Good question that I have also been asking my own bosses. Mine is end of December 2023 - that's essentially a 3 years visa since my course starts in January 2021. My expected grad date is March 2024 and passport is valid till 2030.

However, I know someone who is almost in the same shoes as me but has visa expiry till 2024. So my theory is that because I have a coop component in my program, maybe that explains the difference. Perhaps, I will get a work/coop visa at the POE to cover the difference. But it doesn't matter at this point, we can renew study visa from inside Canada.

Dampops:
Please what’s the expiry date on the counterfoil? Does it align with your passport expiry date or your program ending date?

Submitted passport on 3rd November (same day as PPR) and yes background check changed to September 3rd today, for the first time but final status says Approved.

Mmesomamichael:

When did you submit your passport?
What is it today your background check changed to completed September 3rd

I got counterfoil. Background check was also completed September 3rd - same day as medical request. No do not reply email or 4th VFS email yet. I guess we are just very anxious so we were checking the profile same time as they were working on it. August 22 applicant.

It will finally end in praise!

Thanks for the insights. Am aware of all the points you highlighted but my *contest* is on the suggestion that students are not eligible. Unless this is a new policy in the last 10-years, I have evidence that as a student I got PTA twice in 2010 and 2011. See image attached.

I will report back on my findings as soon as I am able to apply this time around. My account officer is aware of my studentship status and already asked that I send in my application for PTA. The only delay is the passport that VFS/IRCC has not returned for the past 27 days.

If a returned ticket is now required, I can get one. It is possible to cancel the return leg even before departure after getting my PTA. At worse, I will cancel upon arrival in Canada without losing any value.

In this era of N500/$USD, if am eligible, I won't let a mere return ticket stop me. These are my own personal positions.

DCNM:
I'm a banker please kindly ask your account officer to verify his info and for the sake of others who may want to hinge their hopes on this, below are the requirements for PTA application for which students are currently ineligible.


Applicants shall be eighteen (18) years of age and above.
Sales of PTA shall be for travel to be undertaken not more than 14 days from the
day of the purchase of PTA.
Applicants could be account holders or non-account holders in the bank.
PTA shall only apply to journeys of not less than five (5) hours flight time.
Applicants shall present verifiable BVNs to their bankers.
Applicants shall have valid visa of the country of destination.
Applicants shall have a return air ticket.
Applicants shall be holders of valid Nigerian International Passport.
The flight must originate from Nigeria.
Applicants shall be entitled to $4,000.00 per quarte

We are in the same batch. They are working on our files am sure of that. I didn't get the email either and haven't been able to sign in for the past hour. We should get updates tomorrow hopefully. And no 4th email either (yet)!

Lekiboboe:

Am also experiencing this same scenerio aswell, I wasn't able to check my application status even with different browsers Phone and Laptop.

But am quite surprised I didn't get a donotreply mail from IRCC to this effect

I haven't gotten the 4th Email from VFS aswell, I submitted NOV 5

Same thing here but I was able to sign in a few minutes ago finally. I see changes to my status changed from "submitted" to "Application/Profile updated" and then to "Approved". But am unable to view the full application page. It goes off to "Bad gateway". I think they are working on it.

Kakokako:
Good afternoon dearies,
Please o, I understand what's going on here. Since morning I have not been able to log into my online account, is there anyone having the same challenge?

Though I'm expecting an update, but I don't know if it's a general issue, I don't want to assume

My tracking number starts with 20201105CAL........ but wasn't sent to the embassy until 16th. So what is their excuse!

Ikechuqu:
After calling virtually every second I finally got thru to the VFS contact center... Spoke with a Raymond( the guy sef don sabi me well) He said passports submitted to the embassy with tracking ID 20201112CAL.... are still at the Embassy and have not been processed.

Guess that explains why I’ve not received LOI or counterfoil on my IRCC portal because when I check the VFS tracker, it says passport has been processed and dispatched from embsssy to CVAC.

Raised webform last week, no reply till now.

Just say make I update una wey don dey try reach them too.

Honestly, I’m tired of stressing.

You are lucky. I submitted same day and still waiting for almighty 4th email to confirm the embassy is processing or done. Sent emails no response. Chat box not working. Phone lines ever busy. Wahala na like bicycle, e no dey fit finish!

MissMC:
Just got my passport delivered to me through DHL.

Its been a nerve-racking experience with VFS to be honest.

Submitted my passport to VFS on the 3rd of November.

I have not been able to chat with their bot for over a week now and phone lines always busy. They need more than one email or expand the capacity if they want to keep it so. Also, one phone line for Lagos VFS is absurd. Their customer service is zero!

BCkeys:
You can chat with their bot on their website. What they told me then was that they are sorting it out but what i did was I kept trying at different times of the day until the mail got sent. You will receive a generic email from them when it is sent.

Students are eligible unless this is a new policy (change). I bought PTA twice as a student 10 years ago and I used a one-way ticket. I am not sure about the policy on 1-way or 2-way ticket being an eligibility criteria either based on personal experience and confirmation with my account officer just now. All they need is a valid ticket, valid visa, valid passport for more than 6-months and equivalent (Naira) cash in your bank account. The processing speed will however be determined by the availability of $. So the advice I got was to send in my request as soon as possible because it would on first come, first served basis. So your travel plans may be the only thing that will prevent you from getting the $4,000 PTA @ CBN rate. I could be wrong but that is what I know and also validated by my account officer.

DCNM:
PTA: Personal Travel Allowance. A student is not eligible for this.

Imagine that. I couldn't even get them on any of their contact. Email no response, chat box inactive, phone line busy!

Kimkalash:
Good morning guys. I called VFS this morning and after confirming that my passport is still at the embassy, they said passport processing at IRCC in no way depends on how fast you submit it. Na wa ooooooo

I pre-booked one through wakanow on Turkish with the hopes all visa stuff will be sorted by early December. I was told by the CRX over the phone that it was required so I paid for a test and scheduled one for 48-hrs before my expected departure date in mid-December. But apparently I don't think that is true any longer. I may have to call them to see if I can cancel and apply the funds to my ticket balance but maybe the 55k is also a small price to pay just in case a crazy immigration officer proofs difficult by insisting. I think it was a conspiracy between the clinics and the travel agencies to LIE that it was required just push business their way.

rebecausoro:
Has anyone travelled with Turkish Airlines before? Do they require any covid-19 test? I'm sure now that Ethiopian Airways doesn't require the test if your destination is Canada but since Turkish is cheaper for me, I want to be very sure.

Congrats! Thanks for the update.

Blavkmaann:


Mail dropped at 11........i just logged in now and saw the Counterfoil.... by now I mean 5pm

What time did the email drop and when did you check the counterfoil?

Blavkmaann:
AFTER ALL MY ACTIVISM

VFS SENT THE 4th MAIL, Today.... and I received my COUNTERFOIL TODAY TOO


ERM, if you know Eva Land in Festac, I’m buying beer for 20 people today, if ure around, come let’s celebrate!

God don do am

It ended in PREMIUM PRAISE!

Lagos or Abuja VFS?

robot001:
I haven’t received any single mail from VFS since the 4th I submitted my passport, but I have gotten my counterfoil, status has been changed to approved and just got to mails from IRCC. Correspondence letter (I guess that’s the Letter of introduction). I called on 11th VFS to get my tracking ID.

You and I are in the same situation. There is radio silence at the moment on our cases. I think (and someone told me too) that it seems they divided our batch into at least two sub-groups to treat. Those who got VFS email yesterday and further updates today are in one sub-group which I hope is random. We are obviously in a different sub-group hopefully not deliberate but a random workflow routine. We will know more later in the week or next Monday. We can only start worrying if a different batch gets result ahead of us, then that would be a thing to worry about. Keeping hope alive!

Kimkalash:
Forwarded to Canada Visa Office on 16-11-2020

This sounds risky in my view especially as your DLI Covid-readiness was also approved by the home Province i.e. Ontario. I assume the monitoring team during your quarantine - if at all - would be Ontario based and not likely that they would come to Alberta to monitor you. Also, provincial regulations even for Covid vary so you can't be sure that the prevailing regulations in Alberta would be adequate to satisfy Ontario's quarantine requirement. Logistically, have you checked the distance between bot locations? I see almost 2000km. What is the costs of travel to and fro? Won't that cancel out the supposed savings by staying free basement accommodation in the long run? Are all these uncertainties worth the risk?

NairaLuck:

I know a family in Calgary, but yet to reply if I can use their basement for 2weeks. What do you think?
The only problem is landing in Ontario then traveling again to Alberta for quarantine then return to Ontario for studies.

E be as e get

Okay, same profile and experience for me. Let's remain hopeful. We are almost there.

Dame24:
Yes, I got that email. 2 messages the same day on 16th.
I actually sent it on 3rd and was signed for 4th too

Seconded sir!

Naijaforeigner:


Yes, there is actually a thread for students living in Canada. Although, that thread has been inactive or very quiet for a while. You will need to search this travel section to find it.

I also agree with you that living in Canada seems best suited for people who already have their PR’s and moved to Canada.

It will be so nice to hear from past and current students in Canada where they are at the moment, how the journey has been so far and what has the whole experience been for them.

I wish that thread can become very active.

I also sent on 3rd and was signed for on 4th. They initially said it was sent to IRCC on 5th but changed their story to 16th again. Did you get any email before now showing something like the following?

"Your application, tracking ID No.******** has been received at the Canada Visa Application Centre, Lagos OC on *********** and is in transit to the IRCC Office in Lagos OC for processing."

VFS

Dame24:
Na wah o, so since 4th of November these people just sent the passport to IRCC Office


Your application, tracking ID *** has been received and is under process at the IRCC Office on 11/23/2020 10:15:18 AM

Regards,

VFS Global

NB: Please don’t send your passport to Lagos vfs to avoid another round of waiting o!

I also sent on 3rd and was signed for on 4th. They initially said it was sent to IRCC on 5th but changed their story to 16th again. Did you get any email before now showing something like the following?

"Your application, tracking ID No. 20201******** has been received at the Canada Visa Application Centre, Lagos OC on *********** and is in transit to the IRCC Office in Lagos OC for processing."

Regards,

VFS Global

Dame24:
Na wah o, so since 4th of November these people just sent the passport to IRCC Office


Your application, tracking ID *** has been received and is under process at the IRCC Office on 11/23/2020 10:15:18 AM

Regards,

VFS Global

NB: Please don’t send your passport to Lagos vfs to avoid another round of waiting o!

If the funding package is adequate to take care of tuition and living costs for one year, no you do not need to show extra POF. However, from experience you may want to include a ibank statement just for formality regardless of the bank balance.

Also, if you are a family man and even when you are traveling alone without family, you will be expected to show a plan/funding (stated clearly in your SOP) to take care of them while you are away. So showing a POF do not necessarily mean for your study alone but also to cover your responsibilities too.

afomon12:
Hello Goodmorning everyone. I'm new here but I have a question please. I have already applied for a PhD at the University of Manitoba. My question is this, with a full funded PhD with teaching assistantship position. Will I still need to show proof of funds to cover the tuition and living expenses? to apply for the student visa ?


thanks

You have more than enough home ties based on the profile you mentioned. You only need to articulate these very well in your SOP and support with documentary evidences in your application. I also have siblings in Canada and the USA but these did not affect my application negatively. I have also read about people on this page whose foreign based siblings or relatives served as main or co-sponsors in their successful application. I think you have started well by reading through the historical feeds. Now focus on strategies to highlight and document your available home ties. Gurus in the house will provide more specific guidance if you ask for those advisory. Best of luck and may it end in praises as usual.

maestro09:
Good day everyone.

Having gone through this thread, I seem to notice that applicants with siblings in Canada do get rejected.

For me, my sister is a citizen of Canada. She’s going to be my main sponsor while my brother in the UK will be my second sponsor.

For ties back in Nigeria, I have my parent and two other siblings in Nigeria, my parents and my brothers have landed properties in Nigeria. I can get a letter of study leave from my company where I’ve been working for almost 3 years now.

Please do I run a risk of being rejected due to family ties in Canada and Nigeria?

Yes, that is true but he (and I too and several others I assume) got a second email afterwards. This email is exactly like what I got on 5th November but the difference is that my application (not decision envelope) is in transit today to the Lagos OC.

bebzo:


This one and the one you got two weeks ago are not the same thing. This one has your decision envelope meaning that your passport has been stamped. When did you submit your passport.

Start looking for similar admissions from DLIs on the readiness plan list even if it is for Fall 2021 but if you have started your classes online am not sure what to do in that case.

Ifelajulo:
Good afternoon house, anybody with BVL or PPR today?

I submitted online in June, got AIP and Medicals in September but up till now no updates.

My school Michener Institute is not on COVID 19 DLI readiness list and they are not showing interest in being there because they don't want to admit International students this year or next year.
I am in dilemma and don't know what the future holds for me.

Sent my passport on 3rd November to the Lagos VFS and DHL tracking showed it was received by the popular "Mr Festus" on 4th November. I got the first and only email with tracking number on 5th November saying they received my passport and was dispatched to Lagos VO.

No counterfoil email, no LOI then I received this same message about 15 minutes ago which seems like an error message. We will keep fingers crossed and see what happens next.

Kimkalash:
Hi guys. I havent received an e-mail from from IRCC and my status hasnt been changed to approved but i got this from VFS just now. Isnt it strange?

"Visa application, tracking ID No. **** The envelope for the decision on the results of your visa that has been processed has been received at the Canadian Visa Application Center at Lagos OC, on the date. We will then send this to the Canadian Visa Application Center Lagos OC. Please note that this is an automated email. Please DO NOT reply to this email. Your decision envelope will be returned to you via the courier service offered by the VAC. Collection of decision envelopes in-person at the VAC is not permitted until further notice. Please refer to the “Buy Services” page of the VAC website for further information on courier services offered by the VAC

Regards,

VFS Global"

"Merci!" Montreal bound here! je vais à Montréal

Blavkmaann:
WHO IS GOING TO QUEBEC?


venez nous faire savoir!!

Merci!!

Yes, but try to withdraw in tranches of less than 10k to reduce need for compliance with NFIU protocols. Also, make sure you don't carry more than equivalence of CAD$10,000 along when traveling to Canada - without disclosure. I think it may be better you carry less and put the balance on a $ denominated debit card. If you have online access to your funds, you may also arrive Canada and decide to transfer the balance via international wire transfer without physical presence in the bank.

evergold:
I have a dorm account with about USD 18000. Will Zenith Bank allow me to withdraw it and take along?

Do you what date your friend sent her passport to VAC? Is this Lagos or Abuja? Thanks.

DeeWan:


A friend of mine got the below mail from VFS today;

Dear Bleep,
The decision envelope for your application, tracking ID No. xxxxxxx has been received from the IRCC Office on 11/12/2020 09:34:46 AM and will be dispatched to the Canada Visa Application Centre where you applied or at the courier address provided by you at the time of submission of your application.
Your decision envelope will be returned to you via the courier service offered by the VAC. Collection of decision envelopes in-person at the VAC is not permitted until further notice. Please refer to the “Buy Services” page of the VAC xxxx for further information on courier services offered by the VAC.



When he checked the 'Buy Service' icon on their website, he discovered that the cost of the in-house one way courier is #12,500. He is planning to pay tomorrow so he can get his passport returned ASAP.

Congrats. Quick question. Did you eventually send to Accra, Ghana or you waited to use any of the Nigerian VFS/VAC? When did you mail out your passport? Thanks.

BlegendE:
Dear **********

The decision envelope for your application, tracking ID No. 20201030CALEFKT45936 has been dispatched from the IRCC Office, to the Canada Visa Application Centre in CVO.

Regards,

VFS Global


I just received this. Abeg where is CVO?

I think this is a default message on VFS tracking platform for both biometric and PPR stages - no difference. In general, it is misleading. Their platform is not robust enough to give real time status hence they just dump a redundant template to return for similar queries.

MrsFavour2020:


Apologies, please see below

Thank you