₦airaland Forum

TLDR:

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ITA: Sometime in January
CRS: 447 (Master’s degree and only used 1 year work experience to avoid complications)
IELTS Scores: LRWS 8 7.5 7 7.5
Medicals: Done on 5th March
Single Applicant
POF: in GTBank TBills with 1 year tenure
AOR: 5th March
Meds Passed/BIL: 19th April
ADR: None
VO: Ottawa
PPR: 18th September
Passport Submitted: 20th September
Application Approved: 3rd October
Passport (CoPR) Collected: 7th October
Ordered and received 3 GCMS:
- 3rd May received: 4th June
- 10th June received: 11th July
- 22nd July received: 25th September

I’m really sorry, but: this post is actually really long and I may update it with more info as I remember

Background

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I’ve kind of always had this dislike Nigeria even before ever leaving the country: it’s weird but that’s just it. It may have been mostly cos of corruption and our very terrible myopic reasoning who knows?

I had always known about immigration to Canada but was not quite interested in it, I preferred a move to the UK cos of family and cos I was not even ready to do IELTS or any exams at all.

Evaluations

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Started this back in 2017
After my ex who was actually interested in the Canada waka did the IELTS thing, I decided to try the IELTS thing: I was not even aware there was a particular score that one was supposed to get I was to get at that point so I wrote the exam without any real preparation (but I wasn’t under any pressure to get any scores). Due to the number of Assessments I have done in trying to get a job, I had kind of discovered a pattern in how argumentative essays are written (the verbal assessments usually involve reading one of these sort of essays: and I had read MANY). The reading section is basically me just doing the verbal assessments again and I only had to understand how the listening was done. I could say I spent less than 4 hours studying for my IELTS - I thought doing the exam was enough and it was only a requirement. I eventually had LSRW: 8 7 7.5 7.5.

I knew the next thing was to evaluate my degree so I started checking the WES, IQAS and CES. I was in contact with my friend from Uni who had just finished his masters in Canada and he was like he would pay the evaluation for me. I realised that the CES was evaluating per degree and was expensive (I assumed I was to evaluate everything including WAEC). IQAS seemed the cheapest of the remaining 2 (I wasn’t the one paying but didn’t feel I should be wasteful, mistake here cos the difference in price and time is soooooo...) and so I opened my IQAS account and put my Nigerian degree, Masters and WAEC. As I was unable to get WAEC scratch card that period, I finally removed the WAEC. I requested my transcripts from both my Unis and my transcript from CU actually got to IQAS before my transcript from Uni of Nottingham (though this cost me £10 and the CU one cost me NGN 20K). The wait now continued: these guys took so long. It didn’t mean much to me cos I was not really soooo keen on Canada at that point still. After some of the wait, I got a mail requesting my Certificate scan from CU unfortunately, I had only uploaded my statement of result from CU at that point as I had never bothered to collect the certificate and I did not have it. I replied that I did not have it yet and he replied that I could choose to remove my undergrad altogether that it doesn’t matter (urgh money wasted). Lol if I been looking through Nairaland maybe I’d have just done WES and only masters.

I still refused to enter the pool after having these 2 documents. Then I started a new job and unfortunately, I managed to delete all my personal mails from my gmail account (I hate notifications and I did not realise when gmail started syncing the desktop app to the online one fully: I did not know deleting the mails locally deletes them online) so that is how I lost my ECA certificate. Though fortunately, as my friend was so busy, he was not present to collect the physical certificate when it was delivered and I was able to get them to resend both the digital one to my mail and the physical one to his address (I should normally have to pay for both of these).

At some point waiting for my ECA from IQAS, I discovered this forum (I had never opened nairaland before and found the UI so weird) and I started following. At this point, we were just in part 1 (2017) and I followed into part 2 and was reading everyday. I was a passive reader and I was not entirely sure I wanted to move to Canada yet. I was also scared of the medical examination thing (LOL), I didn’t want it to be that while trying to do medicals for immigration that I would discover I have some grave illness or disease.

So sometime at the beginning of 2018 I finally decided that it was time; Nigeria was only getting worse as each day passed. I entered the pool and got my ITA started to gather all my documents, did my UK PCC (took a month to arrive), did my Nigerian PCC, created folders on my laptop for digital copies of documents, told the office official photographer guy to take my passport (I sent him the requirements for the passport): in my office, we usually have to travel to other countries for short periods and as a result, almost everything you may need for these sorts of Visa can be gotten from within the office without any eyebrows raised (More on this later). I never booked the medicals and eventually declined my invitation. I just wasn’t ready.

I eventually decided I only wanted to use experience letter from my current office and decided to wait till September, 2018 to enter the pool again. Unfortunately, I had to do some company travel to the UK during that same period (October) and decided to wait till I was back and just didn’t bother again.

At this point, I had been applying for jobs in Germany and the UK (LOL this was pointless as getting a job that was willing to sponsor the Tier 2 visa was not easy).

In January 2019, I remembered my IELTS is going to expire this year and finally decided to reenter the pool before it expires (else that money would have been wasted). Got my ITA and decided to take things slow (side: I stopped reading the nairaland forum in like part 2 and started again in part 6; it was just too much for me, you miss one day and next thing 20 pages have gone by). Started getting documents I had not gotten before. If I am being honest, I think what may have motivated me this time was that: few weeks after I came back from the UK, I started coughing and when this cough continued for more than 3 - 4 weeks, I felt something may have been wrong (I rarely fall sick and I don’t like to take any drugs even for headaches) since the cough was not going on it’s own. I eventually went to do like checkup incase it was something like TB: lol then the lab lady was looking at me funny and decided to wear 2 gloves I sha asked her what tests she recommends I do and she was like I should do HIV, VDRL (for syphilis) and one other one. I sha told myself that if I have something maybe it was time to find out. Eventually everything came out negative and I was relaxed (I do not live a reckless lifestyle o incase that’s what you are thinking just that these things happen: talk for another day).

Getting reference letter from my office was so easy: people have to travel and in fact, the company had a policy that everyone must be travel ready (everyone must have a US visa). So as a result of this, we usually need to write our reference letter ourselves in a particular format and send to HR to sign.

I chose to leave the medicals last and wanted to do it in February at QLife since it is closer to me (QLife must have been laughing in no space). End of February, called QLife and they were like lol no space for you bruh (by the time we have space, your ITA would have expired: it was to expire by March 26). I kuku humbled myself and called IOM and those ones had for March 5th.

Went to do my medicals on march 5th thinking I would still be able to go to work once I was done (LOL how stupid was I right?) There were about 50 people doing medicals for Canada that day alone and the lady was like: “you think this is much, we expect 90 people tomorrow” that one was not my business sha. Finally got to the office by 7 PM (LMAO) scanned the eMedical thing and submitted my application that night. So the waiting started: it was then I sha realised that between submitting and them even acknowledging you exist takes at least a whole month (I just dey wonder why I never came across this info before, wutt have I been reading here since abeg). Finally got my MEP/BIL on April 17th. Lol did I mention that I was checking my profile daily for like 2 weeks.

Yea my POF was entirely from my parents, I have been doing TBills with the money since 2017 (I got the money from them since then). I sha submitted all my bank statements (I was not ready to start submitting payslips as my salary increases like every 6 months and my payslips contains my aggregate salary: so my December payslip shows all the money I earned that year). The salary on my reference letter was times 2 what I earned last year (I was promoted in June and January). I moved my POF from diamond bank to GTBank sometime in December and bought my most recent TBills through GTB. I sha included all my bank statements including my salary account.

The wait

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By far the most difficult and annoying time
No additional document request and I think I received my first ghost update the day I received MEP. I was actually thinking PPR would be soon LOL.
Times passed and nothing, in fact, I had written the top half of this story a while ago (you see despite how long this is, I hate writing and I feel the need to share my experience).
The wait was really long geez, During this wait, I discovered that the UK actually had the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa (which I would have qualified for easily and takes only 8 weeks to process) I started having second thoughts but decided not to proceed with the Tier 1 cos what happens if I get both (I knew the Canada one would come but when?)
While waiting, saw the issue about someone’s rejection due to the GTBanks TBills disclaimer I was just wondering what I had done to myself (I did 1 year TBills with them and it had the early liquidation clause) cos my TBills would mature by December. I sha did not liquidate it or even attempt to and just decided to wait.
I ordered 3 GCMS notes at different points: all 3 notes said the same thing though the 3rd one took like 2 months to come out and came out after PPR.
I think what kept me going was the Living in Canada forum as well as watching youtube videos of this guy (IgorRyltsev) lol he’s so passionate about Canada and he recently just got his citizenship there (I like him cos he’s so animated: “what’s up guys welcome beck to this youtube channel it’s your guy Igor here today, this video… <- notice the absence of punctuation till after “today”, he does not pause till he gets there).

PPR + COPR

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So yea one day was talking to my cousin (who had previously discouraged me from going to Canada in 2017 but happened to get in and like Canada by end of 2018) about how the process takes so long (6 months) and how my GCMS was taking too long and maybe they investigating something (My application was by no means perfect, I took a lot of risks cos why not?: e.g my Nigerian PCC misspelled my name), as I was chatting with her I decided to check my profile (I had stopped checking it) and saw a ghost update (didn’t even know what to think cos it could mean anything: felt I’d see an actual update some days later).
That night while talking with my sis, I got a mail (I always read (and delete?) my emails as soon as they arrive: I hate bulky lists) and there it was PPR. I didn't even know how to react but I was happy.
Next day (19th), went to studio 24 to take picture

Yea after submitting my passport on the 20th September, I sha started waiting again lol still confused on how to pack my stuff and all that I also want to travel to meet family in UK 1 month before moving finally to Canada and needed to book flight ticket there asap before it gets expensive

Application was approved on 3rd October. I went to VFS on the 7th October in the morning to collect my passport even though I had not gotten any message that it was ready (heard it takes 20 days from when you submit), lol I could not wait o went in the morning, the guy was like I should come in the evening that it had not been sorted yet that my passport was in transit but would arrive that day I sha went back home (fortunately I live quite close to VFS)


Thanks to @Topsmamen (though I had already submitted my application, he did help confirm my job description matched my NOC and reduce the worry) also Fred Obodozie (Can’t remember his handle, just checked my email for the message: also helping me confirm job description).



side note

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Also, I feel people should not be so against people asking questions here: you would be shocked what info you had is now obsolete.
LOL I find it very funny that 1 question could generate more than 10 replies complaining about how such questions take up all the space on the forum (the irony here yea?)

I'm sorry o (also this is late) but school is a whole lot more expensive and after everything, there's no guarantee that you would even get the visa.

The express entry route, as long as you merit it, you would certainly get it no matter how long it takes. I know so many people who's student visa have been denied for stupid reasons

smartkester:
Aunty do your assignment well there are cheap and affordable schools in Canada and with the way CRS scores keeps increasing everyday the best and fastest way to jet out is through school. This isn't a pointless arguement, some people have been in the pool for over 5months and no ITA yet because it gets competitive everyday. I don't know her age but the best score she can get on CRS is 456 which isn't enough at this point

LMAO the irony here? Neither can you.

Ologunsunny:
Thanks you that is brilliant, but can't use punctuation properly, your writing really speaks volume.

lol *staff (Has no plural)

TLDR: You guys have an extremely good chance.

You and your husband should both do IELTS, evaluate your degrees as well.

Your husband should also do the french language test thing (more info on page 1).

From my little calculation, with him as the PA, you guys can get as much as 470 (assuming he only has a Bachelors degree, and you guys max out your language scores) which is more than enough for you to receive an ITA. You don't need to max out your scores to get ITA though (fiddle with the CRS tool thing)

As you must have seen multiple times, go through Page 1, there's plenty information there

kakeit:
good afternoon everyone, please just want to start our journey to Canada and will really appreciate all your guidance. my husband studied French in the university and has worked in the bank for 10 years and at the same time he teaches French to staffs in the banking hall, in a nut shell (he speaks, writes and understand French very well) .he will be 34 by may 27
I studied computer science in the university and I have been a baker by profession for five year now. my age 26 . we have to kids age 3 and 2

it's always a good idea to commence the process

Your MSc could be enough for you guys (depending on other factors like age, years of work experience, IELTS scores etc) have no fear sha.

Taydex198:
I have MSc and my spouse is School Cert holder for now but she will write IELTS with me. Pls I need advice if it a great idea to commence the process.

Thanks in advance of your advise.

I don't think this is an issue though.

The person you booked for would be just fine.

Don't scan your card, it's a really risky thing to do.

wengerly:
Good people,

I booked a flight for someone in naija and paid with my credit card, and BA has a clause on their website that if the payer is not among the travelling party then the credit card should be produced at the booking office before the traveller can be allowed to fly. How do I resolve this? Do I have to write a letter to BA or do I scan my Credit card and send to the traveller?

Anyone encountered such before?

Thanks in advance

The 2 most important things you must do:

- Do IELTS General Training (Try to get at least 8 in listening and 7 in the others)
- Evaluate your HND (and OND) - I think with WES, I think it's mentioned somewhere they evaluate both as 2 or more degrees (read through the thread and you should find more details on this

- If you are married, your spouse could also evaluate their degrees and do IELTS.


If your spouse is noticeably younger than you are and has a masters (or HND like you), you may consider using your spouse as the principal applicant.

Anyways, fiddle with this guy http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp .

AjalaDtraveller:
Good day everyone. I am thinking of starting the Canadian PR process. I tried to read the thread but it's a whole lot. I don't know where to start from. Please can someone tell me if I stand a chance to even start the process?
I am in my thirties. I have an HND in Mechanical engineering. I have never worked as an engineer. But I was into the soft side of property management for about 8years as a secretary. What must I do to be suitable to start the process. I presume I must have about 8,000 Canadian dollars? That is not an issue for me. Please kindly help me with info.
Thanks in advance

think it's okay if it isn't

I just realised mine wasn't stamped either.

No fear sha.

chrisebsy:
Thanks for your response , got the Tbills done , however the certificate I got from GTB only carried their logo. I asked my account officer to stamp it but he said they don't stamp , since it carries the company logo. Please is this OK ?

Although the banks statement carries both stamp and company logo.

I intend using the TBills certificate , bank statement and gift deed , hope am good to go . my fear the tbills cert without stamp.

pls Elders help

You could get the certificate from the next day (or even same day really).

Just make sure you go in the morning

Just seeing your message.

chrisebsy:
pls can you elaborate on the The tbills .if I choose to invest in T- bills, how fast can it be done with the certificate?

I've so far used GTBank and Diamond bank. It's possible your bank only works with the primary market

jerich:
Am surprised cos this info was what i got from the bank, no one mentioned to me it could be done swiftly.
will go to another branch tomorrow , it appears the branch i tried to use are overwhelmed with customers patronage.

See response in bold

jerich:
Greetings to this informative house.

i pray all our dreams come true and we shall all inherit our Canaan land.

i am gathering documents and i need clarifications on what to do with POF

i am using 100% gift deed, i am torn between fixing the amount and upload the fixed deposit certificate plus gift deed which is quite easier as i can do that within 3days.
or buying treasury bills and uploading the cert as well as gift deed. however, i learnt tbills takes about every 2weeks to conduct a bid and sometimes its not always successful and one will have to wait for the next bid Maybe for the primary market (who knows, unless you have 50m+). However, just walk into the bank before 10am and ask that you want to buy TBills. It doesn't take up to 2 weeks, it would be done same day and your account officer would advise you on the expected rate for that day. I didnt even have to go to the bank the last time I bought, an email from my registered address was enough. Am running out time

please what advice will ya'll give?

can i just upload bank statement plus gift deed as POF , then later raise CSE for treasury bills.
or should i stick with fixed deposit , even though treasury bills are safer and yields more interest.

pls help

"This isn't true. It must be sent by WAEC." Are we 100% sure about this?

Are we sure it's impossible that there are people (maybe outside this forum) that did otherwise

if the documents are rejected, he could always send the correct documents.

More so, how would we know if what he suggested is actually acceptable if no one actually takes that risk and finds out?

Avidreader748:
This isn't true. It must be sent by WAEC. I am not sure the rules have changed. They need it sent from WAEC because of numerous forgeries they receive from Nigerian applicants.

However, you can send a message to them and verify. It will not be nice if they reject your documents.
If that were acceptable, everyone would not be going through the stress of WAEC.

However, anyone who has done such and is successful can share their experiences.

It's usually a situation of asking the bank if such letters/statements are valid and authentic and provided by the bank. Which the bank can confirm.

I don't know of Canada (but seeing as sometimes, they ask people for updated POF, it's likely they do it same way), but that's how some other countries do it

Edmontonlad:
Please i have a question.

How does IRCC know the right amount I have in my account if not from the SOA I show them?
Because having worked in a bank, I know banks have customer confidentiality. They are never going to reveal if Mr. A has account with them let alone what's in Mr. A's account.

So how do they do it?

I need to prove to someone that's it's not obtainable unless the person is declared WANTED or due to an ACT OF FRAUD.

My question looks stupid but if you know, please clear us because I am sure some of us want to ask but don't know how to.

ibrotee0:
Please this site is not show space where you can put your spouse details, did anyone noticed? or it my browser

Ensure you fill the initial parts like the image below

then you would see point 11 - 13.

Hope this helps

As your husband has an MSc and more than 3 years working experience; if he is below 30-35, it may be best to have him as principal applicant

your 2 year work experience has exactly same points as 1 year, on the other hand, anything more than 3 years has more points (maximum foreign work experience points in the CRS)

You should play with this: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp. Evaluate with LRWS of 8 7 7 7 for the principal applicant and maybe 6 6 6 6 for the partner (see who has a better chance).

Altogether, you should try to drag him into the process. On your own (without doing french, with no siblings in Canada or Education/work experience in Canada), the maximum you can get is 416.

What you should do now is:
- Both of you should do IELTS
- Both of you should evaluate your degrees.

No urgent need enrolling for Masters yet (even if you do not have enough points, you could go the PNP route). For now, evaluate your degrees and try to make him do IELTS one way or the other.

Hope this helps

MzGiwa:
I'm currently studying for IELTS and I intend to verify my result with Wes soon. With only bsc and 2 years experience do I stand a chance ?

Partner has MSC and 6 yrs work experience. No professional certificate. Is it better to drag him into it from the beginning . Anything to boost my points biko

Do I need to enrol for masters too

Look here: www.nairaland.com/5031893/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled . I think you may be able to do some certifications (e.g BCS postgraduate diploma etc) and evaluate. However, would you be able to prove your work experience (Did you work for a company, did you freelance, do you have a registered company etc)?

mhaki:
Hello People, I'm interested in migrating to Canada with my family.

I have a concern though: I don't have a degree, but I have 10+ years of experience in Web Development.

I need someone to guide me.

Guys free this Nigerian Education argument abeg.

If you love it so much, send your kids to Nigerian schools...There's nothing stopping you really: They can stay with relatives or/and be in boarding house etc.

My personal opinion here sha (I schooled both in Nigeria and abroad: BEng in Nigeria then I went to the UK to start over: MEng before switching to MSc after the first year). I can almost assure you that my first year of MEng (MEng is a 4 year undergraduate program in the UK), I learnt a lot more than my 5 years in Nigeria. This is personal and in no way general.

of all these supposed "sharpness", if Nigeria was wiped out from the worlds map; I assure you that no one, absolutely no one would feel affected. Of the whole sharpness and smartness, what do you have to show for it, what has been invented, created etc. It was in the UK I realised that professors/doctors are first researchers (primary occupation) before being lecturers.

Nigerians may be intelligent but it's a stupid argument because in this modern age, your intelligence as an individual matters very little. Instead, it's your ability to collaborate with others, work collectively (this is something Nigerians lack) and thinking of the bigger picture.

The filter is not for the hard water...filter does nothing for hard water...it's possible the water may be highly chlorinated. This is when it affects your skin (it would itch) etc....not the hardness

ceemac:
Hard water may not be totally unhealthy, researches have it that it complicates or exasperates some health conditions such as Diabetes, Cancer, Cardio vascular diseases and some more. Not the best also for skin and hair. My ‘canadian’ landlord by himself advised me against drinking it and suggested I rather buy a filter to ameliorate the condition or I settle for bottled water

LOL hard water is not unhealthy though..if anything, it's may be more healthy. It just tastes funny at first (you get used to it after a while) and sucks for bathing (may not suck for everyone as the soap leaves your body faster)

ceemac:
I beg to differ on the bolded..

- Some Areas have hard water and you can't even risk drinking it if you like your life. A way around it for people will be through some filter
- You sure have not been to Dr. Flea's market, Chinko full there for cheap prices
- I agree with this but why will I pay $10 to play soccer for 2hrs?
- This is contestable, While I am convinced I did not get as much as I would have loved in Naija. Education and Smartness wise, our foundation is more solid than this system provides for kids. Don't even argue with me, I can relate individually from the perspective of a father that migrated with his family comparing his children's pre and post migration academic standings, the account of a year 1 student that newly just migrated and of course, myself, as a product of both sides of the divides. The only difference is that the society offers technology and resources that can aid research which is left to freewill. In Nigeria, we were 'konked' to learn, is this method the best? It is definitely contestable but I am glad I was 'konked' and it has aided me to be where I am today.

This is me trying not to make Canada seem like heaven.. No space in the world is ideal!

Let's assume (as the PA)
- you are less than 30
- you managed to get the best possible IELTS scores (LSRW: 8.5 7.5 8.0 7.5)
- you both have no siblings in Canada, no PNP etc
- your husband also does IELTS and get's 8 7 7 7
the best score you could get with only your BSc is 445
without your husband doing IELTS: 423

Let's assume your husband is the PA
- with same IELTS scores as you (LSRW: 8.5 7.5 8.0 7.5)
- His scores can get as high as 482
- 462 if you do not even do IELTS
- 447 if he is 36 years and you did IELTS

Play with the Crs tool thing http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp and find out.

If your husband is below 35, you should consider trying to convince him to at least prepare for IELTS. He may not need much study as you think.

claseek:
Hello, please I've read through the first pages, i couldn't find anything addressing my question.

My husband has an MBA with 5 years experience, and i have a BSc with 3 years experience, with one child.
Now we both believe i have an higher chance at acing the ielts score.

Is it advisable i take the ielts alone, or we do it together. (Note He has not been serious with studying for the exam because of his busy schedule). What will better boost our chances?

Does it boost ur chances, if both couple take the exam

Please advise me. Thank you.

SQLmastar:
23rd March 2019...LRWS: 8.5/8/6.5/7.5 BC

The writing part2 Topic was about FASTFOOD and its effect on lifestyle and diet. However, I was writing with the thought of fastfood shops (mr biggs, chicken republic, etc) THESE ARE NOT FASTFOOD oo. It was after the test that I realized that fastfood is actually the food itself and it can be prepared anywhere (even at home ).
I wrote @least 280 words.

Do I go for a remark? (I will toss a coin)

How long does EOR take? (I dunno)

Do I need help in writing? (yes I do)

You could/should apply for remarks...Though I can almost assure you that your reference to fast food restaurants rather than "fast food" may not be the reason for the scores anyways.

Although going into specifics here: "fast food" can never be prepared at home and is a commercial term reserved for restaurants. Fast food does not mean "cooked fast" btw.

Generally many people assume that your examples have to be facts. In reality, the examples only need to be relevant to the topic not facts. Remember that the person reading your essay is not a machine or fact checker but a human being and could easily get bored.

If you do choose to redo the IELTS, I find that this site https://writeandimprove.com (writeandimprove (.) com) should be helpful