Advantages of Lawyer over applying self

[honeysingh]

I have gathered all the information regarding my CEC application and wanted to know what the advantages, if I hire a lawyer (apart from money )

I will be applying in second week of June, once I finish 1 year(37.5 hrs/week) with my current employer....

The following are the necessary info I have right now and please let me know if any other documents that I have to keep in my mind if I wanted to file the application myself(without lawyer).

I am the only Applicant on file

1. I have the Birth certificate.

2. Hopefully I'll be receiving the PCC by next week (applied on May 10)

3. Have the reference letter from my previous employer dated on April 22 2013 (Jan/02 2012 - May/31 2012)

4. I'll take reference letter from my current employer on June 8 (worked from June 2012 - current)

5. Filled all the information which is necessary on all papers (Draft Version) including dates and addresses, family info, travels, education etc... as per the list

6. Have required IELTS for my NOC and duties matches my NOC.

7. Have T4's from both the employers (Jan 2012 - DEC 2012).

8. Received NOA (2012 )from CRA .

9. I have the pay-stubs and Bank statements (to show the salary deposited) from Jan 2013 - Till date.

10. From Jan 2012 - Current date, working with minimum of 37.5hrs per week.

11. Missing is Both of my current and previous Supervisors doesn't have the Business Card who write the reference letters.

12. Photo Graphs, CEC Fees.


Thank you

 

[bigben3]

Hello Honey Singh,

Yes. There would be definitely an advantage of applying through a Immigration Representative. As the CEC application process is simple and can be applied by your own, there's still some loopholes where we tend to forget even after checking from head to tail. A renowned consultant whose Success % is higher will definitely have good impression at VO perspective(this is my feeling). All the correspondance will be done through them and you dont have to get tensed when immigration asks you for a document which you dont know. A lawyer can interpret the required document and help you out till your case is finished. You dont have to go through any hassles/troubles. We have seen many people getting rejected due to their improper knowledge/hastiness in filing the application by themselves. Again you have to go through the whole process if you do a single mistake. Hiring a lawyer would help you by pre-screening the documents, your profile,eligibilty at their end first and if only they are contented, they'll go ahead. So there is a confidence in you that my file is genuine and good to go. So bottom line is to get the the PR done in first shot with experts help. 8) 8) 8)

 

[honeysingh]

Appreciate for your advise Bigben3....

 

[sabidhawan]

Do not apply through any rep. Either hire an experienced lawyer or file it yourself

 

[honeysingh]

Do not apply through any rep. Either hire an experienced lawyer or file it yourself

Yes Please , one of my friend referred me to a Immigration Laywer based on toronto,,, and I was in a confusion to go with her or apply my self... and i think bigben added some valuable advise to my question.

 

[seton]

It's a personal decision, and also a financial decision. All of the information you need to apply successfully for permanent residence is located in the CIC guides and Operation Manuals. The CIC stresses that they neither recommend or require the use of a representative, and they constantly repeat that you do not need a representative to complete a successful application.

Regardless of whether you apply on your own or use a representative, it is important that you fully understand the requirements of a complete application, and you personally review everything that is sent on your behalf.

Your post already shows you've done some homework. Point #11 is not a requirement (business cards), but it is best that the letters are written on a company letterhead. As to whether you have all the required documents, review the document checklist against what you have.

Personally I chose to not use a representative, saving myself thousands of dollars, and my application processed very smoothly. But I also spent literally dozens of hours researching this forum and reviewing the guides/manuals before applying, so that I dotted every I and crossed every T. If you do decide to go with a representative, then I would recommend using a lawyer that has been referred by someone you trust. There are countless horror stories of people being mislead and given poor advice by representatives. There are many good ones out there, but several bad apples as well.

 

[honeysingh]

Hi Seton,

You are right, I have been following this forum from almost 6 months and heard very bad stories(reps misleading the poor applicants/or lack of proper homework before applying) and seriously with the help of god and right guidance I don’t want to fall in that category. Just want a safe landing to my flight with everything on my board..

Coming to the lawyer, she is in business for almost 20 years… and even worked as a immigration office in the past….looking at that I wanted to proceed with her…. So that she can take care of any hiccups in the process….

Thank for your time

 

[Bhanavig]

I agree with Seaton, here are some facts if you hire a lawyer..

1. Have to pay lot of money towards fees ( i paid 4k for just lawyer fee alone) and for courier fees and any photocopies they take and HST for fees etc... all you need to pay , so total so far i paid $4600 for just lawyer office and never know what happens to my file.

2. They take minimum a month to review your file before they sent out( for me they took 1.5 months) , so i lost that period because i hire a lawyer.
3. each stage will be delayed because all communication will go to lawyer and never know when they will communicate to us( in my case they said they did not AOR e-mail and finally i had to communicate CIC and got the my file number)

4. they do not do anything other than review your file , but you need fill all your applications and sent to them and they take 1 to 2 months to review file beofre sent it over to cic...

5. you need to follow up all the time if you do not get a good cleark who will work on your file in law offcie.

etc......



So think a while before you hire a lawyer. it's jusr my experience and and all lawyers may not be the same but few are good too...

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi Seton,

You are right, I have been following this forum from almost 6 months and heard very bad stories(reps misleading the poor applicants/or lack of proper homework before applying) and seriously with the help of god and right guidance I don't want to fall in that category. Just want a safe landing to my flight with everything on my board..

Coming to the lawyer, she is in business for almost 20 years... and even worked as a immigration office in the past....looking at that I wanted to proceed with her.... So that she can take care of any hiccups in the process....

Thank for your time

There are a lot of lawyers and so called immigration experts out there who have been in the business for 20 years and even from the prehistoric era, but don't know shit!!!

Seton is right, do yourself a huge favour and do your filing yourself. Don't count on the expertise of LOOSERS! You might end up getting f**ked up in the end.

Just an advice, as it is your MONEY and your PAPERS at the end.

 

[honeysingh]

Thanks guys for your help,,

Do I need any other paper work apart from the above listed documents,,,,,,, Like adding a cover letter or any thing including the bank statements of salary deposits, company ID card, that may make the VO think that my work experience is genuine?

 

[Cruiser55]

Thanks guys for your help,,

Do I need any other paper work apart from the above listed documents,,,,,,, Like adding a cover letter or any thing including the bank statements of salary deposits, company ID card, that may make the VO think that my work experience is genuine?

Honeysingh,
Just sent what is needed, the bank statements showing the salary deposits are not needed, just your company reference letter stating the details.
I was like you, I wanted to try too hard, but after talking to a few people and learning from other people's mistakes I have decided to stick to the checklist. Send only what is needed.

 

[Cruiser55]

Cover letter = Yes
Company ID card = No
Bank Statements = No

 

[InfoSeeker12]

Honey.

Before applying, i had been researching CIC website, reading certain pages couple of time and making sure i got everything correct. Once i found this site, all the research moved at a lightning speed.

However, just to be sure, after preparing every thing in order, i took an appointment with a renowned immigration lawyer in downtown. Paid her the hourly fees and let her check my application. She was happy to do that. I had already covered 99%, she just found one or two docs that were supposed to be included and I missed. So its always best to get it checked. Prepare everything yourself, and just get it checked by a lawyer.

or - you can explain point wise, like you have already done, and every one of us will share our knowledge with you. No worries at all.

 

[honeysingh]

Honey.

Before applying, i had been researching CIC website, reading certain pages couple of time and making sure i got everything correct. Once i found this site, all the research moved at a lightning speed.

However, just to be sure, after preparing every thing in order, i took an appointment with a renowned immigration lawyer in downtown. Paid her the hourly fees and let her check my application. She was happy to do that. I had already covered 99%, she just found one or two docs that were supposed to be included and I missed. So its always best to get it checked. Prepare everything yourself, and just get it checked by a lawyer.

or - you can explain point wise, like you have already done, and every one of us will share our knowledge with you. No worries at all.

Thanks buddy.....this forum is my primary contact .....

 

[PB02]

Hi honeysingh....It seems you have done your homework very diligently.....So I would advise not to waste your money on the lawyer...as you mentioned you have been following this forum, if you need any advise in future you will have members supporting you...free of charge

Bank statements showing salary deposit are not required...you don't want to send unnecessary information...

Another advise from me would to sign all the documents on a date in June (after you complete 1 year of experience) - Not a solid rationale...but I think when the VO looks at the application you don't want to give them a chance that your one year is not complete just by looking at the date the forms were signed (although your time is taken into account from the date your application is submitted, but still we have heard funny stories about CIC)