Kistehsia said:
I'm going this appeal alone... No lawyer, do I have to wait until they notify me of an ADR/Appeal date before I send documents ... Or may I start sending things now? I am so scared and and upset. I hate living without my hubby, it's killing me. I am booked to leave Canada January 28 th to spend a couple weeks with him, but I know it will hurt sooooo bad to leave him behind . I wish I understood why it has to be this way. How am I to have faith in the appeal process after seeing how a government official can lie so bad. It will be her word against ours, how fair is that.
Hey Kistehsia,
I spoke with 5 lawyers and had many different reactions. You really have to be careful. One didn't even know the law. He suggested I do not appeal and re-apply. Another was convinced we would not get an ADR because "visa officers are professional" and there must have been a valid reason for the refusal. At the same time, she was going to charge me $200 just to submit a request for the interview notes ... I can get it for $5 online through an ATIP request.
I did meet one lawyer and he said I did not need a lawyer if it went to ADR. He said my case was simple enough that a lawyer would not be necessary. However, he did caution that I would need a lawyer if it went to a full court session.
From what you have said, it sounds like the interviewer was contradicting herself ... right in the notes (unless I misunderstood). It should be easy enough to prove the visa officer had an agenda. One thing I did learn from the (good) lawyer was that you must exercise caution when stating your case (if you go to ADR). Try to be as factual and unemotional as possible. Resist the temptation to vent your frustrations about the visa officer and CIC in general.
There was a post a few days ago from someone who explained in detail the whole process of the appeal.
I feel the same way as you do when I leave my my wife. It's such a sad moment.