MadeMan01:
Hello,
To all those who left Nigeria for Canada from December 2020, did you need to get vaccination yellow card to travel?
I don't mean the yellow card you fill at immigration post at airport before departure

lentomac:
Hello Guys,

I noticed members who had travelled in this forum do mention Yellow Card

What does YELLOW CARD means?

Thanks

meemeeibrahim22:
If someone gets an AIP and is waiting for visa with one admission but has gotten another admission with a different school and wants to start online school with the new school in January. Is it possible? And do you need to add that to your documents to the embassy ?

Celoexpress:
Guys....happy sunday.

Please can someone confirm if police clearance is very important for the study permit application.

Also, can anyone confirm if they got a PPR and did not submit police clearance certificate during application?

Please I need answers.

Anamekele:
Please join me to praise and thank God for his kindness , faithfulness and grace upon me. He removed shame from me and clothed me with grace..

I may not have strength to write because it's too lengthy after 3 denials from new Zealand and 5 denials from IRCC bvl andppr dropped today. I got a lawyer who charged me for judicial review and won the case on july 9th 2020. Reapplied on 31 August
Medical request on 29th October
BVL and PPR Today by 3.30pm.
Frank I thank for your encouragement. You are the only one that knows the story to the glory.
It finally end in praise. To God be the glory.

Goodbetterbest:
. Both your profiles looks solid. Don't you want to go through Express entry? Both have MSC, smash ielts and I believe you'll meet the cut off.

AbionaT:


Akannitommy sir, so age is a huge factor here too?
Na wa oo

JosephYemsol:


EE is d best...

If we have any individual that has Masters already... THE BEST BEST BEST ROUTE IS EE

With EE, one gets the same privilege as a citizen... Much cheaper study fees, etc...


For express entry, you only need to ace Ielts as long has one has masters, 3years experience...

Uzomachukwu:


Thank you, Akanni. I really do pray it all turns out fine at the end of it all.

Uzomachukwu:


This is the most interesting, most exhaustive and (at least to for me) most useful landing gist I have read in this forum.

Thank you so much, Akanni, for making out the time to narrate your experience. You have given us so much important information in one post alone. I've read your post three times already and as well
taken screenshots of it. The luggage tips and other airport wahala you've so clearly detailed for us here are really going to come in handy when I eventually start my own journey.
----
Aah, IRCC! I never believed I could be waiting for BVL and final decision up till this time. Damn! It's 2021 and I'm still refreshing my GCKey account, searching for new update. This is perplexing, very.

No choice now than to order GCMS notes.

As a PhD student who has a 4.17 in undergrad (2015), a 5.0 in MA (Dec. 2019), several published academic papers and a Dean's fellowship (full funding: tuition waiver, living expenses of 22k CAD and option of Graduate Assistantship for extra cash not counted towards my funding package), I had thought that getting a study permit would be easy and fast. But, yeah, it's 6 months and 15 days now, and old boy is still anxiously refreshing his GCkey account. How so sad!

At this point, I'm even beginning to get mad at IRCC. But then, it's their country, and as they'll quickly remind you, study permit/visa is a privilege not a right. Still, it's all so sad!

mcobex:
I don't have time now to go through SOP, but you can draft one first then ask people to go through it and see where you need to add or remove something.
For your intended program, do you intend to start your own company/business relating to the course after graduation? If yes, it will be a great reason for the change is career.

MadeMan01:


Lovely narrative and detailed. Our immigration people are notoriously corrupt even to their international colleagues.

Congratulations once again. Do please stay active on this platform so we can learn from your experiences. Thanks @Frathermathy

Quick question.
1. Please how can one lease a location for quarantine in Canada from Lagos?
2. Is quarantine done at first point of entry in to Canada or final destination in Canada?

Finally, I have the strenght to write my landing gists. I left Lagos on 26th December and arrived in Montreal by 6:00pm on 27th December after an 8 hours stopover in Istanbul. I had 2 checked bags, one carry-on box, one back pack and a hand bag for my 3 computers. I had try to weigh my luggage before I left home but I guess my scale was either faulty or I added more stuff later unconsciously. So I ended up paying $80 for excess (not extra) luggage.

Pre-departure and Lagos Airport
I printed 2 copies of all my documents that I didn't get to use although, it felt reassuring that I had all the extra copies. I had 2 bags to check in; one for clothes and other non-food supplies, and the other (ghana must go) for food and utensils. I packed my cups, pots, spoon, frypan, fork, and plates. I also had grind pepper, grind eguzi, pepper soup spices, grind cameroun peper, dry fish (well packaged smoke dried catfish from Spar and clean smoked oven baked "egun" fish from Lagos - "eja panla kika". I got some processed and packaged Akamu powder from Spar too. Two packaged and sealed plastic bottles each containing assorted spices in powder form - chicken seasoning flavour in cubes and powder, tumeric, cinanmon, garlic, ginger, and cloves. I packed sugar, salt and beverage - ovaltine - but I didn't add milk, for obvious reason. I had white and yellow garri plus red beans and spaghetti. Before I forget, I got a pack each of Robb and Aboniki too and I also took my extension box/strip along. I also took N10,000 in N500 notes join body which I planned as departure rituals for the gods I expected to meet at the airport!

My flight was for 9:30pm on Turkish Airlines but because of Lagos traffic, I left home by 1pm. Yes, I allowed over 8 hours for the mad and unpredictable Lagos traffic even on a Saturday afternoon just a day after Xmas. I waited about an hour in the car park to spend time with my family. First stop was the security point once you stepped into the airport's departure hall and they wanted roger but it was too early to dey do give away. I just talk myself through that one and moved on to the agricultural guys. They asked what I had and I declared the main food stuff as I had too many to dey mention all. They billed me N2,000 officially and gave me receipt plus a kind of certificate (na scam I knew it does nothing for where I dey travel go. Nobody will even ask for it). I tipped the woman who handled my case N500 because she was nice.

I proceeded to the turkish airlines stand and commenced the initial weighing of my bags to ascertain how heavy they were. Both of my main bags were in excess of the allowable limits of 23kg. I think one was over 26kg and the other was over 29kg. From my experience, I think they would take anything under 24kg eventhough the rules says 23kg. The bag boy was helpful. He advised that I rearranged my stuffs. Every food item and those personal supplies like creams, body spray etc should be checked in. Also, I should make sure one bag was under 24kg and the second one not more than 32kg. (I will return to this matter shortly).

Once the initial bag weighing was done, I was shown the way to the airline officers who would screen my documents and decide my fate to fly or not. The lady and guy responsible didn't sound like they knew what was required. The lady simply said to give her all documents I know would be required to approve my intent to board. So I gave her all I think was necessary; passport with visa, LOI, LOA, CAQ (only relevant to Quebec bound students), printed ArriveCAN receipt and enrolment verification letter. She took picture of each document (I think just the first pages) with her phone and sent to someone for approval. I asked if I could go make payment for my excess luggage at that point but she asked a rethorical question: Do you know if you would be allowed to fly yet? So I just complied and waited. After about 10 minutes (or less), I approached her to ask again and she checked her phone then announced to me that I had been cleared to fly. I rushed to the airline office to make payment for the excess luggage using my ATM card.

I returned to pay for wrapping my bags that had been set aside while I was doing document checks and luggage wahala. Remember the bag boy that I said was helpful? The plan was I would simply go pay for excess luggage instead of extra luggage. It was cheaper that way so I achieved this and was given a note to go pay N32,000 ($80) at their office within the terminal; online it says $60 but I paid $80. Ofcourse, I didn't pay cash and I got a receipt. Everything in excess of this limit, even after payment and at the final bags re-weighing to check-in my stuffs, had to be removed and placed inside my back pack. For clarity, I checked in just two bags, but without the tips from the guy, I would have had to throw away some stuff or check in a third bag charged at close to $300. NB: there are some ladies standing around the terminal already asking me if I needed an extra bag to buy.

Lest I forget, there was a small drama - a sort of superiority tussle - involving the bag boy and the desk officers at the counter where they do final weighing and tagging of my bags. When my bags were re-weighed, one showed 32kg which I had paid excess luggage on. The smaller one then weighed 26kg plus instead of 24kg and the desk officer said it was not possible to load it. The bag boy said he weighed it very well and there was no way that would happen. So they started moving my bag around on the scale. One side shows less while another showed more. Finally, I took out a big folder containing all my lifelong credentials which alone weighed 3.5kg. That solved the problem but there was still open rancour among the staff. One group was saying the bag boy was playing games with them so I can roger him and not them. Apparently, it was all about the cash. So the bag boy tried to leave in anger and refused my token of N500 but I begged him to take it as I know he was only trying to help. I still gave the principalities their own N500 to share though.

Pre-flight and Stopover
I proceeded to the immigration point with my bag pack and carry-on box. I had found a way to place my hand bag and document folder inside the back pack. One of the more junior airline attendants followed me and was trying to be extra caring. He was not directly involved in the other processes other than to point me to their office earlier on and asking if I needed any help. He gave me the small yellow form to fill and even offered me a pen. I had 4 pens on me but I still took his own and used it. I made him feel important by not rejecting the offer and gave him his own portion of the sacrifice (N500).

The first immigration guy asked me for roger but I declined saying I have spent more than my budget already. He showed me the way to the next stop and I thanked him. The guy who processed my exit took my picture and fingerprint then stamped my passport. Before he did this he asked me to write my origin and destination addresses on the back side of the yellow form. I was there for up to 20 minutes while he was doing his magic and asking me routine questions but I didn't mind because I had time to kill. He even feigned ignorance that he couldn't find my visa stamp and said what country was I going to. At the end he gave me my passport and I checked to make sure he stamped it by even asking him where the stamp was and he showed me. I had my reason (see below). He didn't ask me for anything and I didn't offer. Actually, if he did, I only had N400 left on me and it was going with me to Canada as memorabilia from my one and only Nija .

10 Years Earlier
Back to my reason for wanting to make sure the passport was stamped. In 2010 as a first time traveller, I was going to the US as an international student. I passed through the same airport in Lagos and also flew on Turkish Airlines. At the same immigration point, instead of doing their jobs, they were asking me for money and I resisted to pay. I told them I was a young student on government scholarship and the small $ I had on me was for food during stopover, my airport taxi in NY and emergency funds incase I needed an hotel on arrival. But they insisted I will drop something and I pushed back that I had nothing to give. They pushed me around and I repeated the same story. They searched all my bags over and over, used every delay tactics to break me but I stood my ground. I was however conscious that no strange/foreign item was placed in my bags. At last, they gave me my passport and asked me to go with my wahala. I didn't know they needed to stamp me out so I just proceded to the boarding gate ignorantly.

Nothing happened until I got to Istanbul the next day. At the point of entry into Turkey, the immigration officer discovered I had no Nigerian exit stamp on my passport and I showed him the ticket stamped by the airlines and other officers. He knew I was either stupid or ignorant because I insisted there was nothing wrong with my documents as I left Nigeria legitimately. He then asked me to explain my experience at the Lagos airport when leaving and I did. He laughed and told me the immigration officers wanted to punish me becasue I didn't give them the bribe. He asked for my scholarship award letter and verified all my story then placed 3 differeent security stamps on the back on my passport. He told me to show the POE people in NY if they asked for my exit stamp from Nigeria and repeat my story if necessary. Then he wished me goodluck and I left. There was no more incident throughout that trip but I learned an important lesson. So 10 years ago, I would have been sent back to Lagos from Turkey because of a wicked immigration officer I refused to give a bribe to. So that was why in 2020, I wanted him to show me the exit stamp or else I was not going to leave until I had it.

Lounging at the VIP Bar
I had time to spend at the departure lounge before proceeding to the boarding gate. I found a "Metro Bar - VIP Lounge" where I got internet, water and food. Their plate of jollof rice and chicken was N5000. Bottle water nah N500 or so. The waiter (guy) whispered to me that there was CCTV everywhere in the bar so he cannot collect anything cash but if I wanted to tip him he would give me his account details to do bank transfer. After paying N5,000 for a plate of rice and chicken!!, really? I felt irritated but didn't dignify him with a response. Am sure he got the message in my cold silence. I was in the bar for over 2 hours before heading to the boarding gate at 8:30pm. The boarding process was too long. Even after waiting on the queue for half an hour, we still waited another half hour for the plane to be ready - seats were inadequate so we had to hang around on our feet or improvise. Finally, we left Lagos around 9:30pm. The flight was smooth and lasted 6 hours. At the Istanbul airport, I met up with @Siobhanle - who had left from Abuja - and 8 hours later, we were on the same flight to Montreal.

Port of Entry
Due to Covid-19 protocols and a huge crowd of travellers (mostly students and fresh PR holders), I spent 5 hours at the Montreal airport. The declaration form is done digitally on dedicated computerized machines at the airport. My first attempt was incomplete but I was asked to join the queue. Chatting with @Siobhanle all the way to cross check notes and experiences, I approached a second officer who told me to try another machine. I was lucky this time around. On the form, I declared that I had agricultural stuff in my luggage because it listed fish and even diary products together. I was on the queue for up to an hour if not more due to the crowd. At last, it was my turn to approach the kiosk. The guy asked for me documents and asked why I was coming to Canada and I told him to study for my PhD. My printed declaration slip showed an "X" because of the agricultural products I said "yes" to. He then asked what food specifically I had in my I luggage. I told him spices and processed dried fish for my quarantine provision since I won't be able to go grocery shopping. I emphasized I had no meat and he said okay, then asked "any other thing" and I said NO. He asked for my ArriveCAN receipt which was confusing because I had given to him in prints. I said I also have it on my mobile and he said he would prefer to see the one on my phone. I showed him and he compare the codes with the printed copy and said it was ok. He stamped my passport and said welcome to Canada! He then directed me to "Immigration 2" for my study permit where we started another round of waiting. I printed a small stub on another machine showing my postion on the queue.

This final stage took over 2 hours before it was my turn because my tally (number) on the queue was "B 210". After over an hour, a sharp border officer came into the waiting area and collected our LOI and passports in batches of 6 to 7 then took us to another room which was "Immigration 1". Apparently, they went to print the study permits for all documents collected and handed to another officer in a kiosk. Then the waiting started. All the other guys in my batch were North Africans (I think from the French speaking part). One case stood out to me and I would like to share here (see below). When it got to my turn, the officer called my name and I stepped up to the counter. I greeted him politely and he replied. Then he said, "you have come here to study, right?". I said "yes, please, for my PhD". Then he asked for all my school documents, I gave him all and asked if he needs the CAQ too, he said yes. He asked where I would be staying and if I knew I had to quarantine for 14-days to which I said yes. I also told him I had signed a short lease for one month to enable me quarantine as required. I gave him a copy of the lease and he asked if other people would be staying there, I said no.

He checked my school documents and commented on my top-up funding - he said "good job, you got a bit of funding." I told him I actually got full funding and he asked how much in total, I told him and he handed my study permit to me. He then started the speech that I should make sure I have the study permit with me everytime I travel in and out of Canada. He said that is a proof of my status in Canada and asked me if I had "any questions?" I asked how to open a bank account and obtain a social insurance number (SIN). He gave me a paper explaining I have to go to the Service Canada website. For the banks too, I would have to do that online or after quarantine. I asked for the way to pick my luggage and I thanked him then he said "Welcome to Canada!" I picked up my luggage that has been on the baggage carousel for over 5 hours and headed out of the airport. I met two customs/police officers who seemed like they were blocking the way and I asked if they needed me to show anything, they said no, Welcome to Canada! I met two more as I was leaving the baggage claim zone to enter the arrival hall, they asked for my declaration slip. I gave it to them and they said Welcome to Canada!

Self-Isolation and Personal Support System
At the arrival hall, I tried to use my GTB card to withdraw $100 then $80 from the RBC atm but both transactions were unsuccessful. I put on my thick head warmer and hand gloves then contacted the co-worker of a family friend who volunteered to pick me at the airport. Unfortunately, due to the long delay, the guy had been waiting and mostly driving around the airport for the past 3 hours. He eventually had to pay for a car park space. The drive from the airport to the apartment was about 45 minutes. The leasing company already sent me an access code to collect my key from a box because it was past working hours. I got to the apartment just a few minutes before 12am. There was a staff on site at the reception who helped with moving some of my boxes into the elevator and to my door. I am still trying to cope with jet lag since I arrived and unsure how soon my body clock will adjust.

I have received tremondous help from Fratermathy right from Lagos and all through my visa application process. He would even preview my draft emails to my supervisor. That is how lucky I have been. Other than @Frank, @Fratermathy is one of the best connections I have made on this platform. We met in-person when he came to Lagos for his biometric and we clicked instantly. He is a mature and very humble person. I am very grateful for his friendship. My quarantine has been going smoothly all thanks to him. @Fratermathy arrived in Montreal 3 weeks earlier so he was out of self-isolation when I landed. He helped with options for my apartment before I left Lagos as well as getting a solution to my charging/plug problem immediately I arrived. He gave me links to several online stores where I could place orders. I finally found one store that is 8 minutes away from my apartment where I made a shopping list of groceries etc. Store door pick-up and delivery options would cost more money and I have to wait days and even up to a week before I could get my order. Instead, @Fratermathy walk 15 minutes to my apartment to collect the shopping list and cash (USD $). He went to exchange the USD $ to CAD $ and took my shopping list to the store then an hour later he came back with 3 bags full of groceries. He even added his own cash to balance for me. I have said all these to show how lucky I have been joining this platform and why it is important to build friendship even with total strangers because that was what we were just 9 months ago. I thank the promoters of this group and urge all to help keep the spirit that has kept this group together always. One love!

Incase you find yourself in Montreal and are in need of help like I do now, please reach out so I can pay the favour forward too, in any way possible. It will continue to end in praises. Thank you plenty @Fratermathy, may God Almighty make your journey easy and fruitful now and always. This land will favour us all.

Mistakes: things I would have done differently
If I could choose my seat on the plane next time, I would select a front seat so I can disembark quickly.
I would have transfered all my files from the old computer onto the new one before I left Lagos.
Now I have to find someone or a place to revive my old laptop that stopped working 48-hours after I landed. (Help needed, please!)
I would have installed all necessary softwares on any new gadget am bringing along to avoid paying huge amount in CAD $.
I forgot my bedsheet and didn't pack a duvet because of weight. I haven't got one since I arrived and not sure I want to pay $50 for renting one. SoI sleep in my kaftan and winter jacket until I can find a solution to that after the holidays.

mcobex:
If you have someone in Canada, use his/her number. If you don't have, I think you can use your Naija number (not too sure though)

JosephYemsol:
hi every one. happy holidays.


concerning the study leave doc from our employer, is this usually verified by IRCC?

Somebody5589:
Good evening guys
I applied to University of Saskatchewan for a M.Ed in Curriculum studies Thesis

So I'm hoping I wouldn't have any issues especially in the documents upload
For one I was asked to upload my degree certificate, which I don't have that yet, Corona and all, so I uploaded a copy of the to whom it may be concerned issued to us by the school.. so I'm hoping that would suffice?

And when it came to the issue of transcripts, I uploaded the students transcript, mainly because when I tried requesting for it from my school's record's portal I had issues with putting in an address, so I don't know if the student transcript would hold out for now, and a later time the original would be requested, this is because I haven't been able to detach the uploaded documents, no matter how I try..

teminhi:
Seniors,

I'm having a booking challenge with aircanada from Toronto to my destination. After booking successfully, I got a mail from them that I have to present the card I used for the booking with a valid ID before I'll be allowed to board. My sponsor did the booking and there's no way I can go with her card. Has anyone experienced this before? How do I go about this? Card has been debited already. I'll really appreciate your quick response.

Akupuncture:
I collected my passport today with my visitor visa stamped. Was refused 3 times. After the 3rd refusal (which was very senseless), I hired a lawyer who challenged the refusal in court in Canada. Immediately, IRCC lawyer made us an offer to withdraw the case in court, and that the decision would be sent back to another visa officer to review the application. It was very expensive hiring a lawyer, but the end justified the cost. Now I am looking for a cheap ticket to Canada. Any idea where I can get a cheap ticket?

Omah7979:
Please can someone help me with this, my brother got a decision mail on his application and was asked to send his passport which he did I think the passport is ready for collection but getting the passport back is the problem cause we’ve not heard anything from them and his resumption date is 4 January. What can we do please?

Sirromey:
Hmnn I have been trying to call lufhthansa no luck. Why did u cancel?

JORDAN55:


call lufthansa themselves
i asked them at the airport counter just yesterday morning if i needed a test and they said no

don’t let these wakanow people rip you off

Chimzy4real:
Please was this decision influenced by the people i used for recommendations. Please so i know how to reapply again

Rickywowoz:
Goodluck to everyone applying, people awaiting approval and people coming over in the next few weeks.
Few tips.
Its getting cold, get your sweater/jacket ready. Winter is not child's play. if you are coming to Vancouver area, there is no snow yet but its raining lots. If you can bring paracetamol or anything that relieves headache, please do because you definitely gonna get migraine at some point but if not you can buy advil or tylenol when you get here for 10$ ish

I don't know if this is still a thing with covid, see if you can open a bank account at the airport when you arrive, that way you don't have to worry about it later.

Get your SIN from service canada asap. you need it to work

Sort out your logistics, get a bus pass. most schools have student discount. Start working on getting a Canadian driver's license as soon as you can, it's very important.
Lastly if you are coming to Vancouver area. I can pick you from the airport if you are on a budget. And any other thing you might need in the first few days. it can be stressful for some people.

fixoo:
Greetings
Am New to this Page, I live and work in the United States and I just got an Admission to Study in Canada, trying to apply for the Visa, I contacted some lawyers over here in the United States but they said they only handle United States immigration, I wanna do this visa application on my own, can some please put me through on what and what to do??

Semisolasola:
Well done to everyone
I have a question.My passprt will expire June 2021 and I intend to submit my application Jan/Feb.
What can I do in this situation pls?
Cos I am aware Canada issues according to th validity of your passprt
Thank you

MadeMan01:


Nigeria and corruption... Two words/ names that can be interchanged. Nothing shocks me about bad news in Nigeria again. God . Na wa. Even for national ID that should be a continuous national exercise

Anamekele:

Have you paid tuition please.

maestro09:
Good day everyone,

I am planning on applying for a study permit next year for a program that starts in September.

My International Passport expires December next year.

My question is if I go ahead to use this passport, will it be an issue when I apply for Visa?