Choosing a consultant

Student Visa Consultant in Dhanmondi, Dhaka: What to Ask First

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

Visit the office before you pay

Dhanmondi has many consultancy offices, so a signboard tells you very little. Go in person, preferably with a parent. Look for a real workplace with staff, a place where files are kept safely, and people who answer questions without rushing you.

Notice small things. Is the counsellor asking about your marks, your English score and your family budget, or only about which country you want? Are you given time to think, or told that the intake will close today? A calm office that lets you go home and decide is usually a better sign than a very friendly one.

We did not find an official Bangladeshi rule that licenses study abroad consultancies. A trade licence only shows that a business exists. It does not prove honesty or skill, so judge the people and the written terms.

Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. If you are a student under 18, a parent should be part of every money decision, and everyone who will pay should hear the same explanation.

Meet the counsellor who will handle your file

The person who explains the plan to you should be the person who works on your file, or you should at least meet that person. Use the questions below at the first visit.

• Ask for the name of the person who will work on your file, not only the person who explains the service.
• Ask how long they have handled your destination country and what their exact role is.
• Ask who you should contact when something goes wrong, and how quickly they usually reply.
• Ask how your passport copies, bank papers and certificates are stored and who can see them.
• Be careful if the person you met on day one is no longer available once you have paid.

Get the scope in writing

Ask for a short document that says what the office will do and what it will not do. It should name the country, the services, the timeline and the contact person, and it should say who submits the application and who owns the online account.

It should also separate the office's service fee from fees that go to others. For example, IRCC lists a Canada study permit fee of CAN$150 on its official page, and its processing fees are the same everywhere. Universities and embassies set their own fees, so check each one on the official site.

For Canada, IRCC says only authorised representatives, such as lawyers and members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, may charge for immigration advice. Ask if the office has one, and check the directory yourself.

Keep the document, the receipts and your messages in one folder. If a problem comes later, this folder is your proof of what was agreed.

Pay in steps tied to milestones

A fair plan links each payment to a visible result, and you never pay the full amount at the start. A payment tied to a promise of a visa is a bad sign, because no consultant controls that decision. The steps below are examples. Ask the office for its own list in writing. Keep every payment in your own name and your own record, and ask the office to write the amount, the date and the purpose on each receipt. If a payment is for a school or an embassy, ask for the official receipt from that body as well.

• After the profile assessment and a written school list.
• After you receive an offer letter that you can see yourself.
• After the visa file is complete and submitted.
• Pay by bank transfer or mobile banking and keep a receipt for every payment.
• Ask what is refundable at each step, and what is not.

What a free profile assessment should include

A free assessment is a normal way for an office to meet you, and it should be useful even if you never sign up. Ask what is included before you go. A good one covers the points below.

• A look at your marks, IELTS or other English proof, any gaps in study, and your family budget, with honest comments on each.
• A short written list of suitable countries and programmes, with the reason each one fits you.
• An estimate of the total cost for the first year, including fees paid to schools, embassies or immigration offices, which you should confirm on their official pages.
• A plain statement of the risks, including what could lead to a refusal and what you can do to reduce it.
• The next steps, and which ones you can do yourself on official sites at no cost.
• A copy of the assessment in writing, so that you can compare it with a second opinion from another office.

Red flags

If you notice even one of these, slow down and ask for the answer in writing. Two or more together is a good reason to look elsewhere.

• A promise of a visa, admission or a scholarship. IRCC says no one can promise a Canadian visa or faster processing. Every country's visa decision is made by that country's own authorities, not by a consultant.
• Pressure to pay today, or a demand to pay in cash only.
• A request to change a bank statement, certificate or any other document.
• No written fee list, no receipts and no refund terms.
• A counsellor who will not say who handles your file.
• An answer of 'do not worry about that' whenever you ask about risk.

What IGC counsellors check with you

The IGC office is at Raisa Bhaban (5th Floor), 100/A, Sukrabad, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1207. You can call 01335-185486 or write to contact@igcstudy.app. A counsellor checks your results, English plan, budget and the source of your funds, and explains the costs in writing. We cannot promise a visa.

You are welcome to visit, ask these same questions and leave without signing anything.

Frequently asked questions

Is a free profile assessment really free?

It should be. Ask before you go whether any fee applies, and what you receive at the end. A good assessment gives you a written view of your options. It should not force you to sign up that day.

How much should I pay upfront?

There is no official figure we can quote. Ask for a written plan that ties each payment to a step, such as the school list, the offer letter and the file submission. Avoid paying the full amount at the start.

Can a consultant guarantee my student visa?

No. The visa decision is made by the immigration authority of the country. IRCC states that no one can promise a Canadian visa or faster processing. Treat any guarantee as a warning sign.

What should I check about a consultancy in Dhaka?

Visit the office, meet your counsellor, read the written scope and refund terms, and confirm any official fees on the government or university page. For Canada, also check the representative on the official directory.

If you would like a written profile assessment before you commit to anyone, book a free profile assessment with IGC in Dhanmondi. Fees and rules change, so confirm each figure on the official page.