MumofTwins2017:
It’s PPR!!!!!!!
Timeline.
IELTS: Dec 1 2018
Me as PA-LRSW 8.5, 8.5, 7, 7
Spouse - LRSW 8, 6.5, 8, 6.5 3rd attempt
ECA- IQAS, (6months) April 2019
Spouse : WES April 2019
ITA: 472 (July 24)
AOR: Sept 10 2019
ITA CRS : 472 (1 year NYSC Plus my self employed 2 years work experience to make it 3 years)
BIL: Sept 30
ADR : 19th December 2019 (Updated POF)
Family of 5
VO: Ottawa
NB: I used ‘we’ a lot because my husband was with me every step of the way. We always discussed and made decisions together.
The process of gathering documents was tedious so pardon me if I miss out some information because I may not remember entirely everything that transpired since 2018.
OUR STORY:
This Canada journey started in June 2018 when I wanted to do an MBA in UCW Vancouver. I got the admission with the help of a Nigerian Agent. The agent helped my brother in law in getting admission into a school in Germany also packaging his visa application and he got it so I guess that’s why we trusted him so much. Well, Canada isn’t Germany so I got the shock of my life when I got a denial. Infact it was after we submitted the visa application that I went on nairaland and realized we did not submit all the required documents. I started doubting I would get the Student Visa. Infact I got the denial in 3weeks. Like sharp sharp denial. The sad part of it was that we knew about Express Entry oo but when we asked the Agent, he shut it down immediately that only 1% of Nigerians get it. How naive we were. As they say every disappointment is indeed a blessing in disguise. After the Visa Refusal in October 2018, we started looking into Express Entry and by November 2018, we started the ECA Process.
ECA
We had started with Wes before I saw ‘Iphie’s posts’ on nairaland where she advised Lawyers to use IQAS especially if one doesn’t have Masters. So we also sent our documents to them and school. That’s how I ended up using both WES and IQAS. My hubby evaluated his Masters with WES alone. It was a stressful process getting law school to send my transcript to WES which made the time longer as we were hoping for two or more certificates. Thankfully IQAS came through after 6months.
IELTS
Wrote IELTS on Dec 1 2018, and I made it. Hubby wrote 3 times. I prepared a lot for the test because I had heard how difficult it could be. I didn’t even know the minimum score for Express Entry. I just wanted to smash all four modules. Writing and speaking was a bit of a challenge for me so I wasn’t surprised when I saw a 7 in both Modules. I used Baron and Ielts Liz to prepare.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Now this is where my ‘testimony’ lies brethren of Canada. I had read all the PPRs of persons who used the self employed route. But it wasn’t on all fours with mine because I owned a fully automated supermarket. When I started the business, I was still doing a bit of Law Practice. So from the onset, i made sure it was an incorporated Company, well staffed and well automated so I could run it on the side while practicing. Honestly, practice wasn’t bringing in the cash as much as the business so I stopped and focused on the supermarket.
When it was time to start the Express Entry Process, i read about all the requirements for the self employed route, but I was confused on how to get references from my customers. Yes there were regulars whom I could approach but it didn’t make sense that they would vouch that I was always there and prove 40hrs a week. I wasn’t ‘supplying’ to particular persons like most self employed people who got PPR. Just a normal supermarket where you pick your basket, shop and you’re cashed out, you get your receipt and you’re out the door. Only a handful knew me as the owner because I stayed in the inner office where I watched through the cameras. So Even if I was a Visa Officer, I would raise an eye brow that a customer would know my duties, how long I worked and what I earned. I contacted some seniors who got PPR through the self employed route and they sent me samples of their letters from Vendors and Customers (whom they supplied directly to on a contract basis). I also PMed @topsman, he adviced I write the letter myself. It may have been possible but it was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.
So I started by getting just one letter from my biggest Vendor. Infact his first Invoice reflected the date I started the business, so it seemed alright. He indicated when I started buying from him, my position in the company and my general duties as much as he knows. I submitted the letter and attached few invoices for 2 years.
The second letter was from my Accountant. He was the one who wrote a detailed reference letter indicating all my duties, working hours, my salary and how long I had been working (my husband suggested from the onset having a salary structure, instead of withdrawing money anyhow) it paid off. The accountant included how I had opened 2 more branches in 2 years just to prove that I was all hands on deck. We pinned the 3 shop locations on goggle map just in case they wanted to confirm anything out of the ordinary. It was written with my company’s letter head. I also submitted personal and company tax clearance certificates, (thank God I had been up to date) Certificate of Incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, a personal declaration stating I owned the business and how long I had been working just to boost the documents I had and finally company’s bank statement of account.
NYSC:
This one year should have been straight forward o since it was a legal department in a Parastatal but my madam at my PPA insisted I put the duties I actually performed which was more of a ‘paralegal’ than a Lawyer. No lawyer in the department actually goes to court. It was more of paperwork. So I had to chose NOC 4211 instead of 4112 for lawyers. Infact I was ready for a refusal based on this NOC because I didn’t see any Lawyer using 4211. But I could only match up my duties with 4211. I remember someone on nairaland asking about 4211 since he/she wasn’t going to court and giving any legal advice. I wanted to answer but who am I to say when I don’t even know if mine would work out. Am glad it worked out beautifully.
Secondly, our yeye Stream was from June to April but Certificate said April to April. Another wahala... because bank statement for both NYSC and PPA was showing 10months. My people, I printed both statements and did another personal declaration explaining I received cash the first two months. NB all the personal declarations were stamped in court. Just like an affidavit. My legal mind felt it would be stronger than an ordinary LOE. (Pardon me, Canada was a must o. We already had 2 visa refusals from Canada and France). Attached reference letter from PPA that said April to April. (Madam agreed to this one) and my NYSC Certificate to corroborate.
PCC
This was done at Louis Edet House Abuja (police Headquarters). It’s was very straight forward. We paid 10k each.
MEDICALS
Medicals was done at IOM Abuja. I had booked a week before ITA because I was sure we would get it. So we got there by 8am and finished by 12. Family of 5. I have a 5 year old and a set of twin boy and girl. These kids sang so much they had to attend to us sharp sharp even with the crowd. They were driving the nurses nuts..lol...
POF
We used our GTB joint account. Submitted letter from the bank in CIC format, Letter of indebtedness and the TBills Certificate. We had way over the minimum funds for a family of 5. Hence I was surprised to get an ADR for updated Proof of funds. I suspected it was because I didn’t submit bank statement of account.
THE WAIT
After evaluating all our documents, we decided to submit. AOR was Sept 10. I joined September AOR group through the link on Canada visa forum. Then September 30, got BIL. Found out my Visa Office was Ottawa on the 25th of October. I joined the Ottawa WhatsApp group through the link @ jjohndoe83 sent me. The group was amazing. Maybe because PPR was flying up and down. I can’t imagine what Accra Visa Office WhatsApp group would be like. May God grant them all their PPRs. Amen.
So by October, May AORers were getting PPR and that’s how it started coming down. I and @blissnenye had the same AOR on the group so when she got PPR I was overjoyed for her. ADR for Updated POF came and the letter said ‘in order to make a decision on your application’ .. I was happy and anxious at the same time. We sharply went to the bank got a new letter and printed bank statement of account and an LOE explaining how the funds have been moving from TBills to Mutual Funds. No declaration this time. It was a short letter with a table showing dates and the pages where it was reflected on the statement of account. I thought PPR would come after the Christmas holidays. It didn’t.
Thankfully my sister in law’s Trad was coming up in January so it was an opportunity to get my mind off the anxiety.
I kept checking my mail everyday sha hoping for something. The wedding was on the 6th and that Morning, I had lamented to my hubby . He kept saying calm down, it will come. Events of the day kept my hands off my phone till Tuesday when we returned back home. There was no network in the village sef so I couldn’t have gotten any mail.
3:45pm on Tuesday my younger daughter asked for my phone to see her pictures so I unlocked my phone for her and swiped to my picture folder. I wanted to click on the folder when my eye caught my email folder that showed I had like 6 new mails. I even thought it was daily POS transaction statements from the banks because I knew there were pending shop issues I had not attended to since we went to the village.
As I opened the mail folder, I saw the LOGO and Government of Canada. My people, the thought of visa refusal can be crazy so my eyes only decided to sift through the letter for either ‘Congratulations or we are sorry’, then I saw it.... I broke down in tears ... it was even dated 6th of January. It was sent since but because of Village network, I didn’t get it.
I am so thankful to God, my husband, my family, this group and every other group I learned from. It wasn’t a straight journey but we pulled through.
Page 1 and individual research is key.
Good luck to everyone in this journey.
May Canada Favor us all. This really answered my question but the issue I'm having is that I don't have a business account and I have never filed tax return and pls can all this trade permit receipt from local government work? Anyone with useful information please. I really commend every one who is contributing. Thanks a bunch |
Good afternoon everyone. I'm seriously considering the express entry program and I'm weighing my options carefully in advance. Pls don't mind my long post, I need advise on my confused state. I graduated with a bachelor's degree and pgd in Microbiology, have one year Nysc experience as a biology teacher in 2010/11. But since then, I've not worked with my certificate. But into cake making on demand, I also can sew clothes very well. I have a CAC registered company certificate but no company account
and no tax return paid. What can I do to prove my work experience of over 8 years and that I'm being paid. I'm married with 2 kids and hubby have all it takes aside age.
Kindly help an inquisitive soul. Trying to find answers which is why I just joined nairaland this afternoon. Thanks in advance |
Travel › Re: Canadian Express Entry/federal Skilled Workers Program - Connect Here Part 9 by Midapat(f): 11:20pm On Jan 13, 2020
