Please a quick question;

How does one with an MBA verify credentials?

Yeah, Via Airline. Airfrance is cheaper than the cargo guys from what i read above

Omomabo:
Hi was it an airline or cargo agency u used for the goods to follow? Can u assist with details cos I also have a lot of items to carry and this option makes more sense

Well, Not necessarily so.

Depends on the amount of stuff. 120kg is much trust me

telias:


Congrats on your safe landing.
Wondering though if it might be cheaper for you to buy food in Canada considering the cost of shipping. Those things are available over there you know. Whatever cost you are considering saving will be absorbed by shipping fees

paid 95CAD only. that is all

balogunsam:



Thanks for this information. May the land favour your family.
Got quick questions please:

1. For the goods following, did you send via airline or how? I mean how can i know the cargo service to use?

2. You mentioned a year to bring in other goods that follow. Are all these items duty free? I mean apart from the 120k you paid in Nigeria, did you have to pay anything else in Canada?

Thank you!!!

Landing Update

So, we finally traveled last week in March. Destination: Ontario; Airline: Lufthansa/Air Canada; Family of 4; Total Bags: 8 Checked in- 4 hand luggages. Nnamdi Azikwe Airport was totally in chaos as there was a huge crowd at the airport entrance door waiting to go through the security bottleneck. Quarrel and fighting all over the entrance made it difficult to get bags through. Once we got our bags through, 2 of our bags were called for screening by the customs or so - they removed our frozen palm-oil which we had packed in ribena bottles . we had 12 bottles, but they managed to only locate 5 of the bottles.

Earlier before the flight I had to go to the airport to send our goods to follow - Food stuffs (Yam, Palm-oil, Garri, Ogbono, Plantain - etc you understand na ), Books, Tower cooking pot (my wife loves her tower). Total of about 120kg at the total cost of 160K which is way better than extra luggage with the airline. The goods took 3 days to arrive at Ontario airport.

We left on Monday 11pm from Abuja and arrived on Tuesday morning. We all slept through the flight - it had been a stressful weekend of packing. Spent 1hr on the line at Pearson before our turn with the IO. Asked for our documents and how much we came with. From there to get SIN and then a Welcome to Canada Stand to get brochures and leaflets of Welcome to Canada. After over 2 hours, we then went to pick up our bags which was the only one left at the baggage claim section. From there to the border guys (they all wear the same uniforms) where we were asked whether we had goods to follow. I said yes but I didnt come with any form, so he gave a form to fill and list all the items coming. After filling the forms, went to collect a receipt and document (this is to prevent me from paying taxes on the goods coming) from the payment counter. Looking tired, we were told Welcome again and we left for the exit. Our bags were not searched (had about 6 cartons of indomie chicken and other food stuffs too.) Wonder why our palm-oil was removed in naija - wetin concern them about what we take out.

Having 8 bags and 4 hand luggages; as well as being a family of 4, i just requested for SUV on Uber to my Brother-in-laws house. Got home, Ate, gisted and slept.

2 days later, i received a phone call on my Brother-in-laws number that my goods had arrived. So I went to the airport, very very stressful for one who does not have a car oooo. Thanks to the uber driver, i had to book him offline (as per negotiating skills) when we arrived at the airport. Went to the cargo company, then to customs to sign off goods accounting document. I was asked if these were all the goods, then i said no, other goods are coming (Since we are allowed to bring in our goods within a year na). So the customs lady wrote on it that good still coming and gave me my document back. Will ship in some more food in due time for winter later in the year ). Picked up my bags and home we went.

Approval means your application has been approved for visa to be issued and passport can now be stamped with visa. It is after stamping the visas that PUM will be sent. From both experiences, PUM comes within 2-3 working days depending on your location.

caon:
thank u for sharing this information.people will be able to refer it when in such situation.I will like to know how long after approval will a PUM be sent.also does approval means the passport has been stamped with visa?

You don't need to change name now. You can do that later on.

rainazoe:
For reals? I'd contact the airline. And it brings me back to my question, do I get the passport in my married name or retain my maiden name?

Which airline would you be using? some airlines like Ethiopia i think doesnt fly once passport is less than 6 months, thats what i was told, you can also make inquiries.

rainazoe:
Thanks vcole. Landing is June.

Yeah, the prob was airlines were refusing to let you fly with the 6 months validity in question. You know Naija and our own ways of interpreting things. Make person no reach airport come dey hear story. BP is back to normal now

vcole:
@amindondee, that must have been some BP raising wiat period. I may ne wrong but you could have landed with your old passport. The validity period is intended for the point of submission of your PR app and point of issuing the visa. As long as your passport was valid for travel as at when you intended to land, you would not have had any issues.

Good day people,

Just to give an update which may be beneficial to anyone on passport expiry less than 6 months before travelling.

So my application was approved and i got all our passports and COPRs in January 2018. My passport was due to expire in May 2018. My spouse however, insisted i renew my passport before we travel because we did not know if we would be allowed to travel with less than six moths validity on my passport. I called Lufthansa and they do not seem to have a fulfilling response as they do not understand what an immigrant visa was and that it is better to have a validity above 6 months so as to avoid any hassles. I renewed my passport and wrote an email to Ottawa, Accra and LVO to inform them i would be renewing my visa. My thinking was that the visa would still be valid as with other visas i have experienced. The next day our CIC/Express Entry profile changed from Approved to "We are awaiting a decision....." and all the counterfoil information removed.

To my great surprise i received an email from LVO that all previously issued COPRs were cancelled and invalid, and we should send all documents (including all family members) back to Accra and wait for further instructions. We were all worried. We sent all the documents through DHL back to Accra and waited for further instructions. 2 days after i received the email requesting for us to pay $120CAD through the online platform for visa re-issue which i did immediately. Then the sudden silence from LVO starts; and we have 5 more weeks until our validity expires, no update on our account profile and no information from them for about 3 weeks and until today that our application on the profile now shows approved. New counterfoil issued and the old ones shown as invalid.

Hello,

Please does anyone know about Au Pair in Canada? What the process is and how to go about it?

A555:


I swapped my UK driving license for an Alberta license, and no driving experience letter was required. I simply walked into the registry gave them my UK license, paid the fees, did an eye test and that was it.

For Ontario I found the following link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/exchange-out-province-drivers-licence

If it is a UK driving license, the issue date is on it, so I don't see why a further driving experience letter will be required.

Thank you

Good day All,

Please does anyone have any experience in exchanging UK driving license for a Canadian one? I know it is possible, but my question is weather it is compulsory to get a driving experience letter for that.

Province is Ontario.

Thank you

Delta007:

Thanks for the response. Your timeline showed June 2017 for medicals, hence my curiosity.

That was medical Passed not Medicals Done

Delta007:
Congratulations on the progress. Just curious, why would you want to immigrate in March? What's the urgency?

Thanks. Visa expires first week of April. That is one year after medicals

Application Timeline Update
Just to share experience for others to be positive minded especially London VO people

IELTS: 2nd Feb 2016 (LRWS 8.5, 7.5,7.5,7)
ECA (WES) Completed: 12th July 2016 (Masters & BSc.) - Although BSc not needed
EE Profile Created: 21st July 2016 - Overall Score = 454

Waited and waited!!!! and tried Provincial Nomination but no one wanted me

EE Score dropped to 449 after birthday (26th August 2016)
Was alsways oberserving the draw out comes and then suddenly observed the sharp drop in January 2017
ITA: 8th February 2017 Celebrated all night with my family
Document gathering became challenging, especially proof of funds as expenditure is always scattered from different accounts. My wife and I had already opened a joint account to safe up the money for this purpose there, but we had just embarked on an investment. So we started saving a fresh again into the account and transferring money from friends and family. Prepared land sale documents and deed of funds; wrote a LOE for my POF to explain all transactions in my account above the value of 250k following Vcole's advice; my LOE (POF) was 13 pages. did affidavit for 2 of the companies that have folded up now in respect of work reference. Did our medicals and finally made submission before 90 days was over. pwhew!!!

eAPR- AOR: 14th April 2017
Observed that I used the short form of my son's first name (Yoruba name) instead of the one written on the passport. I emailed the application center and was updated after a month.

Medical Passed: 16th June 2017
IP1: 16th June 2017

Stuck on IP1 for a month, then decided to email CIC for update. Emailed on 27th July 2017 and got the almighty automated reply that my application was sent to London VO. Kai, I just began to think all sorts - I schooled in London and was there for 2 years post study (I also did my wedding there). I had read different things about wrong NOC from marriage certificate and location of work and all etc.

Waited and waited and waited. Emailed London VO twice and no response. Since there was no response my wife decided to change her last name and get a new international passport. So, we did that and sent the new passport update to London VO
Ordered 1st GCMS notes from GETGCMS: 1st October 2017 (Notes received on 30th with all seeming to be in order)
Ordered 2nd GCMS notes from Myimmitracker: 18th October 2017

My wife's new passport got stolen so we had to do a new passport and then send another email to London VO (2nd Nov 2017). Trust me, me self tire
Emailed London VO again on the 14th November
IP2: 16th November 2017
PPR: 20th November 2017
DHL Delivery to Accra: 27th November 2017
Approved: 22nd December 2017


Total duration AOR-PPR: 220 days

Awaiting COPR

Arriving in March - Either Mississuaga or Ottawa. Currently undergoing some bridging programmes

Happy New Year to Everyone

Application Timeline Update
Just to share experience for others to be positive minded especially London VO people

IELTS: 2nd Feb 2016 (LRWS 8.5, 7.5,7.5,7)
ECA (WES) Completed: 12th July 2016 (Masters & BSc.) - Although BSc not needed
EE Profile Created: 21st July 2016 - Overall Score = 454

Waited and waited!!!! and tried Provincial Nomination but no one wanted me

EE Score dropped to 449 after birthday (26th August 2016)
Was alsways oberserving the draw out comes and then suddenly observed the sharp drop in January 2017
ITA: 8th February 2017 Celebrated all night with my family
Document gathering became challenging, especially proof of funds as expenditure is always scattered from different accounts. My wife and I had already opened a joint account to safe up the money for this purpose there, but we had just embarked on an investment. So we started saving a fresh again into the account and transferring money from friends and family. Prepared land sale documents and deed of funds; wrote a LOE for my POF to explain all transactions in my account above the value of 250k following Vcole's advice; my LOE (POF) was 13 pages. did affidavit for 2 of the companies that have folded up now in respect of work reference. Did our medicals and finally made submission before 90 days was over. pwhew!!!

eAPR- AOR: 14th April 2017
Observed that I used the short form of my son's first name (Yoruba name) instead of the one written on the passport. I emailed the application center and was updated after a month.

Medical Passed: 16th June 2017
IP1: 16th June 2017

Stuck on IP1 for a month, then decided to email CIC for update. Emailed on 27th July 2017 and got the almighty automated reply that my application was sent to London VO. Kai, I just began to think all sorts - I schooled in London and was there for 2 years post study (I also did my wedding there). I had read different things about wrong NOC from marriage certificate and location of work and all etc.

Waited and waited and waited. Emailed London VO twice and no response. Since there was no response my wife decided to change her last name and get a new international passport. So, we did that and sent the new passport update to London VO
Ordered 1st GCMS notes from GETGCMS: 1st October 2017 (Notes received on 30th with all seeming to be in order)
Ordered 2nd GCMS notes from Myimmitracker: 18th October 2017

My wife's new passport got stolen so we had to do a new passport and then send another email to London VO (2nd Nov 2017). Trust me, me self tire
Emailed London VO again on the 14th November
IP2: 16th November 2017
PPR: 20th November 2017
DHL Delivery to Accra: 27th November 2017
Approved: 22nd December 2017


Total duration AOR-PPR: 220 days

Awaiting COPR

Please what exactly is wrong with London Visa Office (UK). Why are they taking so long to reply applicants. This is 5 months and counting oooooo since AOR (14th April). What is the solution to this scenario?

Blackbuddy:


Hi, I've replied all recent emails from Nairalanders, please resend yours and I will respond.

Baba, i dont think you are seeing our mails oooo. no reply yet oo

@Blackbuddy: please you have not replied mt email. Is there any other email address i can reach you on?

40manlappy:

You are in NA. Did you notice if your BG status moved from "Your application is in progress" to NA after medical? If so, expect IP2 anytime soon. Cheers!
Congratulations @merrymum and @drhopeful
PPR rain loading!

MummyJaygirls:

You are most likely NA2 which is before IP2, the race is getting shorter.

Thanks for your replies. I did not observe any change in NA1 to IP1 to NA2. I just observed the MP, so it could have been in this process of movement but looking forward to the so called IP2 and final submission of our PP.

As you rightly said CIC is not predictable, but God go do am for all of us.

Good day,

AOR 14 April
MP 16 June

Pls what stage is this as per attachment

Blackbuddy:


Hello @amindondee, I'll try to assess the email account I have for nairaland. I don't use it often but hope to revert to you.

Thanks

Blackbuddy:


Some banks, not all will honor your request for PTA based on your COPR. Others will insist on seeing a return ticket so you might want to shop around to see which will be favorable to you and also consider black market if you're buying a large quantity of FX.

@Blackbuddy: Please can you check your email

@Blackbuddy: Please check your mail.

[quote author=Blackbuddy post=57585681]

@Blackbuddy: Please check you PM, I sent you a message

Marvi4real:
Please I have a simple question
I am a newbie
I got an ITA on 28th June but I made mistake in typing the order of my names on my EE profile and now I cant edit it post-ITA.
The correct order is Okerie Oghale Marvelous but I typed Okerie Marvelous Oghale
Please what should I do??

Marvi4real:


Hi everyone, Anyone with an answer to my question

Basically which one is your last name. As long as your last name was correct in the slot you do not have much to worry about. you just write a LOE for this mistake. A similar thing happened to my son and I clicked on other names known and wrote his first name, then i attached a LOE signed by both of us (my spouse and I) explaining the error. I noticed that the error was corrected after I got Medical passed in the name list and the right name was spelt and arranged.

Hello All, Please is there any news on POST ITA. no news from anyone again.

Where are you based? Then you can be advised adequately

optionese:
Yes but I don't live in Lagos . Isn't there any person outside of lagos who has done this ? Even Abuja people anyone here suggestions. Would be appreciated. Me am not doing any online ooo

Good day, please can anyone be of assistance to know how to prepare the LOE for proof of funds. is it an official letter? does anyone have a format i can use.

Please @vcole can i have a copy of the LOE as i am struggling to try and write mine.

vcole:
As regards POF, and all ITA recipients rubbing pancake on top pof cold feet, let me share my own experience.
I probably had the most complicated pof i've heard of thus far. Lol!

I submitted 5 bank accounts. This is because funds moved through these accounts within the 6 month period prior to my app submission and besides if you read the guideline for pof on the cic site, it actually asks you to submit ref letters from all your banks.

So, I have 3 savings accounts, 1 current account and 1 joint account.
Joint account was less than 6 months old as at time of app submission. However, joint account is where we had been saving pof money that was not yet complete, because we had expected a prolonged pool stay considering the trend of high crs draws as at then and had saved about 70% of required pof or so at the time. So, post ITA, hubby transferred some funds to the joint account to make up the required amount and then I transferred the entire pof to my current account. Prior to this time, I had savings going into our joint account from savings accounts 1 and 2 as well as my current account and then savings also going into the joint account from my hubby's personal account.

Savings accounts 1,2,3 had monies moving within them regularly. You know how you can use one bank to keep maybe school fees, another for regular spending, another for "do not touch" money, etc. lol! Also, I had large deposits made from my mum, uncle, friends, etc etc into savings account 3 (gtbank). You know how your folks need you to help purchase something or pay for a service or send to someone else for them and then they pay into your account.......I was in a dilemma as to what to do.
However, I didn't feel comfortable delaying my app submission till the 60 day mark just so those transactions would fall off my bank statement....So, I wrote a very detailed LOE, explaining ALL the movement of funds and ALL lump sum deposits into ALL of my bank accounts over the 6 month period preceding the submission of my app. I also had a LOE written by my husband confirming funds transfers and dates (we did not include his bank statement as the transfer details showed his name as depositor on my bank statements), I also went ahead to get a LOE from my uncle and all other persons who had made lump sum deposits into that my gtbank account and whose names showed up on my statement as depositors as well as obtained a gift deed from my mom for the lump sum deposits she made into same account.
Of note is that, all of the funds in that my gtbank account had already been used up in payment of whatever I needed to help them pay for long ago, that account is like my regular day to day expense account and as at receiving ITA and as at submission of eAPR, balance was maybe 100k or something ridiculous like that.

By the time I had compiled my loe and all the other loes plus gift deed into one document it was 10 pages. lwkmd!!!!
I felt a bit ridiculous at this point but went ahead and uploaded the 10 page loe under the slot provided for loe in the eAPR oh.

Turns out, app was successful and gcms notes didn't even hint at any pof issue. So, my advise is that as long as you can explain and show proof of any of your concerns as regards pof that do not prevent you from meeting the ircc criteria, you shoud be fine.