₦airaland Forum

Paid 26k but doctor told me that if I had any serious malady, I might ve had to pay an extra 10-15k for treatment. However as God would have it, nothing serious.

Yours is on the way in Jesus name.

Well Igb, by God's grace am sure you would ve a much more enthralling story by God's grace. One of success. I think it was just God's decision that I get it not scholarship, power or ability. not even any issue of credibility. Lessons in my view. Be as honest as possible and if you must fabricate stories, must be logical and quite verifiable and DO NOT contradict urself.

Also made up my mind to always invest a part of my earnings on stuff like shares, rely less on my ability and understanding but believe in God.

You know I deposited a additionally money in my account, money I got from my fiancee, about 200k and the Visa Officer asked about its source, why the sudden increase in my account. Was lucky I could explain was my salary cos I paid it in myself and wrote my firm as depositors on my deposit slip.

GOD is good.

Dear All,

I went for my interview today and the interviewer looked like a Nigerian sounded a bit Nigerian, a bit Janded but had a French accent  even though she was speaking English. Was a young female, no more than 28-29, in my estimation.

My interview went like this:

Interviewer: We asked you to bring additional documents where are they?

Me: Here they are maam!

Interviewer: There is no much difference in your account why? (Remeber I was supposed to get more money but I could not)

Me: Well I felt I should be honest and come along with what I had in my account.  My employers confirm that they would continue to pay my salary while am away. (I had prepared a letter from the office, signed by a partner that the company would continue to pay me salary while I am on leave, salary is in the range of $ 2, 000 a month).

Interviewer: I am not convinced. Why did you not submit this letter when you applied initially? I am not convince you have any financial capability and am not sure you are prepared to go to CVanada!

Me: The letters are not an afterthought, I only applied for leave formerly after I was called for an interview, as I did not think it was discreet to apply for a study leave when I was not sure if I even stood the chance of getting my visa. It may in my view amount to apprbaing and reprobating if I didnt get it.

Interviewer: I am not satisfied but your documents are authentic and you have a very good academic pedigree so I may grant you, but I need you to convince me you have funds, beyond your scholarship fund which is quite high but I still think you should have at least another $10-12k.

Me: I brought out the official breakdown of my fees, estimated living cost for a year. My scholarship covers it with so much extra.

Interviewer: What happens if you exceed one year, you can't survive on that amount. Your school says you have a maximum of three years to complete your study.

Me: I can finish in one year its just an LL.M

Interviewer: When I first looked at your application, I was impressed with your academic and professional records but am still not convinced with your finances.

Me:Well I also have shares!

Interviewer: Let me have evidence!

Me: Can I make a call out there?

Interviewer: yes! maximum of 30 minutes.

Me: Called my ever supportive fiancee and she got to my brokers whose offices are close to hers on the island and brought the CSCS.

Me: showed the CSCS statement print out.

Interviewer: (goes to get a Guardian Newspaper). Well I would give you your visa, your shares are worth more than a million.

Interviewer: You say you are a xtian what church do u attend?

Me: Daystar

Interviewer: can I study law,

Me: y not?,

Interviewer: you lawyers are sweet mouthed (Can't remeber exact use of words).

Me: Thank you.

Interviewer: please drop your passport.


GLORY BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY. I almost missed out. It was the Lord's doing,


I was not asked a single question on law on why I wanted to go to Canada. All she wanted was for me to convince her about my finances that she was generally satisfied with my application apart from the finances and she believes that lack of sufficient finances was a good reason for denial. 

I DID NOT INFLATE MY ACCOUNT. I think that also helped me because she might ve asked questions I could not answer,

Thank God and a BIG thank you to all Nairalanders, Igb, I know urs is on the way by God's grace, Delta, Ezin, Debosky, Mega and so on. God bless you all.

My budget is not more than 500k including the rent and agency fees. Ready to pay 5%

i need it for my family

I need a 2 bedroom flat in surulere.

U guys are simply wonderful with your sublime advise and superb insight. I am takin down notes and would do everything legimately possible to be prepared. All would be set by Tomorrow/ Monday morning.

I shall give you good news in Jesus name. With my salary and a little from here and there, I should get at least another 500k. I would also buy a few more shares since prices are low, by tomorrow and get the print out and letter from my brokers and bank 2gether with letter and employer's letter and account statement.

Yeah! Tanx everyone.Igbo, u ve got a pretty babe. Am sure urs wd come out better than mine in Jesus Name. I appreciate all the advice. What do u think about this: in the firm where I work, people get huge bonuses, can I get a letter signed by one of the partners stating that I would be getting my study bonus end of August shorly before I travel and I go with a notarized copy of my last bonus cheque + the firm's statement of account. I got over a million last December as bonus and I made a photocopy of the cheque. Additionally, I have an official breakdown of the fees and my scholarship covers everything. Maybe I would hold that too.
What do you guys think. Also if I get say 1m from a friend, would it reflect in my account as the interview is next week wednesday or so when the month wouldn't ve ended. Yes! The letter stated shares, bank accounts etc. Would appreciate ur thots and note that I appreciate ur views. Thank you.

Tanx Mega, would take your advice into consideration, God bless you. however, be rest assured that am not arrogant just a very honest person, wish you knew me!! @ delta et al: I said Igbo, a pretty lady blah! Blah! Blah! sorry those are two different people. Igbo and then another lady.

@Igbo: It was really nice meeting you, will keep in touch and the other lady, nice meeting you, God bless you. However, no one answered my questions with regard to " I was also asked to come for an interview with police report which I had submitted when making application.they also asked for additional financialevidence.I had submitted my scholarship letter covering over $40, 000, my CSCS statement and share certificates worth over 2 million naira and my personal statement of account of over a million".[i][/i]. This is my concern because I had submitted all these the originals of the above requested documents earlier. Hope am not sounding arrogant o!?

Tanx, God bless.

Tanx Mega, I would take your observations into consideration, be rest assured that am not arrogant just a very honest person, wish you knew me!! @ delta et al: I said Igbo, a pretty lady blah! Blah! Blah! sorry those are two different people. Igbo and then another lady.

@Igbo: It was really nice meeting you, will keep in touch and the other lady, nice meeting you, God bless you. However, no one answered my questions with regard to " I was also asked to come for an interview with police report which I had submitted when making application.they also asked for additional financialevidence.I had submitted my scholarship letter covering over $40, 000, my CSCS statement and share certificates worth over 2 million naira and my personal statement of account of over a million".[i][/i]. This is my concern because I had submitted all these the originals of the above requested documents earlier. Hope am not sounding arrogant o!?

Tanx, God bless.

Hi everyone, igbo, a pretty lady and myself were at the Canadian embassy yesterday and we got different info. Igbo was told his was still being processed. I was however told to go for a medical test at one of two designated hospitals. One in Yaba, the other in VI. I was also asked to come for an interview with police report which I had submitted when making application.they also asked for additional financialevidence.I had submitted my scholarship letter covering over $40, 000, my CSCS statement and share certificates worth over 2 million naira and my personal statement of account of over a million.Glory be to God and tanx to evryone. I would however need advice on the the stuff I was told to submit and on what to expect at the interview. Note that my fees, accomodation and other expenses are not even up to $30000 because the fees are about 13000; accomodation around 5000 and others around 9000. Still have about 15000 left from the over $40K scholarship.please advise.

Another issue about going to the Canadian embassy, is that it is difficult to go in cos I have been there twice and I was told to fill a form they came back and told me they would reach me as soon as they were done with processing the application. This was over a month ago.

Is there any advice on what to do when we get there? I saw people claiming appointments and were allowed in. I don't know if it's a good idea to claim an appointment in order to be allowed in? Suggestions would be appreciated especially from someone who went there lately because they seem to have changed their system.

God bless.

Igb:

I have sent you a mail kindly check ur box as soon as possible. I guess we should arrange to go to the embassy this week, if its convenient, maybe on Thursday.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas, advice and all.

Thanks debosky & Igb.

Igb: will send you an email with my contacts shortly. I think the advice is splendid.

Thanks.

Igb:

Heard anything yet? mine is now 71 days since I applied. I just counted the days now.

Any news yet from anyone regarding Study permits for this August/September?

You may be right about the age and gender thing, but the grace of God and his mercy. There are a couple of guys about 28 going for their Masters and who got their visas. Once u are lucky with the Visa officer in charge of your case, then you should get it once all other things are fine. Mine is about 70 days now. What do you guys think can be the challenge? Can it be verification taking forever? What's ur take?

I just pray the good lord grants us visas.

Full scholarship to University of Calgary. L.L.M Energy Law. Calgary is in the oil rich province of Alberta. Am an oiland gas lawyer.

Am already getting fed up about everything. I however still believe in God that the best would come out of all these endeavours.

Tanx Yomex, however 2 weeks ago when I sent a message and got a similar auto reply, but that said visitors who submitted June 23 and priority to students for August/ September 2008. I also know one or two students who mid/ late May, who they ve gotten back to. Maybe dey are verifying our documents, but I think its taking 2 long. Maybe different people are handling different files.

Any other views?

My brother I tire o! Mine is almost 70 days since I applied. Nothing new. Initially I got a call from undergrad skol but wasn't the Canadian embassy, was sth entirely different.mine is almost 70 days now o! What really do u suggest we do?

@Ig:

My friend applied on the 29th of May and got his rejection around Monday 14th of this month.

Maybe they will call my office, my brokers, cscs, the registrar of births and death, my Bank etc. Wd keep arms folded.

Delta,

I don't think the law is from my alma mater, as I was there a forthnight ago and the exams and records officials checked through their files and confirmed there was nothing from the Canadian Embassy.

They however promised to call me, if anything came up.

I stii called the elderly lady in charge on Monday and said there was nothing. She called me around 3 2day to tell me there was something from the embassy.

@delta, I wonder y they would be suspicious about my result?

Anyways, I guess this moves me a step closer. May God grant us all our heart desires.

Tanx to evryone so far, God bless u.

@Ezin:

Thanks God bless you.

@Ezin:

God bless you. I am now more positive and optimistic. To think that I was already beginning to consider Dundee/ Aberdeen where I already have admission for September, well that's how things change. I pray the good lord finishes what he has started in our lives in Jesus name.

I must however say that a number of good people I can vouch for, have had their applications rejected and wish there was a medium for appeals.

nedureg01:

funnily I attended the Lagos State University too. They just called me from school that the embassy just sent a form asking about my grades/ confirmation of my result. I was honest too. I got a full scholarship to Calgary, LL.M. I work in a very reputable company. A place would know if I were to mention it. I graduated in 2004 and then went to the law skol. I made 2(1) bpoth in Uni & law school.

U know LASU has got a good Faculty of Law. Do you know charles Odunaya?. Well I have travelled to the UK and Madrid in Spain before now. My G.P for school no too far from 4.5.

Nice to meet you on this forum,

Well on my part, there is a new development. Someone from my undergraduate University called and told me that the cnadian embassy sent a form/ letter etc to confirm my result.

Incidentally, this person who called me was a student offcer in the faculty of law before being transferred to exams and records and that person gave me the info.

Any views on this state of affairs?

@delta,
@AY,

A scholarship doesnt guarantee you a Visa (I thought I already made that point to you). I don't know the reasons why they denied your pals (perhaps you should ask them and post it here to help your comrades with their future applications); however, two basic points people tend to overlook apart from the usual requirements (admission, etc) for a study visa is that you have to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself during your studies and you have strong ties to your home country (meaning you'd be returning immediately you complete your studies). The onus is on the applicant. Since Ned got his letter last week and you submitted your applications around same time, then yours is probably on the way.

I agree with you generally, but I would like to fill the gaps in ur analysis. you said:

"two basic points people tend to overlook apart from the usual requirements (admission, etc) for a study visa is that you have to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself during your studies and you have strong ties to your home country (meaning you'd be returning immediately you complete your studies)".

on enough funds: why would a person on full scholarship or say $40,000 need to prove apart from that scholarship any other financial capacity or capability? The institution granting you the scholarship is just saying we are taken the burden off you! isnt it?

on strong ties: I think a good job; marriage and siblings should be enough ties. If the Canadian Visa offers were to prove ties to Canada for example, need they do more than this? Do you think my friend who works with accenture and has a good car, investments, a mortgage and earns a reasonable pay check need prove more than these. I am so confident of these facts because we prepared his application together.

My view is that they are racist and arbitrary. well most importantly it is the grace or mercy of God. Or maybe God feels you would do better elsewhere. Shikena.

@nedureg01; congrats, what extra thing do you think you did? I know @ least 3 other people with good jobs offered scholarships who were rejected. Could u state for example the Uni in Nigeria u attended,what University in Canada you are going to, if u re married? If u submitted any special document? Are u aware if they called ur office or ur school? Kindly give us some idea please. God bless u.

@ this juncture, I do not know what 2 say. A close friend of mine, who got scholarship to study in Canada, just got rejected. Reasons: not sure he would come back and he is not a bonafide student.

I think these Canadians are just very wicked people because this guy has a very good job here in Nigeria. He works with a multinational and has good prospect. In fact he works with accenture. Am sori I had to mention his workplace. This is really frustrating.

It even makes me more bothered. After wasting so much time, you begin to hear such news. Its really unfair, inhuman and in my view, racist. You won't even believe that he has a car, has a mrtgage and was given full scholarship. I think its just unfair and our Government is not doing anything to change this.

I feel so discouraged and unhappy. Don't the visa officers review documents? Don't they apply some commonsense? Would I have a very good job, be on scholarship and still want to run away to wash plates? Even if I would, wouldn't Canada rather encourage such a person? I just think the visa officers are racist and very wicked or simply dull, deab and unintelligent. Its really unfair that you wait 4ever and stil get this kind of verdict. Its just unfair.