WoodcrestMayor:
Hey guys!!!
I’ve been away for a very long long time. Landing gist is stale considering the fact that I touched down in May 2018…8months ago. I won’t bore you guys with details so I will just summarize as well as I can. 
I departed naija at about 1pm and landed in Toronto at about 8am the following day…Addis Ababa through Dublin to Toronto it was. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said I stood for a combined 7hrs (approximately) in the plane stretching my leg and I also got tired of the food  . Toronto was a long queue and POF check was smooth…officer only asked what I came in with. I was about to show him and he said I shouldn’t bother showing him. Ethiopian airline guys advised me to change my flight to one that had long connecting time for Toronto/Edmonton. I heeded their advice and I was just in time for my flight to Edmonton after immigration stress. In fact, I had to run as the flight was about leaving. I would have been put on another flight without any extra charge but my people in Edmonton had cleared their itinerary for my arrival so it wouldn’t have been fair.
I boarded Air Canada and I balance well well for plane…hostess make sense and all…I said to myself…”another 4hrs of flight”…sigh. Hostess moved round to serve drinks and snacks and I went in for one without questions. I thought it was covered by the air fare and then she brought out the POS  . Thank God say I respect myself no carry wetin expensive.  I had my dollar MasterCard on me and I still had some change on it. I paid and moved on to buy Wi-Fi access for the duration of my flight. I started messaging friends and family to give present location and all.
I touched down in Edmonton at about 4pm and was welcomed by my cousins…got a light hoodie as temperature was about 17 degrees on that beautiful day. We took a few pictures and headed home. We got home and I got a surprise cake (it was my birthday and I planned the landing for my birthday but I wasn’t expecting any cake) *please pass me the tissue roll*. 
I landed on a Thursday and a new reality set in. I was a banker back home and even though I was tired of banking, I figured it was the easiest way to get something mainstream. I needed to get into the system and then plot my move from there. I am not a young guy in my 20’s so I knew I didn’t have much time on my hands. I knew about the Canadian experience thing but I said to myself…”you don’t time to experiment much with menial jobs for Canadian experience. The earlier you got into the mainstream, the better for you”. My cousin has a few banker friends and they told me something that could get me into the system quick enough. I went to church with him and he introduced me to a wealth manager who also started in the bank as a sales person. He further reiterated what other bankers I spoke to said-get a mutual fund certification. I got to Canada on a Thursday and started reading on Monday…I didn’t plan to start that early  For two months, I read and did nothing else; not even job applications. After about 800pages and some practice, I took the exam in July and I’m still grateful I passed at first attempt.
I started applying for jobs and indeed.com became my homepage My cousin also told me to check out Bredin;thank God I did. Resume writing, cover letter and interview skills are non-negotiable here. I went through the classes and I immersed myself in the theory and practical. I began to practice for interviews like they were examinations. All these under my belt but the jobs were not forthcoming. The food industry had a lot of openings but I was adamant; I was not going to serve food .I even did safety certifications which cost me money but I just needed to start something. I made a different resume for menial jobs and I focused on warehouse worker category but I kept getting rejections. I kid you not when I tell you that I lost count of the number of applications I submitted. I even got a scam one but can you scam the scammer? 
The final week of August brought an interview which I attended. It was advertised as a sales position for Telus but I turned out to be for one of the companies selling for Telus. I took the job nonetheless even though it was pure commission. It was a door-to-door sales job and did it for about a month. There was a day It snowed a little and I could not unzip my trouser because I was losing control of my fingers…I called an Uber and closed for the day. I thought I wasn’t going to return there but I thought about everything and the next morning I was in the office. I finally quit after 3 weeks and I was ready to look for a cashier position anywhere when RBC sent out invites for a networking event; a networking event which had the mutual funds certification as a pre-requisite for registration. I went to Hudson Bay, bought a suit and I already bought shoes from Aldo during summer sales so I was ready to go.  The networking event was quickly followed by a proper interview a week later and in the second week of October, I got an offer for an Intern position. I resumed 3rd week of November and I will be in training till summer. It’s a very intensive one but I’m glad I got it.
Pay attention guys because I’m going to connect some dots here for people who need this. The value of time anywhere especially here can not be overemphasized. Even though I didn’t stay long at the sales job, it undoubtedly played its part in securing the RBC job. I was able to tick the Canadian experience box and I also made a couple of sales and the pay cheques came in handy during background checks. It was one of the items used to verify that I indeedworked for the company I stated in my resume. Also, the timing of the exam was impeccable because I registered for the RBC networking event in August and if I hadn't passed it at first attempt, the next available date would have been in August and I would have missed out on this opportunity. I’m not where I want yet but I’m super grateful to God and the people around me who gave me OT.
I took my class 7 test in September so I’ll be ready to cruise in my car come next winter (their deddies). I’ve been driving here though(my cousin’s wife’s car  ) because I learnt that in naija but I never had my car so I’ll be ready for my road test come September.
Those fake CRA guys called me too but again, can you scam the scammer? 
What did I miss out? Oh! I did a bit of summer shopping. I bought off-season items like a winter jacket(I only just realized it’s simply decent) and two winter boots. The winter boots I bought for $35 in summer now cost about $135 in winter . Bredin also gave me a lot of information on packages the government have in place to help new comers integrate into the system. For example, I get to use Edmonton city public sites (gym,library, zoo etc) for free and I also buy the bus pass for $35 as against the regular $97. The subsidized bus pass wasn’t in effect when I came in. It was only just included 3 months ago.
Winter has been good to me and I think it’s just a gift from God…a way of helping me settle in before the next one which I predict will be brutal.
I remember the “disgust” on my face when summer came and these guys couldn’t stay at home. Everyone found one excuse or the other to go outside and all. I was naïve then; i now know better. I will be one of the first person to run out on the first day of summer 2019
Summarily, research is key and there’s really no midway here. One has to be really deliberate about everything here and I tell you one thing-it is easier to chart ones course here. I wouldn’t deny the fact that it’s easier with age on your side though. People get depressed here too; especially the guys who earned big bucks in naija only to get here to crumbs. Mental strength is key and it is your strongest ally when trying to integrate into the system because everything will try to beat you down and you’ll almost question your competence.
I don’t think we have any under-18 on this thread so nightlife and fine buildings shouldn’t be a reason to choose a province. I met a Nigerian at the Millwoods gym and he told me he has been in Canada for 10yrs. He landed in Quebec because many of his friends chose there but he and many of them had find their levels after 3 years-he’s doing fine now. Another one I heard of in church came from Toronto and got a job in her 2nd week in Edmonton. I met a Somali girl who left Toronto for Edmonton because she wasn’t cut out for the petty jobs that were available to her there. She said some of her friends are still there doing call centre jobs because they like the big city feel.
Last last, na where opportunity dey for your profession pass suppose inform decision to move o!
Also, I will never advice anyone to land here in winter. Friends and family will easily volunteer to take you to places to get things done the first few weeks if you land in summer but you’re more likely to get excuses if you ask them for the same favour in winter. 
May God's favour rest upon us as we continue the journey here.
To our brothers and sisters expecting Accra package, you all shall not be disappointed 
Selah!!! Thank you for sharing your experinece. |
congratulations! Hello everyone, My husband and I have had intentions to relocate for a while now but we’re not sure how to go about it till we found this thread and watched some videos on youtube. We have begun our ECA with IQAS didn’t know about WES before now and also preparing for IELTS but I have a couple of questions. From the eligibility quiz we have taken, my score is 394 (I have a B.A certificate, I’m less than 30 years of age and I have 2 years proven work experience as an HR) My Husband’s CSR score is 400 (He’s above 30 years of age, about 6 years experience as a graphic designer, and an HND) what can we do to increase our point? -we have a close friend in Canada can we add him as a relative living in Canada to claim the point? if so , what are the things we’ll need to do to prove our relatedness to this person? -I have been reading about knowing the appropriate time to enter the pool, Please I need more explanation on this. As to POF, can we include our pension fund? If yes, how do we go about this? Any other information you think might help is highly appreciated. JustinTrudeau:
Fellow citizens,so this is it...
I know most of you might not know me but my name should suggest something to you,right? Big thanks to all the elders that rocked part 3-5 with me,most of them are in Canada right now. Likes of @Kontagious @Happytbaby @newmum0615 the NOC expert,glitteringstar oh my star,i miss her ,mcstan18,threadstone,elfmann,cochtrane,erudite of our time,40manlappy,sleekysilk,DadR,Yookus,Virt,einsteino,Mummyjaygirls and Feygbe my good friend,we met on nairaland and we have become friends over the years, i cannot thank her enough for her immense contribution towards my app.
Ok lets cut to the chase,its finally PPR and COPR for the PM.
Decision to travel: December 2015 after my NYSC.
I started scrambling for foreign scholarships, engaging agents on how to obtain US visa with ease,how gullible i was then. I fell into the wrong hands and all my savings depleted. I even joined the students usa visa thread where the likes of lagosismyhome were elders then. Just know something today, agents are not your friend,all they wanna do is enrich their pockets. Fastforward to 2017,my brotherinlaw said he knows one agent that can help me with Canada, i was reluctant at first,agent again. I finally visited the guy in his office and he mesmerized me with juicy details about Canada and Australia,i met some gullible ones there too nodding their head like agama lizard in affirmation. He told me to write IELTS first and aim for a good score, he was not specific. I left his office that day thinking sebi its just English and this agents seem nice.
Wrote my first IELTS May 2017 scored 6,6.5,7,7 LRSW. I called the agent and he said its not enof,i was devastated and summoned courage that i will write another one. In the middle of it all,i kept calling my agent he stopped picking my calls,stopped responding to my messages,i visited his office he was just giving lame excuses that my assessment is not yet out. Chai see gullibility at his best all over me. He frustrated me to start reading on my own that was how i stumbled on this thread. I was chewing it like agege bread and zobo (ounje mechanic).
I wrote IELTS for the 2nd time August 2017 and that was how my frustration began. After 13 days BC refused to release my results. Ayeraye ninu awon orun o,they have come again o.They said my result was witheld for quality checks. Chai why me. Did i tell you i had to walk out of a toxic employment during this period. I was lonely,sad and depressed. 2 months down the line no results after several mails and calls. By November 2017,i visited their office and they appealed to me to be patient. Patience kwa after 3 months what if the score is not even worth it. I couldn't even write another one then as advised by folks cos i was broke.
IQAS dealt with me too,i won't bore you with that,see my IQAS timeline below.The next time i hear I before u hear Q i don run
Application date: 27/07/2017
Transcript sent: 04/09/2017
Acknowledgement by IQAS 11/10/2017
ECA completed: 09/11/2017
ECA received via courier 04/12/2017
Lo and behold my IELTS of 4months was delivered to my house 2 days after i received my ECA and it came out positive.
Listening: 8.5
Reading:8.5
Speaking: 7
Writing : 7
Come and see your PM cry of joy then,i was there was a Sophie by my side then,well sha maybe i will talk to Ifeoma77 about that later  . I dived into the pool with #435. That was how IRCC decided to increase scores,CRS refused to drop. Which kain life be this. That was how i dug up my ATS and since IQAS does not evaluate professional cert i needed to cough out another cash for WES. I researched online if i can merge 2 ECAs as 2 or more. Happytbaby came to the rescue,God bless you Happy wherever you are. She advised i do a small table with name of institution, certificate obtained, year of study, assessment body and ECA number and back it up with LOE.
Fastforward July 2018 ICAN ATS cameout positive after months of back and forth. I dived into the pool with #468 scores. Thought i will get smooth 3 months processing as my file was in Ottawa. For where, i got PPR just few days to the 6months clock. At this time, i was no longer bothered as my patience gear was already on gear 5, i just told God to have his way and i continued with the waiting game. Glory be to God almighty.
ITA :July 25
AOR :Sept 14,2018
Biometrics :Oct 10,2018
ADR IMM5406 Feb 19,2019
Ghost Update Mar 7,2019
PPR Mar 8,2019
COPR Mar 28,2019
Visa office: Ottawa
Single Applicant.
Few take away from my app
POF: 30% savings 70% gift deed
Merged 2 ECAs as 2 or more...IQAS and WES
No GMCS note ordered.
My IMM5406 was rejected 3 times cos its incomplete.
For newbies here,the best gift you can give yourself on this journey is to read,just read read,infact read.And you will be glad you did.
To every one on this thread that contributed to this success story,thanks a bunch.
Thats my PPR story what's yours?
Your PM
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Travel › Re: Canadian Express Entry/federal Skilled Workers Program - Connect Here Part 10 by DesignerDesigne: 5:09pm On Jan 14, 2021
