₦airaland Forum

icon8:
You’re welcome!

I’m no expert in these matters, but while not in anyway disrespecting its holders, my personal opinion is that ACCA is a dime a dozen these days. Got mine years ago, and in hindsight, I probably should have committed that much time and effort to something more valuable. It’s why I didn’t mention it in my initial response, and instead encouraged you to go for CFA.

Now, it’s your decision to make, and I’m in no position to tell you what to do, but CFA would surely distinguish you in a saturated market like the City, but your ability/capability to pull it off is another matter entirely. I flirted with the idea some 12 years ago but it was too demanding for me and I never got to write the Level 1 exam (I knew I’d fail!). I instead took the easy way out, just to have a certification (i.e. ACCA). In other words, if you’re able and capable, CFA is certainly the better charter to hold, but if you’re like me (in the sense of knowing your capabilities, circumstance, etc., and staying true to yourself) I’d say “continue with the ACCA”, as half loaf is better than none at all!

In conclusion, both are valuable, one is just more relevant and rewarding than the other. Another thing would be to finish the ACCA, then later top it up with CFA, if you’re up to it. Afterall, learning never stops.

Boss u just hit the nail on the head. I get the message. CFA is the way to go. Boy! I have to man up and sit up.

Thanks so much for your kind advice.

icon8:
I think your profile is impressive, and a move will make sense. I also do not think you have to retrain, as your experience and qualifications are very relevant, in my opinion. Have you thought of CFA? That, in my opinion, will make some (if not a lot of) difference. You may also wish to google Treasury and Investment Banking jobs in the UK, to have an idea of the relevant requirements for those roles.

Finally, I didn’t have to retrain, as my experience is cross-functional, and not banking-specific. I still do the same things, but in a different sector. However, I’ve had to pick up a few certifications to bolster my chances. Same thing a CFA would do for you.

And oh, you’ll be fine. Any decent job will sustainably support your family of 3, if your priorities are right. You can start small and scale up as your situation gradually improves.

Thanks so much for your response. Much appreciated. Makes me put things into perspective and your answer has helped significantly to cool down blood pressure. �

Yes I hope to do the CFA qualification too but I am currently running ACCA. I am thinking of finishing the ACCA first before doing CFA. I am still at the early stages of ACCA and I know for sure that CFA is more relevant to my experience.

What do you think? Should I continue with ACCA or jump ship now to CFA since I haven’t gone far with ACCA?

Which of the qualifications(ACCA or CFA) brings more opportunities in the wider London economy asides the banking industry?

Lexusgs430:
Don't expect to appear in the UK on monday and be a bank manager at Midland bank or Northern Rock on tuesday...... That would be setting yourself up for a massive fall........

IT is good, network administrators are always required, software developers/app creators etc etc........ Unfortunately, you might not have enough time, to properly acquire said new skills..........

Lexobaba!

Thanks for always being there with ur insightful responses. U were of immense help on the other thread.

Abeg Sir, my question here is- banking dey pay? or should I jejely prepare my mind to switch to another profession that is in demand and pays well over there? Just like you rightly said too, I most likely will not have enough time to acquire a new skill so I want to start early to get prepared and at least know the profession to target if banking is not lucrative. I am not in a hurry to progress but I just want to be on the right track.

Thanks bro

icon8:
Sorry, but what is “banking”?
You worked as a “banker” in what role?
That word is used loosely in Nigeria, and most Nigerian so-called “bankers” are actually bank workers. I know this because I used to be one!
What are your qualifications, and what’s your specialty/experience like? Investment Banking? Banking Operations? Credit? Treasury? Audit? Control? Compliance? Corporate Finance?
This is what should determine the path you’ll follow when you make the move. Otherwise, you may have to retrain as you’ve suggested.

Thanks boss for ur response.

Specialty/experience is Treasury. Qualifications- Bsc Accounting; MBA.
Since you were a former Nigerian banker like me, my questions are:
1.) Did you have to retrain? Or was it easy for you to get into banking with your previous experience in Nigeria?
2.) Are salaries for bankers enough to sustain a household of 3 conveniently?
3.) If I need to retrain, what fields would you recommend I focus on?

Sorry I ask because I am a novice to UK although I also worked as a banker in another country apart from Naija too.

I am flexible to retrain cos it’s putting enough food on the table for the family that matters most as well as having something a little tangible to save too. The profession is secondary.

Hello people,

Please I need ur advice. I’m joining my spouse in London after Covid 19 brouhaha dies down. I worked as a banker in Nigeria for some years and I am wondering what career path to pursue when I get to London.

Is banking lucrative/easy to get in or should I switch profession and learn something new like IT? What profession(s) should I focus on as a newbie that can make me move ahead?

I am completely vague on this and would be grateful for your advice.

Thanks.

Soknown, ur writing skills are exceptional. Well, how is the Corona virus affecting your work? Sed u r going to Brighton beach. What about social distancing? Don't think this is the right time.

It's a YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I have been a semi-silent follower. Semi because I asked questions just twice in June last year but I digested the thread from 2015. Omo e no easy.

After 14 years from the first application to UK(Student Visa), Finally Baba God smiled on me.

My History of Refusals below:

June 2006- Student Visa (Masters Studies) refused
January 2007- Student Visa refused again
February 2014- Visit Visa refused

As if that one no do, Schengen come show me shege ( I wanted to use Surinder Singh route)
2017- Beligium (Tourist Visa)- Refused
2017- Germany- Refused
2017- Sweden- Refused

Na that time I know say e don reach to enter church.

Anyways I have travelled and lived in other yeye and not so yeye countries like India, Egypt, UAE etc so tey I even enter IRAN.

A big kudos to His holiness- Lexusgs430 for answering my questions (17.23% tithe for you)- God multiply ur hustle a hundredfold, Coronabobo stay far away from you. Justwise- all ur enemies- Fireburn! and all others who have been so helpful on this thread. Because of you guys, many keep hope alive.

Anyways I know that the Fam here always hammer on doing it urself style but after seeing my critical condition, I did it myself and still paid an immigration lawyer to do it again, then re-did it myself again. Omo I no wan hear STORY!

Also I calculated that if Radiga's application (STANDARD) came out within priority timeline, then mine which is priority should come out as Super-priority and so did it come to pass (12 WORKING DAYS)- Is it that the UK Immigration officers are mopping up fast due to Corona V?

Abeg let me come and be going to UK fast fast before dem close border!, Corona or no Corona, that one no consign me after all small disease cannot kill a blackman!


THIS IS THE METHOD I USED/TIMELINE:

Application Mode - Immigration lawyer/Self
25th February:Application (Completed and submitted) : PRIORITY
27th February: Biometric - Walk-in, Scanning Assisted Service at TLS
27th February: Email to say Application has been transferred to Decision Making Centre
2nd March: Email to say Application has been received and assigned to an ECO
17th March: Email Received from VAC (To pick up passport)
18th March: Passport picked up sharp sharp

Total Number of Working Days from ECO email- 12 Working Days and 14 working days from day of Biometrics
Approved - One month entry granted

Docs submitted ( All uploaded by TLS Staff after paying for Assisted Scanning Service at (N37,500) on the date of the Walk-in/Biometrics at TLS Ikeja VAC )

List of documents submitted (PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DOCUMENTS WERE CLEARLY LABELLED TO ASSIST THE ECO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON E.G Honeymoon pictures, Sponsor's Nigeria's Visa, Whatsapp calls-Evidence of Relationship etc,

APPLICATION
-passport data page (applicant)
-sponsor’s covering letter
-appendix form VAF4A
-appendix 2 form
-Form SU07- Sponsor's undertaking form
-IHS refrence number (email)
-payment of visa fee(email)
-biometrics appointment letter
-visa application confirmation email
-tls check list

2)APPLICANT AND SPONSOR'S PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

APPLICANT
-photocopy of passport data page of current passport
-passport data page of all previous passports
-photocopy of applicant's Visas for all countries visited in the past including Honeymoon Entry/Exit stamp for country where Honeymoon took place(SA)
-marriage certificate
-Personal Savings account bank statement for one year (stamped and signed by the bank)
-Joint account bank statement(in Nigeria) with Sponsor for one year (stamped and signed by the bank)
-Letter of introduction from bank for the Joint account statement stating we both own the account and when the account was opened. It was addressed to the British High Commission. (stamped and signed by the bank)

SPONSOR
-Sponsor's covering letter (crying that her life is in turmoil as she no dey with hubby.)
-photocopy of Sponsor's current/previous British passport data page with Nigeria Visas and all entry and exit stamps for Nigeria and honeymoon entry/exit stamp for foreign country where honeymoon took place
-photocopy of Sponsor's current/previous Nigerian passport with all entry and exit stamps for NIGERIA
- Sponsor's Divorce Certificate (Decree absolute)
-Sponsor's Divorce/Dissolution/Separation Petition
-Nigerian newspaper print out showing change of name of sponsor to Hubby's surname (The Guardian newspaper)

3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
-IELTS test result original
-TB test Certificate original

4. RELATIONSHIP DOCUMENTS
-screenshots of WhatsApp chats/calls/ front page of sponsor's face showing how name and number were saved on applicant's phone (3 A4 pages) 2019/2020
- Downloaded Whatsapp chats printed on A4 paper (2 pages only) 2017/2018
- Screenshot of Sponsor's Facebook front page showing her details such as her face, name, relationship, town where she lives(London) (2 pages)
- Honey moon pictures from South Africa (Collage of 2 pictures on a page) Total of 2 pages
-Casual Pictures of us fumbling around (Collage of 2 pictures on a page) Total of 2 pages
-Court Wedding Pictures with friends and family plus showing us kissing too (Very important)- (Collage of 2 pictures on a page) Total of 4 pages
-Church Wedding Pictures plus showing us Kissing (got this hint from the lawyer)- (Collage of 2 pictures on a page) Total of 2 pages
-Traditional Marriage Pictures (Collage of 2 pictures on a page) Total of 1 pages
-Causal picture showing Sponsor and applicant dated 4 days before the application as sponsor was in Nigeria on annual leave to visit hubby. (Note Sponsor was also in Nigeria almost throughout the application period and this was stated in the Sponsor's covering letter giving a Nigerian mobile number as well as UK number on which sponsor can be reached in case dem wan do aproko)
-flight boarding passes and itineraries.(Mainly showing sponsor visiting Nigeria plus when both of us travelled for Honeymoon to SA)
-hotel receipts of where we stayed on our honeymoon in SA
-Email printouts showing correspondence between sponsor and I (10 A4 copies including showing sponsor's leave approvals, Wedding payments to vendors etc)
-Dhl receipts of items sent by applicant to sponsor (2 A4 copies)
-Money transfer receipts x3 ie:World Remit


5. MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTS
-9 months payslips (submitted on the 27th day (February 27) so was within 28days of application being submitted) (Stamped and signed by employer)
-9 months bank statements((we made sure was within 28days of application being submitted)(Stamped and signed by bank)
-Letter from sponsor's bank in UK stating when account was opened, salary paid there etc (Stamped and signed by bank)
-Letter from employer (stamped and signed by employer)
-Offer letter (stamped and signed by both parties)
-Letter from employer showing change in hours worked- Addendum to Offer letter) (Stamped and signed by both parties)


6. ACCOMMODATION DOCUMENTS
-title register from land registry for Sponsor's mother's house
-property Inspection report for Sponsor's mother's house
-T.V License October 2019 in the name of Sponsor's mother
-Mortgage Deed of Sponsor's mother and other documents showing sponsor's mother owns house
-Consent Letter from Sponsor's mother stating she avails us use of a room in her house for 3 years without collecting rent from us
-Sponsor's mother's British passport copy
-sponsor's mother's Nigerian passport copy


7. OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
-Rental Contract for flat rented jointly in Applicant and Sponsor's name in Nigeria when Sponsor lived with Applicant in Nigeria. Sponsor lived in Nigeria with applicant for one year plus.


No contact to landlord, employer, sponsor or applicant by the UKVI.

Written an exhaustive content to assist others as I was assisted here.

Thanks and God bless...

Lexusgs430:
Just ensure you tick all you i's & cross your t's........ Not forgetting the ' 28 day rule'.........

Sir Lexusgs430, I hail. Thanks once again. If I understand correctly, the 28 day rule kicks in from the day my spouse receives her last salary? and all documents plus application process must be complete before 28 days elapse?

Lexusgs430:
In this case, a property inspection report is not required.

A letter of consent from her mother + mortgage deed, in this case should be adequate. But would be helpful if mother provides extra details of external accommodation (reason for this is, the UK would not want her tossing you guys out).....

Rent details or entitlement, simply shows commitment and stability (accommodation - wise).......

NB: I am not saying this is possible, but if she swaps jobs and does not like it and wants to return to her property, would your presence not become an inconvenience?.... This is the way this applications are evaluated.........

Thanks so much Lexusgs430 baba. God bless you. I will keep the house updated of my progress.

Dear House, Lexusgs430, justwise and other great people here, thanks so much for this enlightening thread without which many of us would have been utterly confused and lost in this application process.

I have been a follower for some time now and have read extensively most of the post from 2015 till date. I am about to put in my application for the spouse visa but I still have one aspect of confusion in terms of meeting the accommodation requirement.

My wife currently stays with her mum in a 3 bedroom house plus a living room and no other person stays with them. Her mother got the house on mortgage and will be sending me the property deed and a letter of consent stating she will allow us stay in the house. My wife currently pays no rent and her mother has graciously accepted that we stay in the house for 2 years after I arrive. In fact her mother is moving out of the house next week as she got a job somewhere else in UK that provides her accommodation which means that by the time I arrive it will be just my wife and I that occupy the house. Her mother intends to state in the letter of consent that:

1. She stays with her daughter in the house and does not require a rent from her daughter
2. She will avail her daughter and I the house for a period of two years and will collect no rent whatsoever.

Is this acceptable?

My confusion stems from the fact that I saw a place where Lexusgs430 stated that the applicant should provide "Rent entitlement details" from the parent of an applicant who rents a council flat.

First off- what is Rent entitlement details?
Second off- Does this mean my spouse is obligated to pay her mum rent before we can meet the accommodation requirement?

NB: A property inspection report will be provided as hammered on severally by Lexusgs430.

Lexusgs430, my queries are mainly directed to you and will be grateful for your response. However, anyone who has been in my shoes or who has experience in this area of my confusion should kindly contribute so that I don't make a costly mistake.

Counting on your responses Family.

Thanks.