Diploma Program
This program can be offered at the campus(es) below. Please contact the campus of your choosing for program availability and delivery methods.
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Hybrid
Prepare for a rewarding career helping newcomers in Canada with the Immigration Assistant program.
In under a year, you'll learn to provide legal support in immigration law firms and consulting practices, covering legal office procedures, research, Canadian immigration law, and more.
CDI College is registered as a career college under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.
Student Success Strategies
The purpose of this course is to optimize learning through equipping students with effective study techniques. This course also provides an introduction to personality styles that will be encountered in the workplace and allows students to practise appropriate and productive interaction between the various styles. Emphasis is placed on the types of communication that work best with each style in order to achieve a good working relationship and to manage and resolve conflicts that arise. Students are also introduced to strategies for setting personal goals, managing time, and managing the stress that results from study or work and builds on positive group dynamics and setting expectations for student success
Introduction to Business Computer Applications
This course presents an introductory look at the Microsoft 365 productivity applications Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and the Windows environment in which they run. It covers the fundamentals of organizing files and folders, of drafting business documents, of creating presentations, and of reporting data in spreadsheets. This course relies entirely on practical hands-on activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis and obtaining feedback immediately.
General Legal Office Procedures & Documentation
In this module, students learn the day-to-day organization, management and procedures of a legal office. Latest developments in office technology are presented and applied practically as students draft standard legal documents such as agreements, statements of claim and defense, letters, and memos. Law office trust accounting concepts and procedures are also covered. In this module, students are also introduced to important skills such as timekeeping, filing, and the effective use of communication systems (telephone, fax, and e-mail). One of the most highly valued abilities of legal administrative assistants and paralegals is that of being able to prioritize, organize, and multitask workloads. Students learn these important skills in tandem with problem solving and critical thinking skills development. In this the program, students will use hands-on exercises and typing exercises as well as legal transcription to improve facility and speed with word processing and other computer functions.
Introduction to Canadian Immigration Law
This module introduces students to the Canadian immigration laws, rules, policies, and procedures that are enforced and developed through Canadian government agencies, courts, and tribunals. Students will be introduced to immigration concepts such as grounds for entry into Canada, inadmissibility, permanent residency, and refugee status. Citizenship will also be discussed in detail, including how to process a Citizenship application.
Administrative Tribunals
This module introduces students to the principles of administrative law in Canada and the tribunals that administer them. Students will be introduced to various administrative law concepts and will come to have a full understanding of tribunal processes. The various IRB application processes and duties will be explored and discussed in relation to the tasks applicable to the assistant.
Legal Research and Writing
This course is designed to give the students a clear overview of the skills required to perform legal research as an Immigration Assistant. Students will be introduced to various research concepts that include legal terminology, how to find the law and information related to it, and the sources used to perform the research. Emphasis will be placed on immigration statutes, regulations, and case law. Students will also be introduced to proper writing concepts in addition to presentation techniques for which they will be required to perform a presentation as part of the curriculum.
Ethics and Professional Conduct
The purpose of this course is to teach students the fundamentals and principles of ethics and professionalism in a Canadian legal environment with an emphasis on the rules and regulations specifying ethical conduct applicable to professionals assisting immigration lawyers, consultants and paralegals. Obligations around the use, collection and disclosure of personal information will be discussed. Students will gain an insight into the various codes of conduct, acts and legislation governing privacy and confidentiality at both the provincial and federal level.
Canadian Immigration Applications and Processes
During this course, students will explore the various aspects of refugee claims and other relevant processes involved in an immigration matter. Students will be exposed to humanitarian and compassionate applications while also exploring inadmissibility, permanent resident status, and how to complete application forms relating to inadmissibility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Students will also perform research on a daily basis and will be shown how to research cases.
Immigration Law Procedures
This course will introduce students to the applicable legislative and regulatory requirements that apply to the various applications, forms, and processes involved in assisting immigration lawyers, paralegals and immigration consultants in their practice. Students will explore temporary and permanent resident applications, family and economic classes and processes, provincial and territorial programs, and the processes involved for adopting children. Students will also research cases in each of the areas of immigration practice in order to gain a full comprehensive understanding of the various categories and classes of immigration.
Immigration Processes Capstone
This course is partly designed for the students to practice what they have learned throughout the entire immigration program. Students will apply their learned research skills, prepare submissions, and fill in various forms and applications. Additionally, students will learn how to properly interview clients, open their case files, and deal with the various required documentation and letters that are required to communicate with their clients and the various immigration departments. Labour Market Opinions and Labour Market Impact Assessments will also be discussed in detail.
Career and Employment Strategies
In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market. Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online. Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews. This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview: How people find jobs; Employer expectations; Presenting an enthusiastic attitude; Focusing on the right job and the hidden job market; Transferrable skills; Thank you letters; Effective telemarketing; Handling objections, self-confidence, and self-esteem; Individual counselling and coaching.
Immigration Practicum (5 weeks)
This five-week practicum allows students to practise what they have learned in the program in real-life settings such as law firms, immigration practices or government immigration services. This time allows students to apply theory and skills learned while also observing professional in practice.
Admission
Benefits of this program
Employment Opportunities
Admission
Benefits of this program
Employment Opportunities
Gain a distinct advantage by earning industry-recognized certifications that validate your expertise and skills in key areas such as digital marketing, project management, and CRM. Our program prepares you to succeed, whether you're advancing, switching careers, or starting your own business. Invest in yourself and join a community of certified professionals shaping the digital economy.
As a recent graduate student at CDI College, I am writing this testimonial to express my profound gratitude for the transformative experience I have had there.
Benjamin E.
Immigration Assistant Graduate
I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the Immigration Assistant program. I expected it to focus only on the clerical duties expected of an assistant, but it delivered beyond that: Learning immigration laws and their applications, forms, duties and responsibilities of all the participating parties in the immigration process as well as refugee institutions and other bodies.
Waduudah A.
Immigration Assistant Graduate
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