₦airaland Forum

jnyuwa02:
I don't know about Canada, might be interesting to look into it. I know in the United States too while it is not possible to apply for a student visa from within the U.S., it is possible however, that if one came to the United States with a visiting visa, to change that status into a student visa all within the United States without leaving the country.

@jnyuwa02, I didn't know this is an option in the US, could you shed more light on this from experience please?

PureRuby:
Wow! I am very grateful for all the advice and contributions. Thank you all and may God grant us all our trv desires in Jesus Name, Amen.

I AM A YOUNG LADY

The truth is that all of us cannot come from money readily available homes and God in His infinite wisdom has called me into a humble background. Not all of us have the privilege of quickly obtaining loan, be it from banks or humans

Did He make mistake in awarding me this scholarship? NO! Under no circumstances should I be admitted to UWO due to low 2.2 grade, but just one application to a school, a supervisor was reading available and I was admitted without delay.

All i am trying to say is that, God has and will always use the foolish things of this world to confound the wisdom of men. He has made a provision of "explanation" for me in the cic request, if for any reason I feel i will not be able to meet up with the request.

I am totally with the option of obtaining loan to pay my tuition (me wan chop trv nah , who will not want to?)
But, if God doesn't permit me to borrow by not sending whom I could borrow from, I will not still be shake for I serve a God who has the heart of kings in His Hands and control them as it pleases Him, The God who rules over the affairs of men.
No man can cage God by a rule, not even canadian VOs.

I truly appreciate every of your contributions.
It shall end in praise.

@PureRuby, you mentioned above that you had a low 2.2GPA and got admitted into MSc, please can you specify the grade? I'm asking because I have 2.2lower and I'm weighing my chances for an MSc program.

Lastly, I sincerely pray that God will make a way for you concerning the tuition request by CIC. You're almost there Sis. Try your human best and God will work the rest. AMEN.

DereI:
I am sorry I can't advice you abt the change of course when you get over there.
But waiting and working before resumption is possible. Lots of friends over there are doing that already.

Gurus in the house..kindly add your input.

@DereI, can you please shed more light on this kind of situation as I am considering such an instance too(the course I am really interested in starts every Fall for international students, so if I am able to secure an admission and study permit for a winter intake course, can I defer and change to the course I am most interested in by Sept?). I know you said its possible I just would love more info on it, perhaps share an insight/experience with some of your friends that did same? Thank you.

Mysine:
Thank you very much, I'll definately consider that. I was rejected once tho, it was because I applied in Canada. That was the only reason as I was told to apply in Nigeria.
So will you advice I write that in the SOP? Because I wanted to draft a letter of explanation

@Mysine, what was your status in Canada when you applied previously for a study permit? Was it on visiting or something else?

maziude:
Hello bosses,

Please join me in thanking God oh.

I just got an email from the graduate office in uottawa.

I got awarded a whooping 27,000cad yearly in addition to my 76,000cad Research grant.

God be praised oh...

This kind God o o o

Hello VO(AbujaNIV),

Thanks for your continuous help on here. More power to your elbow.

I am planning to renew my US NIV before it expires and I’m hoping to make use of the dropbox option. However, a friend said something about using dropbox that I would love to clarify.

I applied and had my visa interview in Abuja when my current visa was issued. Presently I am and will be in Lagos for a couple of weeks and I'm planning to submit with DHL office in Lagos. Do I have to address my application to the Embassy in Lagos or the one in Abuja?

I'll like to know because my friend mentioned that if I submit my application to the Lagos Embassy(which is not where I had my interview when I got my current visa issued) that I will have to appear for another Interview and not be able to use dropbox. How true is this information please?

Thanks for your time.

atiteb4:
kindly tell me the remaining two universities in Canada that considers the last 2 full years of study

Uni of Waterloo
McGill Uni
York University
Uni of Saskatchewan

Looks like most of Canada Universities consider it actually. Just search for Universities, check if they have your intended program and read the Admissions requirements carefully. You’ll find the info there if they consider it.

Reads like this "A cumulative weighted average of at least 70% in the last two years of full-time study (e.g. 60 credit unit equivalent)”.

All the best.

atiteb4:
but some people here said we can use only 400 and 500level result. Even some schools in Canada like Brandon university and university Of Manitoba consider 400 and 500level result. Am confused now.

I'm sure you have this info since you mentioned U of M above. Here it is again so don't be confused,

http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/graduate_studies/admin/569.html

There are other Universities in Canada who consider the last 2 full years of study, provided its up to 60 credit hours.

thesoj:
Three and half pages, 1.3 spacing, Arial font size 11, one inch page margins.

In most cases I am not an advocate for SOPs longer than two pages, except for complex applicants about whom the VO needs a lot more explanation and context. Even in these cases, the SOP should be engaging from the start and very easily readable otherwise the VO would just glaze through it.

If the SOP starts off by rambling then the likelihood of it being fully read, given its length, reduces considerably. A long SOP should not be laborious to read, otherwise it would hurt more than help.

As a final thought, a long SOP with lots of explanations should also have different pieces of evidence in the application to corroborate some of the explanations.

The mantra is to make everything very easy for the VO. If the VO has to make guesses about anything ambiguous in your application or SOP, s/he is likely to guess not in your favor.

@thesoj, thanks for the detailed reply bro.

thesoj:
I don't mean to scare anyone off applying for a TRV if they fit the categories I described. My point is just that getting a TRV for these categories should not be considered a slam dunk. A thoughtful, coherent, convincing, and well-prepared SOP and an application that is complementary to your educational and employment trajectory can overcome these barriers. But then you have to be honest with yourself as to if you truly can paint a logical and convincing picture to the VO; this applies to every candidate although the barrier is higher for some than others.

For example:
1. Can you justify to the VO precisely how a PGD in global business management would improve your skill-set and career trajectory (given your previous educational history and work experience)?
2. Can you explain precisely what it is about the global business management PGD program that you wouldn't be able to learn in Nigeria? This is extraordinarily important. (but don't mock Nigeria in your SOP while making this point; it will backfire if you do)
3. Can you explain precisely what plans you have on using the new skills from the PGD program in Nigeria? etc. (using specific business-related examples... provide some evidence and possibly references to show that you've done some research into the opportunities)
4. Do you have a justification for why you are going for a PGD and not as masters in management or an MBA? (saying that your grades in undergrad were bad might not be the best way to win over the VO. Think of some of the differences between a PGD and a masters, and identify how those differences may benefit you.)

There are no hard and fast rules for TRVs; VOs view each application on its own merit. This January, someone I helped (family friend) was approved for a TRV for an advanced diploma course even though he already had a BSc. One of the reasons why this application was successful was because we went above and beyond to convince the VO about his purpose of visit (in light of his previous BSc and work experience), keeping in mind that the probability of refusal was high. You can read about it here, here, here, and here.


Also, you may be able to get an MBA admission, but you'll need to do the legwork of contacting the different schools and making a case for yourself (possibly before you even apply).

@thesoj, hey bro, if I may ask, the SOP amounted to about how many pages eventually? Thanks.

tuzinde:
@damLaney

See link below for the admission process pathway to Carleton. I have also gone through this phase

https://graduate.carleton.ca/apply-online/application-status/

@tuzinde, can you please share more about how you went through this phase please? How it benefitted you et al. Thanks.

mesh2003:
You have every right to shun your degree. I have always been business oriented but cause my dad is a professor of Nuclear Engineering, he doesn't believe in any Arts or social science course. Most of us were made to take 1st degrees that we didn't want. I shunned my BSc in Pure and Industrial chemistry. Moved into working for an import and export company. Applied for TRV to study PGD in global business management and I got it. Follow your heart and your passion my dear. You will excel when you are doing what you want to do.

@mesh2003 @Folaroyal @Osemigho @wealth360 @yemdogg @Austinpee4 @Eraytee @michv(trv doctor) @Graviton2 @nelly28 and everyone with valuable input, please help me look into this.

I have B.Tech degree in Biochemistry. Graduated in 2011, and finished NYSC in 2013. I have since then been into real estates and I have a registered company of my own.

However, because I graduated with a 2.5cgpa I think its best I put in for a PGC course as my cgpa is low for a Msc program.

I’m considering Global Business Management. Please knowledgeable people in the house, does this correlate and show career progression? Thanks for your help.

@Folaroyal @Osemigho @wealth360 @yemdogg @Austinpee4 @Eraytee @michv(trv doctor) @Graviton2 @nelly28 and everyone with valuable input, please help me look into this.

I have B.Tech degree in Biochemistry. Graduated in 2011, and finished NYSC in 2013. I have since then been into real estates and I have a registered company of my own.

However, because I graduated with a 2.5cgpa I think its best I put in for a PGC course as my cgpa is low for a Msc program.

I’m considering Global Business Management. Please knowledgeable people in the house, does this correlate and show career progression? Thanks for your help.

@Folaroyal @Osemigho @wealth360 @yemdogg @Austinpee4 @Eraytee @michv(trv doctor) @Graviton2 @nelly28 and everyone with valuable input, please help me look into this.

I have degree in Biochemistry. Graduated in 2011, and finished NYSC in 2013. I have since then been into real estates and I have a registered company of my own.

However, because I graduated with a 2.5cgpa I think its best I put in for a PGC course as my cgpa is low for a Msc program.

I’m considering Global Business Management. Please knowledgeable people in the house, does this correlate and show career progression? Thanks for your help.

buggi102kruse:
I grt the whole house! Pls I jointly own a 4 months old company with a friend, can he be my co-sponsor? though I hv my tuition and 1yr expenses in my salary account. But the new company has not started operation yet no tax yet, in the tax certificate it's written not applicable in the area of financial details

@buggi102kruse, since the company is yet to start operations, how were you able to get a tax certificate?

Austinpee4:
1.Yes it is possible to renew your visit TRV.

2. This will also be dependent on the processing time stipulated for each region. But you should apply for a renewal atleast 90 days before the current one expires.

@Austinpee4, thanks for your time and help. Please do you know anywhere this is stated on CIC/IRCC website. I have looked and looked but still couldn't find such. It'd be of great help if you can paste a link to it for me if it exists. Thanks ones again.

likeababygirl:
To God be the Glory
I picked up my passport with my Visa today 13th June
MA Communication at MSVU
Submitted on 12th April Paper route linked it online
Status changed to Visa Approved on 31st May

Documents submitted
All CIC forms
Acceptance Letter
NYSC call up letter, PPA posting Letter, PPA acceptance letter and ID card
Transcript- evaluated by WES
B.Sc Mass Communication certificate
B.Sc statement of result
Secondary School Testimonial
Secondary School Transcript
Email conversation between the school and i where i was told i cannot pay my tuition till i get my visa.
Upfront medical slip
Police clearance certificate

Sponsor is my Dad
Letter of Sponsorship
To whom it may concern explaining what he does in details, his salary and how he makes money.
Six months SOA with about 13m naira and 19,500 USD
Employment Letter - temporary employment, letter of confirmation etc etc
Six months pay slip
Letter of Last promotion and Letter of appointment to head some projects
3 land documents and building plan
Tenancy agreement and receipts
Parents and Siblings birth certificate and passport bio data page

I give God all the glory. He did it for me and he will surely do it for you too. Thank You so much Nairaland family, you guys are definitely God sent. Even the 'littlest' contribution helped me in packaging my documents, so no matter how small or irrelevant you think your contribution is, it will be of help to someone out there.

Also, I didn't write a Statement of Purpose because i felt my application was quite straightforward and writing a SOP could result to shooting myself in the leg while trying to explain things that needed no explanations.
Cscd1234

@likeababygirl, What particular land documents please? As for the building plan, how are you able to attach that online since that its usually on a very wide paper? Or I am missing something?

Reason I'm asking is that I have some landed property in my home town that the surveys are not ready yet so I don't know what I can use to include such landed property in my application as Home Ties.

Also, I have an already completed hostel building in my same home town(nothing big) but I only have the survey and building plan. Is the survey and building plan enough to show/proof that I already have a building erected on it and not just a bare piece of land?

Please house, anyone with knowledge in this area to share some knowledge and ideas. Thanks for your help.

Austinpee4:
If both you and your husband have the financial capacity for you to go with your son, why not!.

You will still have to point it out that him needing attention will not in any way be a distraction to your study and with good financial strength and strategies, you MAY convince a visa officer that adequate attention will be given to him while you indulge in your study.

Your husband and your other two children are good hometies for you including your business.

Now, aside all the circumstance and profile of you and family, the main reason for going to study must be put into perspective.
1. Is your master admission in any way related to your current activity or degree? (hoping it is accounting/financial related)

Once your purpose of visit is in line with your current activities and overall aspiration and interest and your financial capacity can withstand any additional family member you intend to apply with, you sure have a good chance of obtaining your study permit.

However, everything must be put forth outrighly, simply and convincingly to indicate that you the principal applicant is the whole idea of applying for a study permit.

When you eventually obtain your study permit, you can decide to apply for a spouse open work permit (SOWP) for your husband or he renews his current visa before it expires. Your other kids also will have to renew their visiting visas too.
You can find useful info about extension of visiting visas from within canada here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

Regards.

@Austinpee4, @Folaroyal and everyone, Please I would like if you can help me address the following.....

I have valid visit TRV that will be expiring in October 2017. I have visited Canada ones with it. However, as I like to plan things ahead, I'm planning to visit again in December this year for my annual vacation but my current visa will be expired by then. My questions are as follows:

1. Is it possible to apply for renewal of my visit TRV before the current one expires?
2. And if yes, how early can I send in the application?

Thanks.

likeababygirl:
If your CGPA is up to 3.2 thereabout, you still stand a chance of getting a masters admission. You just have to research schools and email admissions office for clarification.
This one that you don't want to study Biochemistry, i hope you are choosing something related to it to avoid course mismatch and purpose of visit wahala

@likeababygirl, thanks for your input. My CGPA is actually 2.55. Not up to 3.0 or 3.2 for that matter. Not sure that's got a chance with a University in Canada. Anyone in the house ever got admission to a Uni in Canada with a CGPA below 3.0? Please raise your hand o. Thanks everyone.

freeradical:
Finishing with a second class lower shouldn't outrightly condemn u to opt for colleges. Do your research very well on university masters and submit a good application you may get lucky. I'd advise you put in for course based masters though to avoid the competition for funding peculiar with y most research based applicants get rejections.

Wish you all d best in your academic endeavours super eminent.

@freeradical, thanks for the timely reply. Can you please shed more light on "course based masters" and also what you mean by competition for funding. Thanks a lot.

freeradical:
Well, I'm only just an admission seeker but have followed this thread for a while. When u get to d visa application stage a PhD will sell better than another msc but that doesn't mean u can't get your TRV with a well packaged application for masters, good sop where u clearly explain to the visa officer why u r going for another masters and not a PhD.
For mine, I started out by googling schools in Canada that offer masters with funding (thesis) in biochemistry (which is my undergraduate course). I came up with McGill, UBC and Toronto. Applied to all three in December and I've started getting feedback from the grad coordinators except Toronto. It's been so difficult securing a positive feedback from supervisors. I dunno if they have prejudice against we Africans. Don't want to dwell on that anyway. I'm still shooting out mails. It's tough work because I have to tailor each mail to suit each faculty member based on their research area. I'm interested in oncology, gene expression and cell biology in that order.

So my advice is just take Ur time and do research online. The schools I applied to I later got to know from guys in this forum that my chances r slim as the competition there is very stiff. So u may want to look for schools at the middle of the ranking cos they might be easier. Write the faculty members of these schools first as you r a PhD applicant. Write a compelling mail to them and share your past works, papers that are related to their field and wait for their feedback. You can always apply when you have secured a supervisor.

All the best fellow eminent!

PS.... UBC doesn't offer biochemistry alone but combine it with Molecular biology. Some schools too are like that. So don't let it put u off its still very much d same as both field are quite interrelated.

@freeradical, I have a degree in biochemistry as well(2nd class lower). I'd love to further my studies in canada(not in biochemistry though), but everything is pointing at Colleges in Canada given that I finished with 2nd class lower. Do you think I have a chance to enter for something post-graduate at a University in Canada?

Please opinions are welcomes from everyone too. Thanks in advance.

@Austinpee4, @Folaroyal

awelekiti:
You're welcome! I think that's just it. In 2011, I was going ti attend a Medical exhibition in US and then visit canada thereafter. I later realised my canada visa was going to expire a few days to the end of my visit while in US and based on my travel plans. Before I left, I applied to renew my canada visa here, which I got . The validity on the renewed visa started counting from the intended travel date as indicated on my CIC visa application form that I filled. In case anyone else has stuffs to share in this regard different from this, that would also help.

@awelekiti, thanks very much. Did you mean in Nigeria by "I applied to renew my canada visa here". Thanks again.

Jawa:
dear overlord77, congrats on your visa. if you are visiting canada for the first time and you dont have a specific event or period to visit, egypt air is always cheapest around late november to early december. the planes are not new but you'll get there while saving out a lot. the cold during this period however, is severe.also lookout for deals on BA, you can get a flight to toronto for just 600GBP with transits in London and montreal. i shall also like to tell you to use the UP express, a pearson airport train service, to go downtown toronto, you will love it and it will cost you just 12CAD. a taxi or uber for this service will set you back at least 45CAD. ottawa is a great city to visit too and montreal if money is not a problem. if you're an explorer and like to see and feel things for yourself, try and see one of the finest cities on earth, vancouver or venture into the freezing streets of yellowknife, the capital of NWT province. i know you cant see it all at once but i like trying.
if you have a valid US visa, flying to boston or NYC and then getting a separate connection to toronto is always cheapest if you plan well ahead of time.
enjoy your trip. best of luck.

@Jawa, and everyone in the house, I asked these questions a few days back but would still like your take on it too.

I have valid visit TRV that will be expiring in October 2017. I have visited Canada ones with it. However, as I like to plan things ahead, I'm planning to visit again in December this year for my annual vacation but my current visa will be expired by then. My questions are as follows:

1. Is it possible to apply for renewal of my visit TRV before the current one expires?
2. And if yes, how early can I send in the application?

Thanks.

overlord77:
My passport is back from vfsglobal and I was given 3yrs . i.e till my current passport expires

Congrats @overlord77. Can you kindly share a list of documents submitted with your application. I believe many can gain one thing or the other from a successful application. Thank you.

awelekiti:
Since your visa will expire before your planned trip, you'd have to renew it ahead of time. As you're planning to travel in December, you may apply 3/4 months to your proposed trip date but paper route, please! If you can afford to wait, you may apply via online route this month cos online application usually takes a much longer time to process. Please refer to the visa processing time on the CIC website for a guide, though it varies per the number of applications being processed by them at a given time,my opinion.

Thanks @awelekiti. From your reply, I conclude that an applicant is allowed to apply for a renewal before the current visa expires. That I wasn't sure of initially. Now I can plan accordingly.

Also, Is there anyone in the house that has renewed before their current visa expires. I'm open to ideas, knowledge from experience and tips on how to go about this?

Thanks everyone.

PETERiCHY:
Nothing fishy is going on rather most people are liquidating their TBills at all cost and diverting the fund to Stock Market.

Last month i liquidated all my USD position and invested in the stock market and so far my portfolio is 51.8% upside.

Would it been i don't have a formidable USD portfolio. i would have terminated my TBills that is due for December because of the kind of fire that is currently burning in NSE.

*ThE OcToPuS*

@PETERiCHY If I may ask, please how does this fire that is currently burning in NSE profiting you? Are you trading or buying for short term or for long term? I'd love to benefit from this too as I noticed some stocks have been on the rise in recent weeks.

@awelekiti @jayfierce and other gurus, here's a quick one;

I have valid visit TRV that will be expiring in October 2017. I have visited Canada ones with it. However, as I like to plan things ahead, I'm planning to visit again in December this year for my annual vacation but my current visa will be expired by then. My questions are as follows:

1. Is it possible to apply for renewal of my visit TRV before the current one expires?
2. And if yes, how early can I send in the application?

Thanks.

Austinpee4:
If both you and your husband have the financial capacity for you to go with your son, why not!.

You will still have to point it out that him needing attention will not in any way be a distraction to your study and with good financial strength and strategies, you MAY convince a visa officer that adequate attention will be given to him while you indulge in your study.

Your husband and your other two children are good hometies for you including your business.

Now, aside all the circumstance and profile of you and family, the main reason for going to study must be put into perspective.
1. Is your master admission in any way related to your current activity or degree? (hoping it is accounting/financial related)

Once your purpose of visit is in line with your current activities and overall aspiration and interest and your financial capacity can withstand any additional family member you intend to apply with, you sure have a good chance of obtaining your study permit.

However, everything must be put forth outrighly, simply and convincingly to indicate that you the principal applicant is the whole idea of applying for a study permit.

When you eventually obtain your study permit, you can decide to apply for a spouse open work permit (SOWP) for your husband or he renews his current visa before it expires. Your other kids also will have to renew their visiting visas too.
You can find useful info about extension of visiting visas from within canada here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

Regards.

Please I'd like to know if its actually possible to renew a visit visa to canada before the current one expires. And how soon before expiry can one do so?

Dear VO @abujaniv,

Myself and my wife have valid B1/B2 visas that will be expiring in November 2017. We have visited the USA twice since we got it(In December 2015 & December 2016). However, as I like to plan things ahead, we are planning to visit again in December this year for our annual vacation. My questions are as follows:

1. Is it too early to put in for a renewal via dropbox now?
2. What are the documents needed for visa renewal via dropbox?
3. And lastly, given that we still have about 6months of validity left on our current visas, what date will the renewed visa start running from? Is it the date we renew like this month for example, or the date will start running when the current one expires in November.

Thanks for your help.

kokorita:
Please I want to ask. Is Abuja application treated in Abuja. Or Lagos Because I noticed Abuja applications are treated faster. Then Lagos ...

@kokorita, I would appreciate if you can share with us a list of all documents you submitted with your application so it can be beneficial to everyone. Thanks.

feelaaG:
You Treasury Bills are warehoused by a Custodian....

so even if a bank or Investment House closes, the custodian would be the party that you will need.

Awesome. Thanks.

feelaaG:
Just ask head office branches..they understand Tbill there better.

Alternatively go for the Investment Houses/coys..

Similar to the question asked above by @Uchefrancis16 and answered by @ihedioramma:
Uchefrancis16:
But before that, I have a question I've not seen anything related to on thus thread. Wch is.

Since they said TBills is almost 100% risk free, I noticed that keystone got sold off of recent. What if mid way in, stambic IBTC starts having issues, can I get my Tbills money from FG through another bank or something?

Pls permit my ignorance. I posted this here to aid myself and those who doesn't know what will become of their TBills if the bank invested through starts having issues.


My question is this.... What if mid way through your investment tenure, the Investment Houses/coys starts having issues or worst case scenario close down operations, what happens to your Tbills Investment thru them? How do you get your money back at maturity? Thank you.

cc @feelamong