Canada received 342,154 temporary resident applications in 2017, the data shows. While 86 percent of applicants declared themselves as self-represented, 6 percent were represented by consultants and another 5 percent by lawyers. The remaining 3 percent hired Quebec notaries or used “non-remunerated” representatives.

Overall, 18.9 percent of the applications were rejected. Those who prepared their own applications had a 19.3 percent refusal rate, slightly higher than the 18 percent among those who paid a consultant to do it.

In contrast, only 10.4 percent of applications prepared by a lawyer was rejected. The refusal rates for applications prepared by Quebec notaries and unpaid representatives were 13.1 percent and 10.1 percent respectively.