₦airaland Forum

ami213:
Long Post Alert!

My fellow Nairalanders! Please felicitate with me because my God is good and kind to me, to him alone be all the glory.
I just received my long awaited PPR. VV for the spouse of an international student. I learnt a lot from this forum and it is very imperative I give back.

My first application was submitted June 2021
Resubmitted a new application via the new portal January 9 2022.
Refusal letter February 9 2022 (Refused Based on Family ties)
I ordered GCMS notes same day.
Reapplied February 22 2022
PPR April 7 2022


A refusal letter hits differently, I was devastated because I thought I had a strong and convincing application. It took me about 2 weeks to get myself to write a new LOE and SOP.

A sweetheart on this platform @mzjanez01 reached out to me and advised I reapply without the notes. She was kind to share how her husband tackled his refusal reasons as well. Jane, you are far too kind oh! Thanks for all the prayers and kind words.

My GCMS notes arrived on the 12th of March, it seems to be the shortest GCMS notes have seen. The VO wrote that “ applicant has strong family ties in Canada”. To be honest, I was disappointed because I was expecting a more detailed notes. (I kuku report the VO to God)
Luckily for me the VO concern has been addressed in the new application.

What i did to Tackle the refusal reason based on family ties? I strengthened my HOME TIES. Having surfed through YouTube and Other forums, I realized that no one knows your story more than YOU when it comes to addressing Home/Family Ties.
I explained my responsibilities to my parent, I wrote extensively about how important my career in Nigeria is, my personal business and ongoing projects.

Aside being an employee of a reputable agency, I further explained my other commitments and responsibilities that will make me return back to Nigeria and I supported my explanations with valid documents. Although the commitments were briefly mentioned in the first application but this time it was detailed and I connected how my absence will affect each of them. I included more documents to support each claim unlike the first application. To be honest, it wasn’t by the documents but God was fully involved. I think Baba God was tired of me murmuring my application number every morning and night, hence the PPR. lol!

The wait for PPR isnt for the faint hearted especially when you see people who applied after you sharing their timelines (e go come be like say na only you waka come). God of NLP answers prayer, I prayed and fasted fervently for this PPR. Chail! IRCC messed with my mental health. The plan was to visit my spouse after his first academic year but I couldn’t because of the pandemic. As it is, the visa got approved just in time for convocation (graduation is this summer) although Graduation wasn’t stated for purpose of visit, it was plainly “family reunification “


May this kind of joy go round. To all PPR hopefuls, it is just a delay not a denial.

(PS: I typed this timeline on the 22nd of March 2022 during my leisure time)

Documents Submitted:
Statement of Purpose letter
LOE on FAMILY TIES.
Marriage Certificate
Notarized copy of Marriage Certificate.
Affidavit for change of maiden name.
Family Images.
Birth certificate
Letter of Introduction from my Employer.
Employment Letter.
Assumption of Duty Letter.
Confirmation of Employment Letter.
Last Promotion Letter.
Four months’ pay slips.
Bank Statements for Naira Account.
Bank Statements for US Dollar Account.
Bank reference letter
Reference letter from my pension fund administrator.
Pension account statements and certificate
Police Character Certificate.
Land deeds of agreement.
Some other property documents.
Passport information page.
Covid Vaccination card.
CAC documents
Article of association and memorandum
And some other business documents.

teminhi:
Here it goes.

I got my AIP 7 days after submitting application back in 2020 and arrived in Canada Jan 2021. Waited till I was settled then I applied for wife's sowp along with son's vv in June and then the wait began. My wife works with one of the leading HMOs back home. We did upfront medical for both of them.

Nairaland was our go to for info. We read from page to page. In October I contacted the MP for my area. After the back and forth, I was told the application was just sitting in Nairobi, yet to be treated because of the volume of applications they have. She however suggested that I do a visitor's application for my son on the new portal hoping that once that is treated, it will prompt them to work on his mum's sowp. I asked if I should do the visit for both of them but she suggested just my son. In Nov, I applied for vv for my son and it was approved in 19 days. Then we continued to wait.

When nothing happened on her application by mid Jan this year, I put in an application for her too on the new portal. At that point I stopped reading nairaland because I stopped being genuinely happy for those who got their approval in one, two or three months. Here we were in our 7th month.
I must say at this point that I usually sent in webforms every other week on behalf of my wife, attaching my transcript, tuition and study permit each time. I also sent mails to the email addresses shared here.

At 40th week I started considering using an immigration lawyer. Two days ago, 41st week, I woke up and saw like 6 mails from ircc. My heart skipped a beat. I didn't bother to open the mails, I logged in directly because I knew it was either good news or good news. We have waited this long for nothing else. And there it was. My son's vv was withdrawn on the old portal while my wife's sowp was approved. Her vv application on the new portal was also withdrawn stating her sowp was approved.

I can't describe the feeling. It's really awesome.
Here's a message to everyone waiting: God is working constantly. Though he hasn't forgotten you, keep reminding him of the situation. Keep believing, your joy too will be full.
I'll be more than happy to answer questions. You can ask here.I don't have access to the mailbox I used in opening this account so personal mails can't be reached. Thanks all

jonosas:
PPR, baby!!!!

Oh, wow. What a ride.

Applied for SOWP for my wife and VV for my 2 kids on Nov 17, 2021.

Then applied for VV on the new portal for all three on Dec 30, 2021.

Received GCMS notes 2 days ago, mentioning home ties. Then today, messages about both applications appeared in wifey's inbox. When I saw them, my heart sank. I felt, this is it. E don finish.

I opened the VV on the new portal first. It said "withdrawn because a visa has been issued for your SOWP". It's still like a dream! In short, PPR for SOWP on the old portal (VV for kids withdrawn) and PPR for kids on the new portal.

I have to mention @Lianna2020 for all her help and support. You're absolutely awesome!!!

To anyone still anticipating, please don't lose hope.

Cheers!!!

MsJanez01:
God has done it!!!!! Husband's VV approved after a rejection in Janaury. Reapplied 3days after and approval just came in

Nadnad:
Update
Submitted Nov 2021 old portal , no update till date
Submitted another application February 9th new portal , got PPR letter today.
Can someone please share Abuja address just like the Lagos detailed one above.

Ameeria:
Hello, I got PPR within 2 weeks of initiating the whole process

Application submission: Feb 26th
Biometric letter: Feb. 27th
Capturing: March 3rd
BVL: March 10th
Passport request: March 10th.

I used the new link. I have no travel history. I used my two accounts to show POF. I have a married citizen brother who invited me. I will be there for the easther holiday.


So my question, can I deliver my passport in person at the Lagos office? I used them for the biometrics

Abbeylicious:
Thank you. Glory be to God, the PPR finally dropped early this morning.

VV for a family of 3.

Timeline:
Application Submission Date: 24/12/2021
BVL: 3/3/2022
PPR: 4/3/2022

May the Lord answer everyone awaiting the approval.

skull4eva:
To add to what jogojogo has said when applying for your spouse did your by chance submit any nigerian job or claim to get a study leave from your work place in nigeria? If yes they might want to see that. If no then submit the pay slips of your part time job in canada. But sincerely something must have trigered or waranted that request so think well and be careful in responding. It will end in praise

Foxs:
Hello nairalanders, it's PPR!!! First of all, I want to pray for everyone expecting PPR this month that God will answer your prayers.

My TL is very short.
Application submitted; 17/02/2021
Documents submitted;
Birth cert
Marriage cert
Passport bio data page
Forms
Biometrics
Spouse's SIN, passport bio data, study permit and enrolment letter.

Raised webforms to Nairobi and London in September
Uploaded more documents after checking nairaland (none of the documents were treated btw)
Upfront medicals in November (medicals changed to pass same November)

Application submitted: 17-02-2021
Biometrics updated: 17-02-2021
Original PRL: 15-02-2022
Correspondence letter: 15-02-2022

Got stamped passport back from VFS Abuja using DHL within 3days!!!

I don't wish for 1 year of waiting on anyone, I pray God eases or affairs in less time in Jesus Name. Amen!!!

skull4eva:
Aside tuition you need 10k cad for your living expenses depending on the province you are going which is around 4.5m now black market rate, then you also need some 2 to 3k cad for others which will be channelled towards ur flight booking and other miscelleneous before you now consider 5k cad for you spouse. And it is adviseable you put morr than you need cos the exact amount of money might not fly. If u intend to use Nigerian student express route you need to show 30k cad for you alone then add your spouse 5k depending on province also 5k is (other provinces) i think its now 6k in quebec. That shows that the 8m is not enough for you yet. But you could be smart in that u apply for yours first use ur spouse as home tie get to canada pay the 5m for tuition then put the 10k in Cad account and add the 5k for your spouse also. It is faster to verify canadian bank account by VO than nigerian bank account aside that you appear to have larger pool of money to be able to bring him/ her in through sowp or VV route. Sowp now takes 37weeks and VV 224days through the new portal. If you have kids u need 4k each for them. My own perspective.

turntable:
PPR / BVL received today
79 days total processing time
Solo applicant
Visa Type - SOWP
Spouse is a student in Canada

euphorbia:
PPR alert ooooo
SOWP for me and 2 visiting visa for the kids.
Application March 1
Upfront medical early april
Medicals added may 19
Do not reply message feb 10
Opened feb 12

I just thank God for coming through for us. When we did the medical, i didnt upload cos i am always lazy to visit that site...it can be frustrating when it keeps sending you back to the first page. More over, i didnt know how to attach the documents until a mama here explained to me ( after a mouth). But fortunately, the medicals was already passed when i checked my account.
I applied for gcms note but eligibility was blank.
I contacted liana ( thanks so much) to help with how to contact them....i ended up not sending anything cos i didnt have any inspiration on what to type.
Around mid January,Hubby called to make enquiry but he wasnt attended to since he isn't a representative. I then filled a form to make him a rep. He was added and when he called, he didnt get a reasonable answer . He planed to call again after a week.
Then i was just going through my email on feb 11 i saw do not reply messages. And now, all i can say is thank God for keeping our minds together during the silent period( almost a year!)

ikemummy:
Sorry to hear about this. Did you apply using the new portal? How many weeks/months were you in Canada before you applied?

I will share my experience with you and hope it helps you. I had a similar experience. My spouse and infant daughter were refused the same day biometrics was done, we applied using GCKEY. As if IRCC refused the application upon submission and just waiting for the biometrics to be done before they post the rejection email. The reason for refusal was the same with yours except that ours dint include travel history.
Some persons said I got quick refusal because I applied within 5 weeks of landing in Canada, that I should have allowed more time.

I contacted the MP to find out more details from IRCC why my application was refused. One week after, I got a detailed response from them which I addressed in the next application. We reapplied since 9 November 2021. We reapplied using an RCIC consultant my supervisor recommended for me. I got a support letter from my supervisor as well. The consultant could not use the new portal because IRCC gives RCIC a different portal for their application. We are still waiting for a decision.

My advise is that you get a detailed feedback why it was refused and reaply.

metrecube:
PPR for SOWP in 3 months
First child: S P
Second Child: V V
CIC honoured me with approval on my birthday
It shall go round in Jesus name.
I will send the list of documents submitted later.

Kenon1:
PPR Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOWP and daughter’s study permit application approved in 65 days!
It can only be God!!!
It has finally ended in praise o!
Come and join me sing hallelujah, Jehovah Jireh has done me well.
I am super-duper excited to drop my story here because it is a dream come through against so many odds after about 11 years. At some point, I only come to Nairaland to read other people’s testimonies and after reading, I will share with my wife believing that one day we will share ours to the glory of the awesomely awesome great God with whom nothing is impossible.
When it appeared that the door of express entry was shut at us due to age consideration and our SINP application came back to us ineligible after about 9 months of waiting, it was as if we had come to the end of the road and it was very painful. We had a choice to throw in the towel and quit (…but we realized that winners never quit). Then we decided to reconsider the study route which we never thought as an option because of its huge cost implications.
As God would help us, my wife got an admission into MSVU on 14th December, 2020 and her study permit was approved on 10th September, 2021. She couldn’t travel until 29th December, 2021 because of Omicron with its attendant unexpected “apartheid” travel ban.
Now, as the SOWP & study permit application journey started, the burning question was whether we should submit my SOWP & daughter’s study permit application without my wife’s study permit and SIN while she had not started lectures and was still in Nigeria and send them later via webform when she lands in Canada or wait until she lands in Canada and gets her study permit and SIN before my SOWP and daughter’s study permit application will be submitted. There were varied answers to the question above. But we prayerfully submitted our application on 18/11/2021 with wife’s study permit approval letter and without her study permit and SIN.
My wife travelled to Canada on 29/12/2021, and her study permit and SIN with Student ID card, school fees receipt and updated enrolment letter showing full time student (because the one we submitted application with had “part time” student) were sent to IRCC via webform & e-mail on 20/01/2022. Thereafter, I sent an enquiry on the status of my medical examination to IRCC via webform & e-mail on 21/01/2022. There was not specific reply from them except the generic auto response emails.
To my greatest wonderment and pleasant shock, when I logged in to check my e-mail on Saturday (afternoon), 22/01/2022, I saw three donotreply@cic.gc.ca messages from IRCC (one with my daughter’s application number and two with my application number). I was apprehensive (should I open it or not). Torrent of messages flooded my mind. But when I finally mustered courage to it, lo and behold, God has given us “an earlier than expected miracle” of the beautiful golden PPR emails for my daughter and I.
In view of the crazy SOWP current processing time of 61 weeks, my heart “cut” and I was tempted to apply for visitor visa via the new IRCC portal. In fact, I started the visitor visa application and everything was almost ready for submission. But I said to myself, since my wife travelled to Canada on 29/01/2021 that I would wait till 31/01/2022 by then she would have been one month in Canada and if there’s no tangible update on the SOWP application, I would hit the ‘’SUBMIT’’ button for the visitor visa application. But God is bigger than my doubts and worries.
Timeline:
Submitted my application: 18th November, 2021
Biometrics done: In 2015 for a previous visitor visa application
Medicals upfront done: 2nd November, 2021
Medical passed(Daughter): 23rd December, 2021
Medical Passed(Dad): 22nd January, 2022
Eligibility review started: 22nd January, 2022.
BVL and PPR: 22nd January, 2022 (Saturday) @ 11:46 am & 11:48 am respectively.

Documents submitted
APPLICANT’S DOCUMENTS
The IMM forms
SOP (4 pages)
Police character certificate
Curriculum vitae
Birth certificate
Degree certificate
Current passport biodata & old passport biodata page with travel history
Upfront medical (e-Medical sheet) report
Employment documents
Reference letter from church
Car ownership documents
Land property documents
Stanbic IBTC pension letter
Stanbic IBTC mutual funds letter
Proof of funds documents
Covid-19 vaccination certificate
Marriage certificate
Notification for change of maiden name for spouse
Wedding and family pictures
SPOUSE’S DOCUMENTS
Letter of Invitation
Passport biodata page
Student visa
Enrolment letter
Study permit approval letter
Work reference letter
SIN
Study permit
Student’s ID card
School fees receipt
DAUGHTER’S DOCUMENTS
Letter of introduction from her school
Birth certificate
Current passport biodata page & old passport biodata page with travel history
Upfront medical (e-Medical sheet) report
APPRECIATION
This testimony won’t be possible without God’s mercy. To Him be all the glory.
My appreciation goes to these wonderful people of Nairaland and all others who have put smiles on people’s faces through their selfless contributions and timely assistance. God bless you more abundantly and put smiles on your faces too. @Frankrobbn1, @Lianna2020, @Meeny123, @Chichi93, @Justmellow, @Faithyyyyy, @Blackedwin, etc.

Residentourist:
Join me in celebrating God's faithfulness because what he cannot do indeed does not exist!!!
SOWP and study visa applications approved same day!!!

My husband's  SOWP and my 11year old son study permit got approved after the 3rd attempt.
First attempt 2016 we all applied as a family and were all bounced on purpose of visit and home ties. After I got my study permit approved in June 2021 we reapplied  on
11 July 2021 - visitors visa for hubby and study permit for kids
Refused 29th September

Reapplied October 29 before the GCMS notes came because it was delayed.
Medical for my husband November 15 ( my son had done his medicals earlier)
Medical passed November 22
GCMS notes finally came in late November- December 2021 (applied for hubby and the kids and they all came at different dates, one even came in the middle of December) GCMS notes showed the VO was concerned about the cost implications of running 2 homes and home ties.
Luckily all those concerns had been adequately tackled in the SOP during reapplication.
In the course of waiting a friend who had also applied for study permit for her kids decided to try out the new IRCC portal and got her kids visitor visa approved in 7days so we decided to give it a try too. Visitor visa application was done on the 19th of December 2021...then another round of waiting commenced.
Eligibility 20/01/2022 (noticed my son's medical was passed on that date)

PPRs January 21, 2022!!!

Documents submitted
All relevant IMM forms
Bank statements
Title Documents of properties
Investment certificates
Pension Documents
Letter of employment and promotions
Letter of introduction from employer
Payslips
Receipt of my school fees
My study permit and my kids visitors records
Int'l passports
SOP
Letter of introduction from me.
We wrote to CIC twice and filled out webform once last week and most of the messages were not even delivered. Letter to MP has also not been acknowledged
This can only be God!

@lianna2020 @ bukky @frankrobbn thanks for being amazing!

Iamacon:
I give glory to God Almighty.
Silent reader, I created a new profile to share this good news as I could no longer access my old account.
Family application for a family of three (3)- To reunite with Spouse, a student.
First time application on the new IRCC portal. No previous application on GC Key.
Visitor’s visa for spouse.
Study permit for the minors.
Date of Application – October 31, 2021
Biometrics completed – November 3, 2021
PPR for Spouse’s Visit visa – January 14, 2022
PPR for Minors Study permit – January 19, 2022.
I wish everyone awaiting feedback success.
Thank God.

galala123:
Just got PPR for my wife and Children.


Do I need to book appointment for passport submission in Abuja?


I want to thank everyone here that helped. Special thanks to Motheexplorer for answering all my questions and Afrobrown2000 who pin pointed the new link I missed. I submitted a second application through the old portal beginning of October.

The 30 working days worked having submitted my last application on the 27th of October through the new portal.

My initial application was since March 2020!

Lastly, do I write to cancel the other applications or are they deemed cancelled already? I put all the previous application details in my most recent submission letter.

debbzJay:
Please house, when filling the new form, is authorization letter still needed if the visitor is coming to unite with a family and if he is fully vaccinated? He will also be traveling with kids who are not up to the age of being vaccinated

DeeWan:
PPR has landed for me and my kids this afternoon. Wifey is in Cannie studying. God is so faithful. Watch out for our timeline.

Reseptie:
Hello Henrie,please see my thoughts to your questions below:

Hi everyone. Please I will appreciate it if anyone can answer my questions thank you.

I got my study visa 1st week of October, please how long should it take for my spouse to apply for a sowp?

Congratulations on the approval of your study visa ,the duration it takes for your spouse to apply is solely your decision, some apply immediately the spouse gets approved with study visa in Nigeria or their respective home country before travelling to the promise land(Canada) ,some decide to land in Canada to apply for the significant other and children if any.

Based on the current thread, no one can categorically tell you the exact number of days/ months it takes to process SOWP since some got approved in a month and others more than 6months.So it usually depends on the VO and majorly on God if you believe in him ooo.(lol) and the truth is to save you time due to delays in processing the SOWP, note that the earlier you apply the better.

Is it advisable for my spouse to apply for a visiting visa so as to travel with me to help me get settled and then come back to Nigeria?

There is no harm in your spouse traveling with you to settle in Canada and return cause it has been done before and people still do same. However, any kind of Visa you choose to apply for would be at your discretion ,and since the delay in processing SOWP has become a major prayer point now, i would think applying for both Sowp and Visitor's visa is doable to be on a safe side, not sure how this works but you can give it a try. I am not so much of a guru in applying for two different visas at the same time but the gurus in here can advise you more.

Whichever decision you make ,i pray it ends in your favour in Jesus name.


Thank you

Eddy4400:
I applied on August 29th for my mum & dad, no response. Reapplied (reuniting with immediate family member) on Oct 19th via new portal, got a PPR request for them today.....6 business days

GodsGabby:
If you still follow the student thread which i guess you dont since ppr for your wife came through. A woman, with moniker "Residenttourist" i guess, shared her landing gist and how she travelled recently with her kids using their US passport and they got stamped at the POE with her study duration as well.
She didn't apply for visitors visit or permit for them. She was told at the POE that they could school on that stamp.


Your wife should have travelled with the kids and get stamped in Canada.

You can reach out to her to know more, if your wife can come back to go with the kids while you apply for SOWP. Reach out to the moniker in the student thread.
All the best.

Akannitommy:
Amen and thanks.

NB: please avoid booking British Airways for SOWP/Visitor travels at the moment. I almost paid yesterday before I asked them for clarification then realized they won't carry my wife and son because of their visa type. I don't understand the justification but it was a narrow escape. Imagine if we found out at the airport on the day of travel?

Akannitommy:
FINAL PPR ALERT, it has ended in massive praises! Alhamdulilah!!

We received PPR for the remaining members of my family earlier today and also got a travel restriction exemption authorization approval for my 2 year old son. After we waited for two weeks after the first set of PPR for my daughters, we decided to send their passports on Monday to Abuja. We did to avoid the pitfall of missing 30-days deadline for submitting passports. The passports were delivered on Wednesday due to Tuesday holiday. Counterfoil for the girls were updated on the portal Friday and DHL picked up stamped passport same day - tracking shows it is en-route to Lagos. We woke up to receive PPR for my wife and son this morning, as well as a travel authorization for ONLY our son - since he applied for visitor and we also applied for the travel restriction exemption twice. The letter of introduction for the girls dropped too.

We are juggling many things right now and the logistics are crazy. I pray that everyone waiting for their PPR gets it soonest. I understand what you all are going through because I was in the same boat for over 5 months and I not unaware that several more have been waiting longer. Hang in there, be hopeful. Your time will come very soon. It has finally ended in praises. Many thanks to everyone who rendered assistance in one way or another on this platform in this journey. You are all too many to list but you know thy selves and the Almighty God know you even more. Your rewards will be in multi-folds and bountiful. Also, I am grateful for the emotional support everyone provided all through the process.

Again, it has ended in praises!! Alhamdulilah!!

See updated timeline below:

15th May - Application submission with upfront medicals for 3 out of 4 (All 3 had April 2021 passport expiry dates)
19th May - Medicals for Spouse and two kids (student permits) updated to passed
25th May - Wife completed bio-metric while kids didn't due to minor ages
3 months - Nothing; not even ghost update. Focused on passport renewal process and NIN reconciliation wahala.
18th August - Sent Nairobi inquiry email and got normal auto-response immediately
19th August - Nairobi replied my inquiry saying the usual stuff - under active review & unable to say when to finalize
19th August - Applied for GCMS notes for all
26th August - Applied for written travel authorization exemption (WTRE) for all
4th September - Emailed MP office covering my residential area
5th September - Emailed MP office covering my school area
8th September - Senior Advisor (staff) to MP covering my house replied - " I should reach out in 2 weeks if I haven’t received anything......."
9th September - Eligibility review commenced -- no ghost update - just random login and saw it
10th September - Received medical request for 2 year old son (who didn't do upfront medical since it was visitor visa for him).
10th September - 3 emails responses per travel authorization application - one shows son's WTRE is authorized & others tagged "courtesy"
17th September - Completed son's medical exam and uploaded result via webform and emails to Nairobi - no reply.
26th September - Son's medical updated to passed
6th October - Received PPR for daughters' study permit applications.
18th October - Sent daughters' passports to Abuja using DHL return service

18th October - Same day after I had sent 2 passports, the MP's office replied my umpteenth inquiry saying that "regarding the progress of requests, they are all linked and processed together. Verification of eligibility and medical results was accepted. The next step concerns the final decision which must be rendered (we do not have the date). Regarding your second question, I spoke with an IRCC agent who told me that you could send the 4 passports together by putting an explanatory letter explaining that it is easier financially and logistically to do like this and there shouldn't be any problem, but don't hang around in sending passports."

18th October - I replied MP's office that I had sent 2 passports and that I wouldn't want to risk sending all four because am not sure someone won't mix things up just because there was not PPR for 2 of the passports. In my experience, most people who work in customer service etc behave like robots lacking latitude to apply discretion in sensitive or unfamiliar situation. I didn't want anyone to use me as experiment.

22nd October - Daughters' profile showed counterfoil have been issued - visa stamped - expiry date is 4 months earlier than my own expiry date. No problem because that is valid for 2 years essentially.

23rd October - PPR for my wife and son dropped along with travel restriction exemption approval for my son & the girl's letter of intro.

The grace and joy shall go round by the special grace of God Almighty.

ditha:
Can someone please share the link to the new website for visiting visa? I am lost with the conversation above