant everything, including the parts you are worried about. Problems that are hidden can be harder to deal with later. See the H&C documents checklist for the full evidence list.
What questions should I ask?
Are you licensed? Ask for the licence number and check the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. See how to choose an H&C consultant.
Who will work on my file? Ask who prepares it, who signs it and who you will speak to.
What is the fee, and what does it include? Ask what is not included, such as government fees, medical exams, police certificates and translations.
Will I get a written service agreement before work starts? You should.
What are my other options? H&C is an exceptional measure, and another route may suit you better. See other PR pathways to consider.
What are the risks? Ask what could go wrong and what the weak points are.
How long might this take, and how will you keep me updated? Processing times are long and change. Check IRCC's own tool.
Can a representative or a lawyer do all of this? Consultants cannot represent you in Federal Court; that is handled by a lawyer. See RCIC or lawyer.
What are the warning signs?
Anyone who guarantees approval or says they have special contacts at IRCC
Anyone who asks you to give false or misleading information
Anyone who refuses to return your passport or original documents when you ask
Anyone who will not give a written agreement or a receipt
Anyone who will not show a licence number
What should you do after the meeting?
Write down what you were told, including the fee and what it covers.
Check the licence on the public register.
Take time to decide. A good consultant will not rush you.
Gather the missing documents you were asked for.
Ready to talk? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, offers online appointments for clients across Canada. Book a case review.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to my first H&C consultation?
Your passport, IRCC and CBSA letters, status documents, a timeline of your time in Canada, and family, health, school and work records, as far as you have them.
Do I need every document before I book?
No. Bring what you have, and the consultant can tell you what is missing.
Should I tell the consultant about a criminal record or past refusal?
Yes. Hidden problems can be harder to deal with later, and some issues affect whether H&C is even available.
Can a consultant guarantee H&C approval?
No. IRCC decides every application, and no consultant can promise an outcome.
How do I check that a consultant is licensed?
Ask for their licence number and search the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.
Key takeaways
Bring your documents, your timeline and your honest history.
Ask about licence, fees, what is included and your other options.
Expect a written service agreement before any work starts.
Be wary of guarantees, pressure and anyone holding your documents.
The bottom line
A good first meeting is organized and honest on both sides. Bring what you have, ask clear questions, and take time to decide.
Questions about your situation? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, can review your situation. Book a case review.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Sources: IRCC, Humanitarian and compassionate considerations; College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, Code of Professional Conduct (written service agreement) and public register.
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create a client relationship. Immigration options and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified representative for advice about your situation.
About the author
Domonic Cheung is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), licence R711344, with E-Pathway Immigration in Vancouver, BC. You can verify his licence on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) public register.
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