Elizabeth I

Yes, prolly. But hopefully you're all done and dusted and happy over there now? You didn't go through all the drama for nothing....hopefully?

Are you happy over there?

NewCanadian

You are wrong - it is not a chat forum for people to express their opinions. It is a support/advice forum with real experts contributing and providing advice.

If you can't get out of your way and verify who major experts in this forum are (verification is easy to be done) then your "opinions" don't count. With multiple "opinionated" posts you may be seen as a troll...

Contributions and advice count in this forum - if you want to express opinions then there are gazillions of other forums to use.

Elizabeth I

I don't really care if my opinions "don't count" according to you. Because who are you anyway?

And just for the record, what you say doesn't "count" to me. So go winge to someone else. You know, you don't even know me from Adam, I could be writing from the visa office right now! You just sounded off at me like some patronising jerk who was enjoying lecturing someone else from aloft a high horse because you didn't happen to like what they said, go stand over someone else.

Elizabeth I

I see you as a HIGHLY OPINIONATED patronising jerk.

Elizabeth I

Soliciting for business, no doubt...

daft batty

We could only open an account with HSBC before we lived here. When we did open one with Scotia it took 90 minutes, I thought bedsores would develop if I sat on that seat for any longer.

Elizabeth I

It's interesting how varied peoples experiences can be. How do you find Scotias service on the whole? Would you recommend them?

daft batty

I find them pleasant but uninspired. The online service is good and you can pay bills at the ATM. Cheques cost a fortune, $30 minimum order of two books. We couldnt open a savings account without making an appointment and as the bank didnt open on saturdays we took our savings elsewhere. We think we will transfer all our banking to Presidents Choice now.

Elizabeth I

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Sheesh! $30 bucks for two books of cheques? I didn't know you had to pay for cheque books in Canada....

BristolUK

Absolutely happy, thanks...a bit too much snow this winter and prescription charges are a small fortune but it's a good life.

Elizabeth I

Well I'm glad to hear you're happy over there!

Dave+Jules

After reviewing all the forms and instructions about what was needed and then completing the assessment for points we contacted an immigration consultant who did he utmost to persuade me that I couldnt possibly have all the points and he started to demolish my points and evidence. Wanted something like 2300GBP .... I decided I would do it myself, not particularly because of the money but because I couldnt see what benefit there was to getting someone else to fill in my forms etc.

We were a straight forward skilled worker case, and I had the education and training to back it, plus work experience.

We did everything ourselves and the only thing that might have been different if someone had helped (well been paid to help) it may have shaved a month off the application time because we could have submitted our application earlier.

My advice is if you are fine in reading instructions, following instructions and organized about documenting your experience and training. Treat it like applying for a job and do your research.

Then think about DIY.

If you have reservations about filling in the forms or think you case will be difficult because you are borderline for any reason consider an immigration lawyer. CHC tell you that no one needs an immigration lawyer to complete and submit your case and I would be inclined to agree.

BristolUK

This is what makes me lean towards at least seeking advice if not full representation. Our case was Spousal Sponsorship. No assessment necessary for points. No education requirements, no training, no work experience.

Not even any financial assessment of the sponsor's ability to sponsor because we are married.

Absolutely no assessment of any kind needed. Nothing for anyone to misinterpret. Documents provided. Details given of wedding, guests and photos of wedding as requested, honeymoon details (within reason - ) as requested...all to confirm genuine nature of marriage.

How could anything be more straightforward than that?

And we fell foul on a technical matter of timing.

Now this situation wouldn't have needed full legal support. But when you think that a small matter will be viewed by CIC with common sense and won't be a problem and someone tells you that it probably would be, who would you believe; any old Tom, Dick or Harry or someone specializing in immigration and CIC practices?

chrisrymer

This is what bothers me, I am analytical by nature so although once forms are prepared I 'MAY' get a specialist to look at them and give their opinion (I am sure they will find fault).

I can't help but think I will submit them on my own.

NewCanadian

Experts here always state that each application is unique and one shouldn't make decision on the basis of someone esle's results.

My friend from university, with same education and number of years of skilled employment also decided to apply for Canadian PR about same time as we did. But he didn't want to spend money on expert saying exactly what opponents of using expert are saying here - if one can read and follow instructions then no worries, bla.. bla... bla....

He decided to watch me preparing all for my case under the detailed instructions from my consultant and waited with submission until we got our file number as in his opinion it was proof that application didn't miss anything. He applied about 2 weeks after our AOR letter.

Guess what? No, he didn't get refused and he got AOR letter in about 2 weeks. He is still waiting for initial assessment, didn't get any request for update, nothing. He faxed status request twice to embassy and the only answer he got is that his application's timeline is within processing standards and case will be assessed in due time.

It tells me that he didn't prepare case as well as mine was, likely he missed his circumstances specific evidence or something like this.