Thanks guys. The thing just dey do me like magic. I have just received 3 emails from IRCC in respect of the travel exemption authorization that we applied for on 26th August. The one for my son (visitor) was approved (per email subject) while those for the rest says courtesy in the email title. All three emails says applications are in process and a decision will be communicated soonest while also saying if they need additional documents they will let me know. I think these are simply procedural but the feeling and vibes is definitely positive. Looking like its TGIF already!

NB: I have emailed Qlife and will do same for IOM shortly. I attached the medical request and passport for my son, as well as proof that the others have completed their medicals in May. We will explore and deploy all options. Will the house posted soonest!

Yes, you can DM me. I am in the middle of trying to figure out this medical thing, so I may be slow to respond. But please go ahead and DM.

KingKitchener1:
@Akannitommy Please guide on what to do next base on your template. I submitted too in May with 3 children and one of them is below 2. Can I Dm you please?

Yes, my family is in Lagos. The rest of the family had their own at Q-Life in VI but their earliest date is now 28th October. IOM in Ikeja has an earliest date for 20th October. I am thinking maybe they go with records of the other medicals to VI (we are closer to this one) and do the begging. But not sure if I should make an appointment before they go?

Lianna2020:
Don’t know if you are in Lagos, go to the clinic with the boy and beg that you urgently need it done.

Following yesterday's update, we received medical request at 5:00am (Canadian time) this morning for our son who applied for visitor visa, along with the family (SOWP for wife and Study permit for older siblings). Any tips/plugs/slots on how to achieve this quickly? NB: his visa type was due to his age (under 2 years) while the others passed their own medicals same week as the application was submitted back in May.

Mighty Amen oh!

ajikaz2003:
Congratulations to you and your family in advance. We will hear the much awaited good news soonest.

BTW, Eligibility Review Started on all my family application today. I signed in and saw the application updated status, checked ans saw it was ER started. We are praying for a positive outcome by God's grace.

Although I am still awaiting outcome, I budgeted $10k for my spouse and $4k each for the 3 kids. POF in my Canadian bank account was about $22k when I submitted applications. This was in addition to over $100k in PhD funding documented in the application too.

ujizzy:
Please can anyone tell me how much proof of fund is required when applying for SPOW for wife and 3 kids, all kids are less than 18 year old.

It is looking promising I think. When did you apply for GCMS notes? I applied for mine on 19th August but I never receive am yet.

lightswitch007:
Make God touch their hearts to pick our files. I got my gcms note today. No update eligibility was blank. My file went to Manila, Nairobi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Vienna, Lagos, London. Transfer reason: workload (re) distribution.

https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search

Use your postal code (home and/or school) to search here.

blcoolfemol:
Please what's MP and how do I know the MP in my area? My family application has far exceeded processing time. Since December 11, 2020. God dey...lols

Yes oh, we have been waiting since May 15th; we dey here!

Lianna2020:
Na wa o, he or she didn’t say anything , So in other words , you should wait .
I mean even after passing the processing time.

Below is the message I got from office of one of the MPs I contacted on my family's application

Good afternoon,

We strongly apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I was informed by IRCC that due to the current events, many of their resources have been redirected to support the Afghanistan dedicated phone line. As a result, there are limited amount of agents that remain available for telephone enquiries related to urgent cases only until further notice.

I really apologize for the inconvenience and I will gladly follow up once the resources are back up and running. Could you please reach out in about 2 weeks if you haven’t received anything on the file?

Thank you and I apologize once again,
Conseillère Principale | Senior Advisor
Bureau de Steven Guilbeault, Député de Laurier–Sainte-Marie |
Office of Steven Guilbeault, Member of Parliament for Laurier–Sainte-Marie

Thanks.

Lianna2020:
It doesn’t matter I think, mp na mp.
just be praying that they assist to ask ircc about your app instead their generic response due to the afghanistan issue.

I equally emailed my mp and waiting for response as well.

Hi,

Quick question. I emailed the MP in my area but yet to get a response. While I await a response, I wanted to ask if it is okay to email the MP covering my school too or not?

Thanks all.

Lianna2020:
I have someone that hasn’t gone to ca yet that requested for written authorization for her child and she got the above screenshot so don’t be discouraged.
Mp told her it’s been attached august 25 and ircc replied her with the same email I got as well on 30th of august and she’s still in Nigeria .

I think everything depends on the content of the letter sent and how emotional it is .

Congratulations!

Eilenora:
After a successful visa application and 2 refusals for request for written authorization, 2nd being a day to hubby's flight, my husband finally made it in on the 2nd September, on his SOWP. Call to IRCC Canada about enquiries for written authorization (WA) told me that he needs it, a subsequent email followed up after the call. Enquiry email to all IRCC offices: Nairobi office corroborated what IRCC said, that SOWP holder needs a WA. What saved the day was a response from the London Office 7 hours to his flight that a SOWP holder does not require a WA or any other supporting documents from IRCC to come into Canada. See confusion from different branches of the same office!. Hubby immediately rushed to do covid test at 4pm (flight was 10pm)! Flashed the letter in their faces and was allowed to board. POE Canada was a breeze and no mention was made about the previous refusals. Just happy to all be reunited again after 9 months. All the best to those still waiting. God will come through speedily for you as well IJN

Same here.

lightswitch007:
I honestly don't know. I applied for travel exemption for TRV on Aug 22nd I only got an acknowledgment letter. Still waiting for an update

Interesting! That was fast. I applied for my family on 26th August but yet to get a response. I am aware your spouse already got an approval so I guess that may be the reason for the quick turnaround. Congrats once again.

kife:


Applied August 27th, got it today

How long did this take?

kife:


My wifes GCMS file says she didn't need travel authorization.

However, I submitted a request as there was so much confusion online and just got the authorization letter.

So its important to apply ahead of time to avoid storiee

IRCC MATTER TIRE PERSON

See instructions here - https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#existing

and direct link here - https://secure.cic.gc.ca/ClientContact/en/Crisis

sam4774:
hi good day, i am also a sowp may 4th applicant. the request for exemption to travel how does one go about it as i have waited and eligibility review has not even started to move. thanks in anticipation

Yes, I was finally able to sign in late yesterday Canada time. Thanks.

hazzaman:

Having the same issue… has yours been resolved?

Has anyone had problem signing into their CIC account for checking SOWP status today? That has been my experience for the past 3 hours or more

Hi,

You can apply anytime really - along with your SP application, before you leave, or after landing. Since you already got your visa approved congrats and that leaves you with the two later options. The most common option is to apply after landing and receiving your study permit. Note, there is a difference between your visa that is approved and the study permit you will get upon arrival. Whichever of the two options you chose, you will need to think through justifying why your spouse should join you during your study and also make sure to show proof of funding for her in addition to showing funding for your study and living costs. Ideally, one year funding should be adequate but showing much more than that is recommended. For instance, your 40k scholarship will not pay for all your PhD tuition funding (over 3 to 4 years) plus living costs for same period. The more money you can show and the more established you are - enrolled in school, show study permit, show some academic records like first semester transcripts, evidence of work like RA/TA that gives you extra income in addition to your scholarship etc - the better.

Best.

shams040:
Dear All,

Please I just got my PhD student Visa stamped and would like to ask some questions:

Please can I apply for my wife now to join me immediately?

How much proof of fund do I need as I got 40k Scholarship out of which 19k is tuition and 10k for my own feeding and I still got like 5k personal fund?

Thanks

Not yet either. My wife sent an email to Nairobi got a "non-template" reply within 12-hours. It says they have not finalized it, they can't when but they are doing every possible to finalize it soonest. Once my wife gets her 2nd dose of the vaccine, we will send a request for exemption to travel. Hoping and praying for the best.

lightswitch007:
Best of luck . btw have your eligibility review started? I applied in May 19th mine hasn't started but I applied for gcms notes anyways.

Thanks. I found the cic link and applied directly on behalf of my family - to atip/aiprp/cic - since I am already in Canada and paid $5. The waiting begins.

lightswitch007:
i used www.getgcms.com

Hi,

I want to apply for GCMS notes for my family SOWP application since May 15th. Can anyone remind which link to use for a quick response?

Thanks

Hello,

Is there a list of conditions that qualify on this compassionate ground?

I ask because am not sure how or what to tell the health care person in Canada that make me qualify. Basically, I want my family here for mental health support (which could be broadly defined and difficult to proof). Maybe for social connection/family reunification (very relevant in my case as a PhD student here since December and with a wife and 3 kids back home).

Can you please specific on how to achieve this and whether there is a chance for someone like me? This is also because most SOWP applicants (students with a family back home) will likely fall in my situation regardless of degree type/level.

Thanks so much in anticipation.

Mami1:
For compassionate entry - you need to take the letter of required support form to a medical practitioner in Canada. The doctor would state the medical reason why you need support.

Your wife would then submit the form to PHAC for their decision.

Your wife would be the one to apply for visa to IRCC and submit the letter of required support to PHAC.

I am not sure because am not yet at that stage but I think the issue of Travel Exemption and restriction of discretionary travel is coming to an end already. You may just need to exercise a little bit of patience as usual. See below a recent update on CIC website:

*Upcoming border changes*

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria:

Effective August 9: American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the United States, who meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated
September 7 (intended start date): All other foreign nationals who qualify as fully vaccinated

The 3-night hotel stopover requirement will be eliminated for all travellers arriving by air after 12:01 A.M. EDT on August 9.

Lianna2020:
I read that people apply for eta for their family or isn’t that what it’s called? Please correct me.

Unless you or your family member (I assume you are applying for someone if you are a Nigerian without US residency), then you/they can't
apply for at eletronic travel authorization (eta). For us, it has to be TRV (visa). Unless I am reading this wrongly, maybe what you wanted to ask was travel exemption authorization.

Lianna2020:
Good afternoon everyone.
For those that applied for eta, how did you by pass this .

I think you would have a good chance in an applied IT/Programming/Economics masters than plain Computer Science, at least in the eyes of the VO and admission committee. I am not sure where to or if you can find same in Canada. But if can find something in the shape of this "University of San Francisco's (USA) Applied Economics Master's program, which focuses on the digital economy", I think it would be easier to convince the VO and admission team. Maybe Chief Lekiboboe can help point you in the right direction. That seems like a strategy open to you in the circumstance. Ire oh!

garpdfist:


Thanks for the reply. So I graduated with Economics in 2007 but since 2012, I transitioned to programming with work experience and all to show.

Will this make my case more favourable?

I think this image shows the fee paid for DHL (not VFS). The VFS fee would be paid in Sterling Bank or through bank transfer to a dedicated account - only if they didn't capture biometric in Abuja ab initio.

Eilenora:
See attached for VFS fee. Hubby submitted on Monday, he has received several notifications from VFS, and would most likely receive his passport back tomorrow. This is VFS fee. For DHL he paid like 14k or so for 2 way courier service

Hi,

Sorry I missed this until I saw your email request. @Eilenora should be able to say how much the transmission fees is because she was at that stage with her hubby recently. However, I remember that apart from passport and PPR, you also need to add the yellow biometric slip, a signed consent form, and preferably to do return courier service with UPS/Fedex/DHL. I can't remember if I missed out anything but if the applicant is sending dox to a VFS location other than the one where they had their biometric taken or if it was taken during a previous application within the last 10-years, then they also need to pay a transmission fee. Please do more research on this or check/ask on the current Canadian student visa thread.

I hope these answer your questions.

Cheers.

kife:


Please for transmission, just send passport and PPR to VFS: 3rd Floor, Plot, Sterling Bank Plaza, 1083 Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District 900211, Abuja, Nigeria

Do you recall how much to pay?
Thanks in anticipation.

Amen. Thanks. Good to know the kids got study permits at the ports of entry on arrival. That's the bone of my initial concern. Congratulations once again.

Eilenora:
Kids were stamped in till December which is when my passport expires, same as me, so am not sure there's anything to regularize. I am currently trying to apply for an extension of all our study permits, both mine and kids . I am hoping it comes out b4 hubby leaves for Nig so once he shows them at POE, they can give him an extended stay and not stamp him in till Dec as well. Our fingers are crossed as to how long TRV they will give him: 5yrs+ based on a new passport he got that we sent to them via webform and which he submitted today, or till Dec asper date of expiration of my own permit. Even with the December date, they realise my course is for 2yrs, so will that be taken into consideration? I guess at this point we can only speculate, so best to wait and see how it all plays out.

Documents I enclosed with my letter of invitation:
 Bio data page of my international passport,
 Evidence of previous visas and stamps in passport,
 Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV),
 Evidence of commencement of process to renew my international passport as a prerequisite to applying for an extension of my study permit,
 A copy of the children’s USA international passports + birth certf,
 Unconditional letter of acceptance
 Letter of enrolment + school timetable,
 Study permits both for myself and the children,
 Evidence of payment of tuition for both 1st and 2nd term + account summary from Fanshawe web advisor,
 Marriage certificate + name change documents,
 Evidence of daughter’s enrolment in school,
 Family pictures (several pics pasted on a word document telling our story from how we met, when we got married, when kids came, the Canadian journey, us at the airport saying goodbyes, touch down in Canada, vals day celebrated in diaspora, daughter in school, screen munch of video calls,
 Evidence of accommodation in Canada

Documents hubby attached to his application letter:
Resume
Birth certf
Certifications
NYSC
IQAS
Passport bio data page
Employment documents: contract, promotion letters, pay slips, letter of introduction
Registration documents in respect of businesses he owns
Statement of account
Pension statement
Extract from PENCOM act (Clause 16(5) highlighted in felt pen)
Tenancy Agreement in Nigeria
Evidence of ownership of car
Reference letters
Evidence of ownership of landed property
Pics of aged parents (social ties)
Medical document showing Parents have pre-existing health conditions, (stronger social ties),
Police character certf

Already posted emotional follow up email sent to them in a previous post.
Hubby also renewed his intl passport and forwarded to them via webform a week ago I believe.

Applied for Gcms note 3 days to the request for PPR

Hope this helps?

All the best to everyone and thank you!!!!!!! Every single thing I know about SOWP was from reading from Page 1 of this thread at least 2-3x. I left nothing to chance. There was too mch as stake. Indeed, "it is not good for man to be alone" and God knows that. As they say in my place, "ire naa a kari gbogbo wa" meaning, the testimony will flow round to all of us IJN.

Hi @Eilenora,

Have you made any efforts to "regularize" your kids' status since you arrived? I reckon they need some form of records in addition to their US passport to avoid issue of overstay in future.

Can you enlighten us what you have learned about this or maybe conduct some research on it and be sure all is good about their current and future status?

Thanks.

Can you please share an update on this. Where did you submit and how long before you got your passport back?

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