₦airaland Forum

ARS1:
Long epistle alert!

It all started around January last year when I made up my mind to enroll for PhD program in Australia. Those who have passed through this stage will perfectly understand how tedious the process is- starting from putting in place a novel research proposal, getting a professor to supervise your project and finally, securing funding for your program. To be honest, one needs to be highly motivated and dedicated to survive these hurdles.

I must confess, my dedication and perseverance really paid off after series of rejections as I was able to get the consent of three supervisors from different universities who were willing to support my applications. Between July and December 2017, I had completed the application process for admission and funding. To God be the glory, the results started coming out in April 2018. Two of the Universities offered me admission with full funding (stipend + tuition+ family insurance cover) while the third University offered only admission without funding.


Sorry, i forgot to mention that one of the Universities is in G8 (equivalent of ivy league) What a great news! Without waisting time, I quickly accepted the offer from this Universty for obvious reasons. Apart from the fact that the University is consistently ranked among the top 50 in the world, my department is also ranked among the top 10 in the world. In view of this, I had to reject other offers.

As soon as my COE was issued, I quickly submitted my Visa application on June 26, 2018. To avoid unnecessary issue, every document was submitted with my application. To my surprise, I got no response from DIBP on my application after three months. Then, I decided to send a polite email to DIBP on 6th October 2018 on progress of my application as my enrollment deadline was 14th October 2018. Alas, I got a refusal notice on 9th October 2018.

In the refusal notice, the visa officer submitted that she was not convinced that I met the genuine entry requirement as I do not have strong ties to return to my country despite the fact that I didn't not apply together with my family. She further posited that she was not convinced that PhD is beneficial to my career goal as a tutor. What an insult again!

The refusal notice was quickly sent to the graduate school and my supervisor. This unfair decision did not meet my supervisor well as she quickly sought the intervention of the University. In her email to the graduate school, she clearly mentioned that this is the most disgusting reason for visa refusal she has ever heard. While she has hoped for the intervention of the University, I understand that the University might not be able to reverse the decision of DIBP as there is no option for appeal.

Given this dilemma, it will be appreciated if any useful advice could be given.

Hey,
I lived in Australia for a while and I pretty know how the system works,you can definitly appeal the Visa officers decision that's your entitlement but I think you need may need to do it via a solicitor. I will advise you reach out to good friends or family over there to get I contact with a solicitor in Australia in person it's a cup of tea for them.
They usually charge between 1200 to 1500 aud for visa applications. When the embassy sees your appeal with a solicitor the visa officer will seat up. That's my take Godbless.

erictack203:
My fellow E-family, it's been a long journey and today, I am finally ready to share my Success with the House.

As you all know, I applied to Study Nursing at the Australian Catholic University Melbourne Campus but was denied Visa by Pretoria September last year. With the Courage of the great ppl of this house, I didn't give up, I garthered myself and re-applied to Metro College of Technology for an Advanced Diploma of Disability in Brisbane.

After paying my fees, gotten my CoEs and applied for Visa to Pretoria in early November, I called Pretoria towards the Xmas break in December and I was told that my CoEs were Cancelled and my application will now be accessed as an AL3 application.

I was so confused (I used a registered Migration Agent and an Australian Legal Practitioner), I contacted my Lawyer and informed her, she tried calling Pretoria to no avail and then tried contacting the School, no one is answering, we waited till after the Xmas and contacted them again over and over, no response, I almost shit on my pants, my Lawyer then contacted CRISCOS and found out that Metro College has been de-registered(Closed Down) by the Australian Government. Luckily for me, we were able to get in Torch with the CEO whom then refunded my Money to a Trust Account in Australia.

In this case, we have to amend my application which is still at Pretoria, I then applied for a related program at Queensland International Institute (QII) and made the fee payments and sent a fresh application through my Agent/Lawyer to Pretoria, Early January, Pretoria didn't send any response when we kept contacting them, they will keep telling you 3months.

On the 22nd of February, I got an email from my Lawyer with a Refusal Notification from Pretoria, using the Metro CoEs to assess my application after series of emails and phone calls informing them about my new CoEs and application amendments, they still used the old CoEs which they all knew has been cancelled to assess the application (Negligence). My Lawyer hit back and hit hard pointing out a "Jurisdictional Error" to the CO, the case was moved to the Senior Regional Director of Immigration in Africa, she then sent us an email that they have sent my application to their Legal Opinions Department in Pretoria to have a review, that once the Legal Department gives their Opinion, a fresh assessment will be made on my application.

I say "wetin" so to enter Australia again na fight? Where ppl are getting grants here and there my own case is different, to some extent I even thought I was cursed.

I decided to try another route, I actually needed this Nursing, I asked my Cousin about life as a Student in the USA, he told me and also told me that USA rejects Visa like Virus, that it's a no go area, my wife advice me not to be discouraged and that I should try, my friend in Darwin (Australia) kept advising about USA and the good opportunities there, I decided to try.

I applied for Admission in BSN(Nursing) and I also applied to the Embassy with my Family for a B1/B2 Visa, to my greatest surprise, we were all granted. I applied for the Admission early March and last week Thursday, I got an Offer to Study Nursing at University of Central Oklahoma, USA. While I was planning how to attend another Student Visa interview, I contacted my new School and told them I intend to Visit them for 2weeks and return to Nigeria to apply for an F1 Visa. The Office advised me that no need, that if I have a valid Visitors Visa and have not enrolled in a School or take an Employment or breach the Visa by over staying and so on, that I am qualified to change my Status to an F1 Visa.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment/special-instructions-b-1b-2-visitors-who-want-enroll-school

So, I took and deep breath and said "well, that's it" my Fate is in USA. Life is all about persistent and never to give up. My program starts in August and I wan just enter the town go enjoy small for 2 weeks and come back, make I clear all the wahala wey Pretoria gimme since last year.

I will like to advice everyone here, whether you are a Visa applicant or seeking to Study or those already Abroad: you all should never give up in your Quest, God's time is always the best and the greatest, no one or any situation should make you feel regret, stand up to your challenges and set your sails, trust me, you will achieve results.

I dedicate my Special thanks to Almighty God. And I appreciate the Gurus in this House; Laminaira, Mrlinobrawn, Oga Bellong, NNBB, Lawland, Scrollmein, Pmiller, Aussy4me, our BossLadymo1, MPop. And everyone that has contributed to the building of this great thread, I will never forget our main Boss in this House (Oga Justwise) for his good works in keeping this thread alive, may God grant you all your heart desires and strengthen you more.

I urge all of us in this great forum to keep up the good works and never abandon any1 who needs help, we should not run from the house whether we get what we came here for or not, life is a circle and every1 has his/her SET TIME.

God bless you and God bless Nairaland.

olujastro:
Pls anyone who gets contacted by NTNU that they've received any document sent to them from Nigeria especially Transcript should inform me as soon as it happens so I know my stand. I'm yet to successfully get verifiable proof that my transcript is with them already.

olujastro:
Anyone here who knows if NTNU has officially availed its online application portal, SoknasWeb for its 2016/2017 Msc admission to prospective students? I've got a technical challenge while trying to use it.