Hello Razaq, and ALL. I beg to defer as regards not using an immigration Lawyer. I started in Sept 2011, got my AOR first quarter in 2012, did my interview in Accra Ghana in Sept 2014, and was accepted by QSW. Now I am waiting to hear from the Nova Scotia offices about the Federal issuing my Immigration Visa- I submitted my final Fed application in December, 2014, the next stage is the MR- Medical Request. Wish I had started prior to now so I would not have been in the country with my family for the elections.
I made a lot of mistakes initially, and if not for using David Cohen's chambers, I would probably have lost hope by now. I was told I should get my Visa in about 18months(21 months from when I submitted my federal). My take about using a lawyer, you make lesser mistakes, your application would be express as they- the immigration offices know you are using an IL, and also you are already adding to the country's economical value.