Before You Pay Any Agency, Ask These 8 Questions
I'm not going to tell you which agency to use. I'm going to give you the questions I wish someone had given me before I paid anyone. Ask these of any agency, including me. If someone can't answer clearly, that tells you what you need to know.
Not the company, the specific person handling my file. Someone who's never seen the country can't tell you which dorm to avoid or how the foreign police office works.
Applications take months. If your advisor is seasonal, you may be reassigned to someone starting from zero.
Ask specifically: a live mock interview with a person, or a document of questions? These are completely different products.
Ask what is not included. Translation? Apostille? Application fees? Visa fee?
Anyone with real data can pull this up in a minute.
If it's vague or nonexistent, understand what you're agreeing to.
Most stop at the airport, which is exactly when you need help most.
The honest answer is yes. Anyone who says an agency is required is not being straight with you.
If you're wondering how I'd answer: I'm a student living in Brno, I do live mock interviews, my prices are on the site, I refund within 48 hours, I support you for 30 days after you land, and yes, you can absolutely do this without me. The free guides here are for exactly that.