Getting a lawyer to check over documents

[VanCityPT]

My spouse and I have the documentation almost finished (I am sponsoring her), but we want an immigration lawyer to check over the documents. It's a simple application - no kids, no previous marriages, no criminal record, non-visa country etc but I want to make sure everything is done properly. Does anyone know of a lawyer (NOT a consultant) in the Vancouver area that is willing to do this? Most lawyers will maybe only go for the full deal but we are not willing to pay $3000 dollars for our relatively simple application.

Thanks!

 

[HoneyBird]

if what you have stated is correct, why not just get a really good friend?co worker? sibling to check it over. (may be more than one person).
the important thing is to ensure that your information does not contradict hers and that all the dates are correct matching all the evidence that you have submitted. i really don't think you need a lawyer if its a straight cut case because that is exactly what he would do, examine it with a critical eye and ensure you have all the documentation (use the check list anyways). if you feel you may have not answered questions correctly due to interpretation, ask here or ask a friend.
thats just my 2 cents.

 

[VanCityPT]

if what you have stated is correct, why not just get a really good friend?co worker? sibling to check it over. (may be more than one person).
the important thing is to ensure that your information does not contradict hers and that all the dates are correct matching all the evidence that you have submitted. i really don't think you need a lawyer if its a straight cut case because that is exactly what he would do, examine it with a critical eye and ensure you have all the documentation (use the check list anyways). if you feel you may have not answered questions correctly due to interpretation, ask here or ask a friend.
thats just my 2 cents.

A $300/hr immigration lawyer is going to look at with a heck of a lot more experience and care than a friend/coworker!

 

[angelbrat]

A $300/hr immigration lawyer is going to look at with a heck of a lot more experience and care than a friend/coworker!

Don't be so sure. A lot of threads on this forum about $300/hr lawyers NOT doing the job.

The advice HoneyBird gave you was good advice, but like everything, the choice is yours.

 

[HoneyBird]

A $300/hr immigration lawyer is going to look at with a heck of a lot more experience and care than a friend/coworker!

not necessarily. a lawyer has qualifications..so do many of us here (in my case. i have post graduate and i am a senior HR person that assess people on a normal basis for jobs etc-i actually do evidence and arguments for the court locally) ...we all read, comprehend and understand..we all filled out the forms...many were successful..and can advise. Canada is not making the forms difficult for people..its basically a few sections that i normally see people get stuck on based on the number of threads on those topics.

there are alot of people here that got wrong advice from lawyers...so don t put your faith 100 percent in one.
you have a very clear cut case. most of your sections would be n/a.its thats simple.

 

[heatherusa]

not necessarily. a lawyer has qualifications..so do many of us here (in my case. i have post graduate and i am a senior HR person that assess people on a normal basis for jobs etc-i actually do evidence and arguments for the court locally) ...we all read, comprehend and understand..we all filled out the forms...many were successful..and can advise. Canada is not making the forms difficult for people..its basically a few sections that i normally see people get stuck on based on the number of threads on those topics.

there are alot of people here that got wrong advice from lawyers...so don t put your faith 100 percent in one.
you have a very clear cut case. most of your sections would be n/a.its thats simple.

I agree... I thought about contacting a lawyer to help and once I got done with filling out the forms I realized I would have just been throwing away my money. Every step that needs to be taken has to be completed by the applicants and sponsors.. For a straight forward case the only thing a lawyer is going to do is tell you that you filled out the form correctly (and maybe even wont know that in every case) and take your money. The applicant and sponsor have to do all the work anyway.

My feeling is that if someone reads the guides... all THREE of them... completely and thoroughly, they should be able to complete the forms honestly and fully without a lawyer.

To the OP - I doubt you will find a lawyer who is willing to take on the legal responsibility of looking over those forms without getting the big fat 3k fee. The minute one agrees to look over the documents for you they are taking on a burden that they have helped to ensure the papers are accurate... $300 is probably not enough money to take on that responsibility. JMO.

Good luck. I am sure with a straight forward case you will do fine, whether you end up with a lawyer or not.

 

[dishy_max]

I ended up using a lawyer in Vancouver to review our forms. They are charging on a time and expense basis and are being really good about reviewing the documents we sent in. I simply felt that using their services was right for me and my partner.

We wanted somebody else (with enough time on their hands) to review everything - forms, relationship essays, stat decs, photos etc. Mainly because I want to be 100% sure that we're doing the right thing, crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i'....and some of the things they suggested I hadn't even thought of. Then there was the fact that my partner and I had completely missed the stat decs until they pointed it out.

Personal choice - if you (like me) want piece of mind that you're on the right track, get somebody to review the forms. They should be ok to do that and not NEED to do the whole kit and kaboodle.

Good luck!

 

[wes786]

If your application is simple, you don't need a lawyer. All he/she will do is rip you off. If you are unsure about anything in the application ask here and you will be surprised to see how experienced/informative and helpful some of these people are. Good luck!

 

[Glogirl68]

I had a IMM lawyer take a look and tell me yup they look good. Ummm no I was missing things and he didn't even bother to tell me. He knew my husband and didnt charge me so thats why I think he said they looked fine. Another set of eyes looken over it is good. Don't waste money.

 

[heatherusa]

I ended up using a lawyer in Vancouver to review our forms. They are charging on a time and expense basis and are being really good about reviewing the documents we sent in. I simply felt that using their services was right for me and my partner.

We wanted somebody else (with enough time on their hands) to review everything - forms, relationship essays, stat decs, photos etc. Mainly because I want to be 100% sure that we're doing the right thing, crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i'....and some of the things they suggested I hadn't even thought of. Then there was the fact that my partner and I had completely missed the stat decs until they pointed it out.

Personal choice - if you (like me) want piece of mind that you're on the right track, get somebody to review the forms. They should be ok to do that and not NEED to do the whole kit and kaboodle.

Good luck!

That is awesome... I think the OP would like it if you forwarded the name and number of the lawyer you used in the Vancouver area!

 

[JimM]

My spouse and I have the documentation almost finished (I am sponsoring her), but we want an immigration lawyer to check over the documents. It's a simple application - no kids, no previous marriages, no criminal record, non-visa country etc but I want to make sure everything is done properly. Does anyone know of a lawyer (NOT a consultant) in the Vancouver area that is willing to do this? Most lawyers will maybe only go for the full deal but we are not willing to pay $3000 dollars for our relatively simple application.

Thanks!

The lawyer who hosts this forum quoted my fiance and I a price considerably less than $3000. Granted he's not in Vancouver, but it might be worth dealing with him by phone to save the money.

 

[shawngt2]

Hey, If you've got money to spend and don't care about reading the guides thoroughly, have good organization skills and triple checking everything.. Why Not

There's a lot, but I found everything to be quite easy. If I had questions, I called CIC hotline and wrote msgs on the forum. Saved myself money and for sure we'll get approved.

Piece of cake

 

[dishy_max]

I see where you're coming from but I think it's more a case of - if you just want to make sure that it's 100% correct do what you have to do. It's like insurance - it's all just piece of mind.

Good luck VanCity!

 

[confusednscared]

I personally find that having an immigration lawyer checked over my application and hiring him on for the remainder of my application with CIC is a total complete waste of our $2000. Our application is straight forward as yours is and our lawyer did absolutely nothing then just ran through the application to make sure every applicable question was answered and skimmed through our evidence and relationship story. In terms of gathering sufficient evidence, arranging it in order, highlighting phone records, explaining pictures and what's not, it was all up to us and our hard work. Lastly, he took forever to submit our application which was then returned back to us by CPC-M because one of the applications was not signed. So ya, total waste of our time seeing that we had all hopes in that he would push for the application being approved faster.

If I had the knowledge about CIC and exposure to the never ending information in this forum at the time I was filling out my application, we would have definitely saved on that $2000 for our home or a few vacations.

But like dishy_max said, "it like insurance-just a piece of mind"

Good luck!

 

[dishy_max]

Hey, If you've got money to spend and don't care about reading the guides thoroughly, have good organization skills and triple checking everything.. Why Not

There's a lot, but I found everything to be quite easy. If I had questions, I called CIC hotline and wrote msgs on the forum. Saved myself money and for sure we'll get approved.

Piece of cake

Hey Shawn - do you have the number of the CIC hotline? I can't find it anywhere...have a few questions and just not getting the answers on here.

Cheers. Dish