₦airaland Forum

DokitaDave:
Sorry about the trouble you're having with the payment confirmation, Lynda. I hope this is resolved soon or someone here can guide you appropriately.

I made my payment today but I did a cash deposit at a First Bank branch. I wanted to ask what you entered as the Bank deposit slip reference number on the AVITS portal, please. I keep getting an error message whenever I enter the number on the deposit slip. Kindly guide me. Thank you.

Thank you, I hope it is resolved soon as well. I entered the amentum reference number on the AVITS Portal in the bank deposit details section

Hi,

I made a visa payment on the AVITS portal two weeks ago via online transfer to First Bank Direct, but the payment is yet to be confirmed, and I am unable to book an appointment. I have raised a ticket on the AVITS portal with no response, sent emails to nigeria@usvisaappt.com and LagosNIV@state.gov without receiving feedback, and contacted the First Bank Contact Centre, providing all the necessary details, but still received no assistance.

I also entered the reference number and date under the bank deposit details, which showed "bank details updated successfully," but the page then redirects back to "generate deposit slip." I have also called +234 201 343 8900 all to no avail. Does anyone know how long it takes for Visa payment confirmation on the AVITS Portal?

Is anyone else experiencing this issue? Is there anything else I should do? I would appreciate your assistance.

IOA18:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: THIS IS A LONG ASS POST! CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!!

Its PPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....

Short Form
IELTS – October 27, 2018 (LRWS - 8.5,8.5, 8.5, 7)
WES - November 14, 2018
ITA – December 12, 2018
MED - January 21, 2019
AOR – February 1, 2019
MEP – March 15, 2019
BIL – February 15, 2019 March 21, 2019
PPR – May 11, 2019, July 25, 2019
VO - Ottawa

Exceedingly Long Post Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started writing this script while I was filling out my PR application so it is extremely super duper duper reallyyyyyyyy long! If you get tired, stop reading, otherwise, enjoy!

Verrrrryyyyyyyyyy Long Form! (just in case you ignored the previous warnings -you have been warned several times)

Growing up, I always wanted to go abroad, don’t know how or why the thought came to me, but by the time I finished with secondary school, I started thinking about going to the University of Oklahoma in the USA. Na the song I dey sing for house that year. I’m sure my parents were just having a laugh anytime I mentioned it cos they didn’t say anything to me about my dreams (but really thinking about it after all this time, who for pay for that dream?...lol!). I would go to the cyber café and be applying for scholarships to all manner of schools in the US…. eventually by the time my mum told me OYO is my case that I should go and do Diploma, mo sober wa ni . But I didn’t give up o! next stop was application for the US DV visa lottery…las las that one too no work. Na so I face Naija.

Somewhere along the line, I became a firm believer of dream Nigeria and never thought I would join the emigration train despite the fact that I had friends who had gone to the US, UK, Canada, Australia etc years ago and had been hounding me to come over. My reasons? I wanted to be part of Nigeria’s growth in my own little way and felt like abandoning ship was just taking the easy way out, with the thought that “if everybody leaves then are we all going to give up on our country and let the touts have free reign?” (I laugh anytime I see this on someone’s PPR gist and I also remember that there was also a time of mass migration to the UK and US and sensible pple still dey here even though none of them have made it to actual governance). But if I am being really honest, maybe the overriding reason was that I wanted to get married. I felt I had better chances of getting hitched in Naija than in one obodo oyibo (I still never marry o!....maybe the person is in the obodo oyibo... ) But I digress…..

I can’t actually pinpoint why I decided to start this process, maybe I was getting older? Maybe I had achieved a lot of my short term work goals? Maybe I was thinking of our healthcare system? Maybe the incessant traffic eventually got to me? Maybe Buhari and the way our polity just seemed to be deteriorating? I don’t know. All I know is I woke up one day and decided to give Canada a shot. Apart from money, I didn’t have much to lose. So I first started reading about people living in Canada both Nigerians and other foreigners to have an idea of what I would be getting myself into. After I had prayed about this move and gotten the go-ahead to start, reading many blogs and articles, my mind was ready to start the process by July 2018. The major sources of my information came from CIC website, Canadavisa and Nairaland (thanks guys, you pple are tres much!!!!.....special thanks to Blackbuddy, Vcole, Maternal, our oga prof Ralph, canadafly, Teecan, Newmum, our resident comedienne Ifeoma77 et al). Reading helps a lot. I’ll like to encourage all the newbies, in short everyone out here. It simplifies things and helps you sieve inaccurate information.

This thread has become very repetitive these days though, which makes it uninteresting to visit. Guys please lets do better and read up so as not to keep clogging the thread. Also people who think they are trying to help by answering are not really helping. The new life you're heading to in Canada would involve a lot of research, what better way to get used to it than starting now. God bless guys.

Anyway back to the story...

ECA
I didn’t start until September 27, 2018 (just after salary), cos I was broker than broke . I had wanted to assess two certificates (BSc and Masters), but a few weeks before then, WES (world people) added the WAEC thingy to their requirements, so I jejely went to evaluate just my foreign masters. I requested for my transcript and made payment online. In addition to this, I sent the WES form to the School via email, referencing my payment code etc (I missed this step earlier so maybe that contributed to the delay?). After thinking I would get my document in 3 weeks, the process was not concluded until November 14, 2018.

POF
Another factor that I think delayed me starting was POF. I do a private lending biz (I’m a shylock for short) so a lot of my money was tied up and it would have taken some time to get them all back in due time, so i didn’t have the liquid cash and didn’t know where to get it from. I could get 50% of my POF from my pension, but the rest, I had to look for. By divine providence, I mentioned my plans to my aunt and she agreed to give me what I needed. I then took the funds she offered in August and placed them in a mutual fund account. I got the statement and a letter from the Asset Manager in January 2019, at the point of my submission. I paid her back in January, as my monies had started coming back over time.

IELTS
I used MOD, simply because it was cheaper. I had not heard about peoples’ biases against BC. I must confess I didn’t study much, but I write, talk and read a lot because of work, so that and God’s grace helped me. Again, because I have a PHd in procrastination, I only studied for about a week on and off, using Jay’s videos and got tips for Speaking and Writing (I didn’t have the time to start practicing writing, and I no sabi as dem dey take practise speaking), I heard of Liz the day of my speaking test and I got an introduction tip from her to say “my name’s…” instead of “my name is…” (don’t know if that helped me). For reading and listening, I used ieltsbuddy.com. Registered in October, results came in with LRSW 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 7. For this I am eternally grateful, especially after reading many people’s horror stories.

There have been more comprehensive tips written by many people on this thread, but my major pointer for this exam, is try to be calm throughout, even when you hear the examiner calling out the remaining time. Prepare yourself mentally. For Speaking, imagine you are speaking to a friend. Jay’s tip to tell three stories helped me stay confident that I wouldn’t run out of things to say, even though I didn’t get past the first story, before the examiner stopped me (I think I wore the examiner out with plenty talk ). For listening, concentration is key, I lost concentration for a bit in the last section. Remind yourself at the start of each section, to pay attention and try to quickly look at the questions and answers in that section before they start speaking so you can be familiar with possible answers to what the speakers will have to say. But you can only use this technique if you’re used to reading fast. For Reading, I answered the easiest first and tried to be very fast so I could come back for a review. I was done in 20mins. Anyone that you can’t easily find the answer to, abandon and move to the next question, then come back to it later, when you could have gotten answers to easier questions, so you don’t waste time. For True/False/NG questions, read carefully. If the question is stated verbatim in the passage, then its true. If it is inferred or suggested, you cannot say its true or false, you pick NG. If its not present in the passage itself, then it is false. Don’t let your eye trick you. What’s there is there, what’s not isn’t (don’t even know if that makes sense sef!..hope you get the point sha). For writing, find tips on how to answer each type of the writing questions online and as has been said many times before, answer Q2 first!.


ITA
While I was working on ECA and IELTS, ITA was around 442. Then I created my profile and entered the pool with 445 on November 15, 2018 and the draw that week came in at 449. Nonsense! Next draw came in at 445 but tie-breaker rule caught up with me. Eventually sha, I got ITA on December 12, 2018. Thank God! Can’t imagine how I would have felt if it was these days I was waiting for cut off to drop (probably would have gone to do TEF…guys do something, anything to boost your scores please, don’t just sit on your arse and wait..biko!) I have friends still waiting for ITA, I pray God visits all in the pool very speedily. Amen!

Whilst waiting for ITA, I had filled all the required Forms (IMM 008,5406e, 5562e, 5669e), gotten most of my documents together apart from police report and medicals. Once ITA came in, I completed my profile, uploaded my documents (work reference, academic records, soft copy passport photograph– studio 24 (had no idea I didn’t need to make this particular expense at this time), all passports old and new including the stamped pages, travel history (that was very annoying to fill cos I be ajala).

Did police clearance in Lagos (ASP Moshood to the rescue. I paid 5k and was there for less than 30mins), then waited to do my medicals on January 21, 2019 (I booked this towards the end of October, because Nairaland spoke of the long queue – imagine calling in October and getting a date in January! Nna na wa o!). I went there with only a copy of my passport (donno why, maybe something I read on the internet?), but they wouldn’t attend to me without the original. Thank God my passport was in the office, which was not far from the clinic, so my colleague helped me send it down. See me thinking I would be number 1 on the list as I got there at 6am, but I was number 3 (Lagos pple, we no dey sleep. they attend to you on a first come first serve basis). They started attending to us at 8am and I left there at about 10.30am. I paid 28k (thank God it was before their increase). They do urinalysis, blood test, x-ray, and general physical. I waited till January 31, to get the updated mutual fund statement, submitted my application on February 1, 2019, paid CAD$1,125 (chai!!!!....that one pain me wella!) and received AOR a few minutes later. I didn’t submit my bank statement.

Waiting…
Waiting is the hardest part in this whole process cos its beyond your control and its filled with anxiety/uncertainty, second guessing your application and thinking you had forgotten some critical information. For some reason, I had given myself a timeline of 3 months from AOR to PPR, which meant that I would be getting the coveted email by April, cos I wanted to travel for my friend’s wedding in May as well as do a soft landing. Guess what? (to be continued…)

After AOR I started waiting to get MEP, but that one took forever to get here. I had to go and join canadavisa and scout immitracker just to get a sense of what was going on. It eventually arrived 43 days after AOR, after I had expected this to come in 15days! Too many people like me waiting to run from their countries! . I now wondered how I was going to manage the wait after BIL till PPR. You don’t really appreciate peoples' struggles until you have to go through the same thing. After this, I still had to patiently impatiently wait for my BIL. During this wait, I had to travel to Abuja on a work trip and took my passport just in case I got it while in Abj. Woke up one Thursday morning and there was the mail, 5 days after MEP. I jejely went to VFS (we were only like 3 people there that day)….Abuja pple una no dey follow us do this mass migration hustle? If it was Lagos now, we would have been a multitude. The process took about 30minutes cos we had to wait for someone to come and man the biometrics room.

Waiting part 2….
Soooo the waiting continued. As I was reading NL one afternoon, my heart started beating, I saw that in the Schedule A, I was supposed to have ticked NO to the 2 questions on visa refusal and I only ticked 1 No and the other yes. If you had seen the way I rushed to raise a CSE eh! Chai!!! Afterwards I refused to sweat it sha cos na God hand I commit am to…

Waiting Part 3….
…continued…… I am here reading this document on July 17, 2019, 15days to the end of my six-month period and wondering when the Golden Mail will drop. Well fingers crossed and prayers offered that I would get my mail before my birthday on August 1.

I saw Joo’s post on the stats for PR processing for singles vis-à-vis families and while it made some sense, I didn’t think it would apply to me. I didn’t have a ghost update or anything like that and then during my scans on immitracker, I realised there was no standard processing time for single or family applicants. It just seemed random to me, cos some single applicants got their PPR within 45days post AOR or longer. Maybe it depends on the visa office/officer.

I was determined not to check my profile all the time and I think I was successful 20% of the time….na lie….i was checking the thing at least 2ce every week. Towards the end I started checking every morning when I get to the office, with breaks over the weekend. Those pple who think checking your profile every week will slow down the process, na them sabi o! cos its not easy! especially when you have the milestones/timelines in your head. By the end of April, I had signed up for pre-arrival services, had requested to know my VO (got a response a few days later that it was Ottawa) and was considering ordering GCMS notes just to see what was happening with my application. Pre-arrival services did not answer me they said I should go and bring my COPR or similar document to prove eligibility. Eventually ordered GCMS notes on July 5, 2019. Still waiting for it to arrive sha.

PPRRRRRRRRRRRRRR......
By the time July rolled in, I was just like abeg when the mail comes it comes jare, I no get energy to dey stress my life (na lie o!, I was just trying to console myself). I traveled for a burial and forgot to check my mail for a few days. Na so I open my mail almost midday on Friday for burial ground come see CPCO/Final Request - PRET POUR VISA!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t even shout as per say them dey bury person, but I was super excited and did a little dance (didn’t care who saw) and couldn’t wait to get back to Lagos to submit my passport (see how good my GOD is? mail came in 6 days to my birthday, which was also coincidentally the end of my six month timeline). It was a huge sigh of relief cos I could now go ahead to plan my vacation for the year. See you all in Canny Town by September/October for my short landing.

Passport Transmission
From my wakas at VFS, ive realised its better to get there in the afternoon to avoid the early morning rush, tell the security exactly what you're there to do, follow their instructions, watch the screens and listen to know when your number would be called. I reported at VFS on Monday afternoon after first going to Studio 24 to take fresh passports (1k5). I spent about 1hr 30mins at VFS and submitted original passport, 2 photocopies of the said passport, IMM 0008, vac consent form, ppr mail with height and eye colour, 2 copies of studio 24 pics and cash of N18,500 (they only accept cash).

On the whole, while my process was seamless, for which I am eternally grateful. At the time I started, I was praying I didn’t land in the much talked about, dreaded Accra VO (even though AVO now became ebeano). The wait is excruciating. The only challenge I faced on this journey was money and I realised that if you demonstrate your commitment to starting something, the resources will follow. If I had waited for a time when I would have money, I would have waited forever, cos from that September till when I submitted in February, I did not have spare cash, but somehow somehow, the money wey I need at each stage show las las! All the best to everyone on this street at one stage or the other.

Hope this helps someone out there, same as you all helped me through my application. ALL GLORY BELONGS TO JESUS! Peace and Love!!! IT IS ALL ENDING IN PRAISE

In that first email, "You must advise us of any change in your marital status or family composition", they meant any changes you hadn't told them about, such as another child or a change in your relationship (separation or divorce). So you didn't need to send in another IMM0008 but it won't affect anything.

IOA18:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: THIS IS A LONG ASS POST! CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!!

Its PPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....

Short Form
IELTS – October 27, 2018 (LRWS - 8.5,8.5, 8.5, 7)
WES - November 14, 2018
ITA – December 12, 2018
MED - January 21, 2019
AOR – February 1, 2019
MEP – March 15, 2019
BIL – February 15, 2019 March 21, 2019
PPR – May 11, 2019, July 25, 2019
VO - Ottawa

Exceedingly Long Post Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started writing this script while I was filling out my PR application so it is extremely super duper duper reallyyyyyyyy long! If you get tired, stop reading, otherwise, enjoy!

Verrrrryyyyyyyyyy Long Form! (just in case you ignored the previous warnings -you have been warned several times)

Growing up, I always wanted to go abroad, don’t know how or why the thought came to me, but by the time I finished with secondary school, I started thinking about going to the University of Oklahoma in the USA. Na the song I dey sing for house that year. I’m sure my parents were just having a laugh anytime I mentioned it cos they didn’t say anything to me about my dreams (but really thinking about it after all this time, who for pay for that dream?...lol!). I would go to the cyber café and be applying for scholarships to all manner of schools in the US…. eventually by the time my mum told me OYO is my case that I should go and do Diploma, mo sober wa ni . But I didn’t give up o! next stop was application for the US DV visa lottery…las las that one too no work. Na so I face Naija.

Somewhere along the line, I became a firm believer of dream Nigeria and never thought I would join the emigration train despite the fact that I had friends who had gone to the US, UK, Canada, Australia etc years ago and had been hounding me to come over. My reasons? I wanted to be part of Nigeria’s growth in my own little way and felt like abandoning ship was just taking the easy way out, with the thought that “if everybody leaves then are we all going to give up on our country and let the touts have free reign?” (I laugh anytime I see this on someone’s PPR gist and I also remember that there was also a time of mass migration to the UK and US and sensible pple still dey here even though none of them have made it to actual governance). But if I am being really honest, maybe the overriding reason was that I wanted to get married. I felt I had better chances of getting hitched in Naija than in one obodo oyibo (I still never marry o!....maybe the person is in the obodo oyibo... ) But I digress…..

I can’t actually pinpoint why I decided to start this process, maybe I was getting older? Maybe I had achieved a lot of my short term work goals? Maybe I was thinking of our healthcare system? Maybe the incessant traffic eventually got to me? Maybe Buhari and the way our polity just seemed to be deteriorating? I don’t know. All I know is I woke up one day and decided to give Canada a shot. Apart from money, I didn’t have much to lose. So I first started reading about people living in Canada both Nigerians and other foreigners to have an idea of what I would be getting myself into. After I had prayed about this move and gotten the go-ahead to start, reading many blogs and articles, my mind was ready to start the process by July 2018. The major sources of my information came from CIC website, Canadavisa and Nairaland (thanks guys, you pple are tres much!!!!.....special thanks to Blackbuddy, Vcole, Maternal, our oga prof Ralph, canadafly, Teecan, Newmum, our resident comedienne Ifeoma77 et al). Reading helps a lot. I’ll like to encourage all the newbies, in short everyone out here. It simplifies things and helps you sieve inaccurate information.

This thread has become very repetitive these days though, which makes it uninteresting to visit. Guys please lets do better and read up so as not to keep clogging the thread. Also people who think they are trying to help by answering are not really helping. The new life you're heading to in Canada would involve a lot of research, what better way to get used to it than starting now. God bless guys.

Anyway back to the story...

ECA
I didn’t start until September 27, 2018 (just after salary), cos I was broker than broke . I had wanted to assess two certificates (BSc and Masters), but a few weeks before then, WES (world people) added the WAEC thingy to their requirements, so I jejely went to evaluate just my foreign masters. I requested for my transcript and made payment online. In addition to this, I sent the WES form to the School via email, referencing my payment code etc (I missed this step earlier so maybe that contributed to the delay?). After thinking I would get my document in 3 weeks, the process was not concluded until November 14, 2018.

POF
Another factor that I think delayed me starting was POF. I do a private lending biz (I’m a shylock for short) so a lot of my money was tied up and it would have taken some time to get them all back in due time, so i didn’t have the liquid cash and didn’t know where to get it from. I could get 50% of my POF from my pension, but the rest, I had to look for. By divine providence, I mentioned my plans to my aunt and she agreed to give me what I needed. I then took the funds she offered in August and placed them in a mutual fund account. I got the statement and a letter from the Asset Manager in January 2019, at the point of my submission. I paid her back in January, as my monies had started coming back over time.

IELTS
I used MOD, simply because it was cheaper. I had not heard about peoples’ biases against BC. I must confess I didn’t study much, but I write, talk and read a lot because of work, so that and God’s grace helped me. Again, because I have a PHd in procrastination, I only studied for about a week on and off, using Jay’s videos and got tips for Speaking and Writing (I didn’t have the time to start practicing writing, and I no sabi as dem dey take practise speaking), I heard of Liz the day of my speaking test and I got an introduction tip from her to say “my name’s…” instead of “my name is…” (don’t know if that helped me). For reading and listening, I used ieltsbuddy.com. Registered in October, results came in with LRSW 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 7. For this I am eternally grateful, especially after reading many people’s horror stories.

There have been more comprehensive tips written by many people on this thread, but my major pointer for this exam, is try to be calm throughout, even when you hear the examiner calling out the remaining time. Prepare yourself mentally. For Speaking, imagine you are speaking to a friend. Jay’s tip to tell three stories helped me stay confident that I wouldn’t run out of things to say, even though I didn’t get past the first story, before the examiner stopped me (I think I wore the examiner out with plenty talk ). For listening, concentration is key, I lost concentration for a bit in the last section. Remind yourself at the start of each section, to pay attention and try to quickly look at the questions and answers in that section before they start speaking so you can be familiar with possible answers to what the speakers will have to say. But you can only use this technique if you’re used to reading fast. For Reading, I answered the easiest first and tried to be very fast so I could come back for a review. I was done in 20mins. Anyone that you can’t easily find the answer to, abandon and move to the next question, then come back to it later, when you could have gotten answers to easier questions, so you don’t waste time. For True/False/NG questions, read carefully. If the question is stated verbatim in the passage, then its true. If it is inferred or suggested, you cannot say its true or false, you pick NG. If its not present in the passage itself, then it is false. Don’t let your eye trick you. What’s there is there, what’s not isn’t (don’t even know if that makes sense sef!..hope you get the point sha). For writing, find tips on how to answer each type of the writing questions online and as has been said many times before, answer Q2 first!.


ITA
While I was working on ECA and IELTS, ITA was around 442. Then I created my profile and entered the pool with 445 on November 15, 2018 and the draw that week came in at 449. Nonsense! Next draw came in at 445 but tie-breaker rule caught up with me. Eventually sha, I got ITA on December 12, 2018. Thank God! Can’t imagine how I would have felt if it was these days I was waiting for cut off to drop (probably would have gone to do TEF…guys do something, anything to boost your scores please, don’t just sit on your arse and wait..biko!) I have friends still waiting for ITA, I pray God visits all in the pool very speedily. Amen!

Whilst waiting for ITA, I had filled all the required Forms (IMM 008,5406e, 5562e, 5669e), gotten most of my documents together apart from police report and medicals. Once ITA came in, I completed my profile, uploaded my documents (work reference, academic records, soft copy passport photograph– studio 24 (had no idea I didn’t need to make this particular expense at this time), all passports old and new including the stamped pages, travel history (that was very annoying to fill cos I be ajala).

Did police clearance in Lagos (ASP Moshood to the rescue. I paid 5k and was there for less than 30mins), then waited to do my medicals on January 21, 2019 (I booked this towards the end of October, because Nairaland spoke of the long queue – imagine calling in October and getting a date in January! Nna na wa o!). I went there with only a copy of my passport (donno why, maybe something I read on the internet?), but they wouldn’t attend to me without the original. Thank God my passport was in the office, which was not far from the clinic, so my colleague helped me send it down. See me thinking I would be number 1 on the list as I got there at 6am, but I was number 3 (Lagos pple, we no dey sleep. they attend to you on a first come first serve basis). They started attending to us at 8am and I left there at about 10.30am. I paid 28k (thank God it was before their increase). They do urinalysis, blood test, x-ray, and general physical. I waited till January 31, to get the updated mutual fund statement, submitted my application on February 1, 2019, paid CAD$1,125 (chai!!!!....that one pain me wella!) and received AOR a few minutes later. I didn’t submit my bank statement.

Waiting…
Waiting is the hardest part in this whole process cos its beyond your control and its filled with anxiety/uncertainty, second guessing your application and thinking you had forgotten some critical information. For some reason, I had given myself a timeline of 3 months from AOR to PPR, which meant that I would be getting the coveted email by April, cos I wanted to travel for my friend’s wedding in May as well as do a soft landing. Guess what? (to be continued…)

After AOR I started waiting to get MEP, but that one took forever to get here. I had to go and join canadavisa and scout immitracker just to get a sense of what was going on. It eventually arrived 43 days after AOR, after I had expected this to come in 15days! Too many people like me waiting to run from their countries! . I now wondered how I was going to manage the wait after BIL till PPR. You don’t really appreciate peoples' struggles until you have to go through the same thing. After this, I still had to patiently impatiently wait for my BIL. During this wait, I had to travel to Abuja on a work trip and took my passport just in case I got it while in Abj. Woke up one Thursday morning and there was the mail, 5 days after MEP. I jejely went to VFS (we were only like 3 people there that day)….Abuja pple una no dey follow us do this mass migration hustle? If it was Lagos now, we would have been a multitude. The process took about 30minutes cos we had to wait for someone to come and man the biometrics room.

Waiting part 2….
Soooo the waiting continued. As I was reading NL one afternoon, my heart started beating, I saw that in the Schedule A, I was supposed to have ticked NO to the 2 questions on visa refusal and I only ticked 1 No and the other yes. If you had seen the way I rushed to raise a CSE eh! Chai!!! Afterwards I refused to sweat it sha cos na God hand I commit am to…

Waiting Part 3….
…continued…… I am here reading this document on July 17, 2019, 15days to the end of my six-month period and wondering when the Golden Mail will drop. Well fingers crossed and prayers offered that I would get my mail before my birthday on August 1.

I saw Joo’s post on the stats for PR processing for singles vis-à-vis families and while it made some sense, I didn’t think it would apply to me. I didn’t have a ghost update or anything like that and then during my scans on immitracker, I realised there was no standard processing time for single or family applicants. It just seemed random to me, cos some single applicants got their PPR within 45days post AOR or longer. Maybe it depends on the visa office/officer.

I was determined not to check my profile all the time and I think I was successful 20% of the time….na lie….i was checking the thing at least 2ce every week. Towards the end I started checking every morning when I get to the office, with breaks over the weekend. Those pple who think checking your profile every week will slow down the process, na them sabi o! cos its not easy! especially when you have the milestones/timelines in your head. By the end of April, I had signed up for pre-arrival services, had requested to know my VO (got a response a few days later that it was Ottawa) and was considering ordering GCMS notes just to see what was happening with my application. Pre-arrival services did not answer me they said I should go and bring my COPR or similar document to prove eligibility. Eventually ordered GCMS notes on July 5, 2019. Still waiting for it to arrive sha.

PPRRRRRRRRRRRRRR......
By the time July rolled in, I was just like abeg when the mail comes it comes jare, I no get energy to dey stress my life (na lie o!, I was just trying to console myself). I traveled for a burial and forgot to check my mail for a few days. Na so I open my mail almost midday on Friday for burial ground come see CPCO/Final Request - PRET POUR VISA!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t even shout as per say them dey bury person, but I was super excited and did a little dance (didn’t care who saw) and couldn’t wait to get back to Lagos to submit my passport (see how good my GOD is? mail came in 6 days to my birthday, which was also coincidentally the end of my six month timeline). It was a huge sigh of relief cos I could now go ahead to plan my vacation for the year. See you all in Canny Town by September/October for my short landing.

Passport Transmission
From my wakas at VFS, ive realised its better to get there in the afternoon to avoid the early morning rush, tell the security exactly what you're there to do, follow their instructions, watch the screens and listen to know when your number would be called. I reported at VFS on Monday afternoon after first going to Studio 24 to take fresh passports (1k5). I spent about 1hr 30mins at VFS and submitted original passport, 2 photocopies of the said passport, IMM 0008, vac consent form, ppr mail with height and eye colour, 2 copies of studio 24 pics and cash of N18,500 (they only accept cash).

On the whole, while my process was seamless, for which I am eternally grateful. At the time I started, I was praying I didn’t land in the much talked about, dreaded Accra VO (even though AVO now became ebeano). The wait is excruciating. The only challenge I faced on this journey was money and I realised that if you demonstrate your commitment to starting something, the resources will follow. If I had waited for a time when I would have money, I would have waited forever, cos from that September till when I submitted in February, I did not have spare cash, but somehow somehow, the money wey I need at each stage show las las! All the best to everyone on this street at one stage or the other.

Hope this helps someone out there, same as you all helped me through my application. ALL GLORY BELONGS TO JESUS! Peace and Love!!! IT IS ALL ENDING IN PRAISE

Congratulations, Did your family configuration change hence the IMM008 FORM?

Expresso17:
It's my turn for a testimony- PPR!

Will be back with full details please, I owe this forum

WES : Sept 12
IELTS: Oct 13
IELTS REMARK: Nov 16
ITA: Dec 19
AOR: Feb 13
ADR for SCHEDULE A : March 30
MEP/BIL: APRIL 10, Done by 24th April
RPRF : June 16

PPR: July 25

Thank you all
All Glory to the God of my journeys

Congratulations

Richness1104:
Congratulations Lynda27 I almost started a song on your behalf.

The Lord pulled through for your family and granted you beauty for ashes. I congratulate your husband too for having supported and encouraged you when IELTS was showing itself, he is a good man.

Those memories will you hold dear for a long time, You gave us an emotional PPR story and it’s indeed a good trial so I’ll be rating it 6/10.

No one should come for me oooo. I gave her the extra 1 mark so she can prepare my jollof rice and chicken when I land in Canada with my family.

Thank you very much. The rating is

gbemlad:
Thanks, I really appreciate, it's just mere anxiety, you know when your mind is just playing games on you, that's exactly what happened jare. Eventuarry it will end in praise.

.Yes Oh. Mine has ended in praise and so will yours. All the best

chicyclass:
Congratulations!
May Canada favour you and yours.

Thank you so much

Oluwolefola:
Good afternoon all,

I need your wealth of experience and advise on my current situation.

I have been working on my application for a while however I was trying to save up some funds for POF. Fund is available now and we have completed the application yesterday. The score is 467 but my spouse's ielts result is due to expire on the 19th of August. Based on the current trend I expect we will receive ITA by the next draw due to the CRS score. Should we proceed to apply with the almost expired ielts or we should decline when it comes and wait until she re writes the exam.

Most documents are available and we can ensure we submit on the same day ITA received. Which should be around the 7th of August

Kindly advise

YES.what matters is that you submit your application before the expiration of the IELTS.

Its PPR Guysssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The feeling is out of this world. i literally didnt sleep all night. I was just staring at the email all night.

My story is verrrrrry long. let me give a summarized version because the joy has made me to forget all the hassles.

WES - OCTOBER 2018

IELTS - 5th ATTEMPT (MOD) - NOV 2018 (1st Attempt- October 2017) - Hubby kept gingering me because i was tired of this IELTS. Finally - LRWS (8,7.5,8,8.5) (I was getting ready for the 6th IELTS oh because i was not confident i would pass the 5th). Thank you hubby for believing in me, pushing me and making me believe in myself because honestly, paying that money over and over again no be here and i was about to give up on my canadian dream of almighty IELTS.

Marriage - December 2018 (I didnt change my surname, maintained my maiden name for my EE application)

ITA - 1st January or so (Profile Ineligible)

2nd ITA- 10th January 2019

Medicals - 29th January 2019

AOR - 3rd February 2019

P.O.F - 50% gift deed from my mum, 50% from accompanying spouse (with all the documents to explain), then 25% of pensions, salary account statement, fixed deposit certificate, letter from pensions.

WEB FORM - Raised CSEs 4 times via webform. as the spirit leads oh, just keep raising if you feel you need to explain anything or include or update any document (i raised CSEs for the following reasons - renewed international passport, to be informed of my processing centre, updated p.o.f, change of job notification (with new offer letter, j.d, i,d card, payslip, business card), updated reference from previous employment - 7 days ago (Because i was afraid thinking that my noc and Job Description was not matching). Guys, its better to to be safe than sorry ohhhhh. the last CSE is even yet to be acknowledged. i dont even want the acknowledgement again. I am sure they got tired of my CSEs. Hubby was even telling that the CSEs haff do.

L.O.E - Explaining plenty things e.g why my surname is not the same with my husband's and previous visa refusals from 4 countries for spouse and myself (1), change of correspondence address, basically everything that needed clarity.

CALLS TO CIC- 3 TIMES I think, the last was 3 days ago. and as usual - Eligibility and Security not started,criminality and medicals passed.

No Ghost update, no ADR- At some point, i was seriously praying for just one ghost update at least i will know my application is being processed. (When God has something bigger than Ghost Update )

PPR (Via E-mail)- 25th July 2019.

VO - Ottawa

Honestly, i checked my email and CIC account every single day till i got PPR. the wait no be here. i prayed every day for a positive feedback, i was agitated, scared, hopeful and positive all at the same time. just as i was about to sleep i saw the GOLDEN MAIL.

My application was not perfect but God's grace found me and Hubby. This is indeed a dream come true. The journey that started in 2017 has finally come true.

I wish everyone a speedy process along the way. God will perfect everything IJN. Trust in him and make sure you ask any question (Relevant or irrelevant) with regards to your application. do not assume and do not think you know when you may not be sure. Research via nairaland and other forums, keep reading and getting all the required info. Thank you to my nairaland family and FEB whatsapp AOR. (You guys are the real mvps). Please do not give up at any stage because victory is just by the corner.

May Canada favour us all ijn. Amen. It will surely end in Praise

pejuhazel:
Already mailed them, Ralph didn't tell us anything new and still waiting on a response from Hussen

Please can you share their email addresses? (Ralph and Hussen)

Thank you

gbemlad:
Hello everyone, I have been a coded silent reader. But I am coming out of my silent mode. It's been 181 days since I submitted my application. I saw Jennypharb1 and titilola's post yesterday and that triggered me to comment. It hasn't been an easy ride at all, the days I wake up in the middle of the night and remember my NOC and job designation doesn't match well, the day I see people from recent aor sharing PPR stories, the days I have dreams of request letter sent to my mail. Infact I dread checking my profile because it has always been on submitted shortly after medicals was passed. Hmmm, I am ranting abi, my sincere apologies. I would like to commend the selfless people on this thread, this gives me hope that Nigeria can still be better. I love ifeoma77, the day she got her PPR, I silently danced and was elated as if it was mine. LadyMarshall, ure doing a great job, would like to meet this two angels when I get to canny. Please permit me to pm you titilola and Jennypharb1. And I would like to be added to December aor WhatsApp group. Happy Canada day people.

I had the same fear (NOC not matching with job designation) and while i was scrolling through this plattfom, i read a post where the person with this issue has sent an updated reference letter. I immediately contacted HR and explained the situation then i got an updated reference where the NOC now matches with my job description and sent it immediately via webform. (Though still waiting to get an acknowledgement from IRCC because today is 6 days post submission)

I think you can explore this option because it is better to be on the safe side than to be sorry. All the best.

It will end in praise

Ifeoma77:
Awwww love you too
And don't worry, it won't be long from now

_{You can also pay prophet offering to Adun.ne and let her declare over your application}

.

Gshun:
Good morning house, please if i'm using my savings account for POF, would the 6MONTHS statement of account be enough proof or i still need a letter from my bank ?

The account statement is okay

oluwaahmed:
Hello guys, pls I need assistance with my questions.
So am married but my international passport carries my maiden name. I have done both my WES $ IELTS in my maiden too, but since I am going with my spouse is it compulsory we do name change to have a harmonized name? Will it also affect the WES & IELTS done in maiden name especially as my international passport is about to expire?
Pls guys assist

It is not compulsory to do a name change if you do not want It. An example of how i stated it in my LOE is as follows.

MARRIAGE: ON THE (DATE). My spouse and I got legally married (Location). A copy of my marriage certificate was uploaded under the Marriage License/Certification section. It is pertinent to note that my bank account statements, international passports, WES and IELTS certificates are in my maiden name hence the last name in my express entry application.

I hope this helps. All the best