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Use of a Representative

KelseyTVS

Hero Member
Jun 18, 2015
321
15
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Just curious, did anyone use a lawyer? Is it worth it? Or is the whole process straightforward enough that you could do it yourself?
 

kickb

Hero Member
Jul 7, 2011
275
10
Category........
Visa Office......
new delhi
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
20-08-2013
Doc's Request.
22-03-2014(PCC, Medicals & RPRF) 21-05-2014(Proof of Communication), Feb 10, 2015 background info(updated)
AOR Received.
30-08-2013
File Transfer...
18-03-2014
Med's Request
22-03-2014, Mar 05, 2015(Re-medicals)
Med's Done....
02-04-2014
Interview........
Inprocess - Nov 07, 2014, Dec. Made: Jul 03, 2015
VISA ISSUED...
Jun 29, 2015
KelseyTVS said:
Just curious, did anyone use a lawyer? Is it worth it? Or is the whole process straightforward enough that you could do it yourself?
If you think you can handle the documentation part then mostly you dont need lawyer. Even if you think is straight farword but dont want to stress out with documentation then go for one
 

bigredmoose

Hero Member
Dec 6, 2014
473
41
Category........
Visa Office......
Sydney, AUS
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
30-10-2014
AOR Received.
24-12-2014
File Transfer...
06-01-2015
Med's Done....
07-10-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
31/03/2015
VISA ISSUED...
27/04/2015 (COPR)
LANDED..........
08/07/2015
KelseyTVS said:
Just curious, did anyone use a lawyer? Is it worth it? Or is the whole process straightforward enough that you could do it yourself?
I don't think a soul on here will advise you to get a lawyer or representative. A ton of money and too many horror stories. I know the process is daunting, but if you take the time to review everything at least 3 times you'll be fine. You'll get far better and quicker (also free) answers on here than you'll get from any lawyer. They can't do anything to speed it up either.
 

brucem

Hero Member
Apr 21, 2014
570
37
Edinburgh
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11-07-2014
Doc's Request.
23-01-2015
AOR Received.
22-08-2014
File Transfer...
22-08-2014
Med's Done....
26-06-2014
VISA ISSUED...
08-05-2015
LANDED..........
08-07-2015
bigredmoose said:
I don't think a soul on here will advise you to get a lawyer or representative. A ton of money and too many horror stories. I know the process is daunting, but if you take the time to review everything at least 3 times you'll be fine. You'll get far better and quicker (also free) answers on here than you'll get from any lawyer. They can't do anything to speed it up either.
I second all that! The only reason I can see for getting a representative is if you had a particular complication with your application such as criminal conviction...etc etc, otherwise this is the best place for advice :D
 

Mapleson

Hero Member
Apr 2, 2015
534
31
Toronto, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Havana
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
23-03-2015
Doc's Request.
21-08-2015
AOR Received.
24-04-2015
File Transfer...
28-05-2015
Med's Request
Upfront
Med's Done....
13-02-2015
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
24-09-2015
VISA ISSUED...
30-09-2015
LANDED..........
18-10-2015
Generally speaking, this group has more invested in knowing exactly what the regulations are than any given lawyer. Plus the advice here is free. If after getting advice here, you are still unsure or have conflicting advice, you can always go to a lawyer, but why make this process any more expensive than it needs to be?
 

truesmile

Champion Member
Jun 7, 2012
2,622
94
Category........
Visa Office......
MNL
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-05-2012
AOR Received.
18-07-2012
File Transfer...
24-07-2012
Med's Done....
18-05-2012
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
05-12-2012
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2013
LANDED..........
02-02-2013
NOT a lawyer, but we assigned myself (the sponsor) as an authorized representative. If you ever need to speak to CIC on the applicant's behalf it could come in handy.
 

reachmenow

Hero Member
May 21, 2009
853
19
Category........
Visa Office......
New Delhi
NOC Code......
Family PGP
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-Jan-2015
Doc's Request.
07-JULY-2016
Nomination.....
N/A
AOR Received.
24-06-2016
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
24-June-2016
Med's Request
07-July-2016
Med's Done....
08-Aug-2016
Interview........
No
Passport Req..
21-March-2017
VISA ISSUED...
25-March-2017
LANDED..........
Sometime Before August 2017
yep I second that, having sponsor as representative would always help, we did the same on my application as well.
 

littlemeatball

Full Member
Jun 16, 2015
43
0
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
22-06-2015
AOR Received.
24-07-2015; AOR2 27-08-2015
File Transfer...
24-08-2015
Med's Done....
14-04-2015
Same with us, the sponsor is the rep! :)
 

kettle

Hero Member
Mar 19, 2015
204
8
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Mississauga (London)
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15.12.2014
Doc's Request.
17.03.2015
AOR Received.
27.02.2015
Med's Request
17.03.215
Med's Done....
18.03.2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
04.05.2015
VISA ISSUED...
15.05.2015 in hand 29.05.2015
LANDED..........
01.06.2015
We used a rep for a straightforward common law outland application for a UK citizen.

The reason is we were getting bogged down by the paperwork, and both were far too worried about making mistakes to trust ourselves to do it. In hindsight that was lazy on our parts, but it is what it is.

Our rep made some mistakes:
1) the rep didn't ask for a medical up front
2) the rep never asked for a police clearance, after finding this forum, I had my spouse get one ASAP and we submitted that with his medical
3) the rep didn't ask for notarized proofs of our relationship (which it turns out we didn't need, but every case is individual
4) the rep wasn't aware that Mississauga was processing applications for London, and was advising we pull and go inland due to the clerical error
5) I did not pay the RPRF upfront, as I should have.

That being said, the rep did reassure us about our application, she helped us file a concise thorough (mostly) application with minimal amounts of proof. A solid essay 18 photos and only 8 pages of essay and photos, 5-8 pages of supplementary documents and that was it.

The peace of mind was worth it, the $3500 bill wasn't so much. I just wish I had been better educated going in.