₦airaland Forum

Congratulations, how did you fund your GIC account? Transfer from a domiciliary account or you have someone in Canada pay for you? Please advise, thanks

MarksmanD:
PPR alert!!!
My BVL dropped 24 hours before my PPR came.
My application timeline was 13 weeks. There was no update on the New portal tracker and the tracker account I registered on. Even when my BVL dropped before the PPR. Nothing changed on the tracker.
IRCC will humble you, but trust in Jesus, he's forever faithful and merciful.

I'm a first time applicant and I did my application process myself. I used the New portal. My POF documents alone was almost 100 pages. SOP documents was like 30 pages and I compressed it to 1.8mb. I used almost a month to write my SOP, because I needed to sell myself, not just as a mere student, but as someone who will make valuable contributions to the Canadian economy with my professional skills.

A total of 45k CAD was my budget for this application.
Documents used:
1. GIC (20,650)

2. First semester tuition receipt (11k CAD)

3. Tuition balance in my domiciliary account(8k CAD)

4. Flight and ancillary expenses of 5k CAD.

5. 15 months payslips and invoices from previous employer to my current employer and side gigs. Bureau de Change deposit slips.

6. Housing deed of gift which was legalized by the court.

7. Promotion letters (I had like 3 promotions in a year and 5 payrise when I worked for some Nigerian companies). Reference letter as a volunteer for an NGO.

8. My sponsor notorized the sponsorship letter. He also sent the full money I needed to my account. He gave me a copy of his residency permit, passport data page, investment account statement, employment letter and work permit, payslips for a year and his most recent picture.

9. I used my parents as home ties. I hardly take pictures of myself and I had no recent picture with my family, so I used family pictures of when I was a teenager and I added a recent family picture which I wasn't in.
I have a registered business which has never been operational since it was registered almost 2 years ago. I explained the reason my course program would give me the required skill needed in running the business when I return to Nigeria (I didn't submit a tax clearance because the business has never operated. But I submitted the CAC and shareholder documents).

10. Previous study visa rejection letter from another country's embassy. The admission letter of the school that admitted me (Still the same study program as in Canada. My study program is on the list of the programs Canada wants and would give PGWP for). The full tuition receipt I paid and the tuition refund receipt.

11. I'm in tech and I have been in the same job role for almost a decade. (I have worked remotely for companies in the top 10 tech countries in the world list). As a remote worker in Nigeria, you need to have multiple receiving accounts because of different clients and employers would give you their best option to send your money. I had 4 different foreign receiving accounts. I explained each and every transactions I got in them (I had lump sum transfers) and why I had 4 different receiving accounts and their pros. Even when I realized that I didn't attach some lump sum receipts to my POF documents 2 months after my application, I sent it with Webform and explained it.

12. My SOP explanation letter alone was almost 10 pages. I was truthful with my application. Where I had an error, I stated it and I showed proof on how the error came about.

13. I did upfront medical at Q-life because it was cheaper than IOM a week before I submitted my application.


This whole Canada thing was orchestrated and led by God, and all the glory, honor, and thanks belongs to him.

I acknowledge the effort of and I thank @Zubizareta and @JMG (Just Move Global), they patiently answered my questions on Whatsapp for free when I started this journey. Special thanks to others who answered my questions on Nairaland.

To others waiting, it's just a matter of time for your own testimony too in Jesus name. At a time I got tired of waiting. My admission process took over 2 months. My visa application process took over 3 months.
Never stop praying and never stop trusting God. Please, be truthful in your application. If you are stuck and need help with your application, you can shoot me a mail and I'll try my best to reply to them.

Christyiji:
Pls, how can I track my GCM note, yesterday was exactly one month I requested for it.

No way, you just keep waiting until you get, did u apply from ircc or cbsa? Cbsa is generally faster than ircc. I hope u get it soon

Hi guys, I got a refusal today for insufficient fund even though we paid 4750 out of 10, 750 one year tuition program.

She also have 7.5million in her account ( ~cad22000), does it make sense to get refusal based on insufficient fund since she will only need 6000+10000 = cad 16000

Qcanvs38mimi:
No I haven’t. The rule comes into effect on Monday, I’m landing on Sunday by Gods grace and mercies

Cool, good for you. We couldn't make it. When did u receive your passport?

awys:
Please which email address did you send it through

info.cannig@vfshelpline.com and canadang@vfshelpline.com

awys:
Even me e never show oooo

Did you receive any email from vfs confirming it's under process?

Qcanvs38mimi:
Yes. I got this message too but the counterfoil number hasn’t showed on my gc key so I am really worried

Did u pay the transmission fee? If you had your biometric in Lagos, you have to pay the transmission fee, I think some people are able to get it done without the payment but some people get screwed over.

We paid late and sent them the proof, hopefully they get it

Qcanvs38mimi:
When did you send yours?

Sent on 3rd of February, received the following day and the last email was on 11th that it's under process. It's for my spouse, I am currently in Canada

Qcanvs38mimi:
I just finished raking at Canada high commission, Lagos. First, they said that I had to book an appointment and that I should go home and send a mail. I didn’t go all that way just to go home. So I stayed, I printed all my ppr, passport page and 4 emails from vfs. The lady said that she can’t collect the paper because of corona. I still stayed oh. I said that I was not going anywhere till I spoke to someone, they called me from inside. After shouting, they said that because my file is not here that there is nothing that they can do but she said that she would inform the people in charge of printing in Abuja . They haven’t even printed my counterfoil sinceee. So I said okay but if I don’t see a change, I will come back tomorrow

Thanks for the update, 2k is a lot of money but if they're not able to meet up then paying is the only option

milkytins:
Pls how can I sort this out?
My wife's and daughter's requests were denied travel exemption approval on Open Work Permit visa and visitor visa respectively.

I will advise that you send it again, applying for gcms notes is probably the best if you can wait before sending the request again. Make sure u call out how long you are looking to stay with your spouse, from my experience, you have a better chance if you state that you're looking to stay till the end of your spouse's temporary stay in Canada

Hummer01:
Good day everyone, please does anyone have direct contact (phone number) for Abuja embassy? It's being 2weeks already that I submitted my passport, I am yet to hear anything from them. I intend to travel this week to avoid the C$2k. Any helpful information will be well appreciated. Thank you.

Same here, don't know if I should just rebook the flight at this point, I just don't know how much more time they'll require before getting it stamped

Jetline:
I thought the $2000/mandatory 3 days quarantine has started?Plz, anyone who travelled in the last few days should brief us.

Not yet, fg is currently receiving applications from interested hotels for designation which will close today, I think they'll announce a start date once hotels are designated.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/7627461/canada-covid-hotel-quarantine-criteria/amp/

Rootiab:
when are they starting it?

No date yet but it should start as soon as hotel designation is completed, it shouldn't affect international students going to schools with already prepared COVID-19 readiness plan

Qcanvs38mimi:
Ircc Abuja is slowing down I think. My passport was sent to the Canadian visa office last Wednesday, still no LOI or counterfoil number. Any body having the same issues

This is exactly the same situation we are in with my spouse passport request, was sent on Wednesday and we received an email from vfs on Thursday that it's received and that they're sending it for processing but no update since then, we are seriously in a race to beating the start of $2000 mandatory hotel quarantine that will be starting soon

Samsn456:
Thank you, I went to their office this morning and they said that those documents are okay and that I should expect my passport next week. Thank you for your reply.

Hi there, did u have any response yet from vfs? I submitted to vfs Abuja last Wednesday and I got an email with the tracking number the following day but nothing since then, I'm just looking to know if u receive your passport back from them now

Skilad54:
Wow Congratulations!!!


May I know if the travel authorization letter was sent with your application or you sent it while your application is on? Do you think they won’t attend to applicants if the travel authorization letter isn’t sent to them or included in the application?

I sent it when the application was in process and I think applications aren't been treated if request for authorization isn't sent

Update

Application approved yesterday
Submitted - April 2nd 2020
Medical passed - Nov 20, expired Dec 24 and was extended before approval yesterday
Biometric done in previous refused Application

We also got the travel authorization approval, I actually sent couple requests before we got this.

My spouse is PA and I'm on PGWP with an noc b job in Canada

We submitted the usual documents
Me:
Work permit
Employment letter and paystub
My soa
Letter of explanation
Marriage cert, Marriage pictures and change of to proof relationship

Spouse
Loa
Land cofo

I think that's about it, I wish folks still waiting all the best with their application

Ooh what a wait that is

Hi guys, what's the process of sending passport for stamping? Is it Abuja or Lagos? Fee and stuffs? Appreciate all help

Hi everyone , I applied for my app on Sept 9 and aor same day and I confirmed today that my eligibility, security and criminality are now passed but I am suspicious my approval and copr is been delayed because my spouse is in Nigeria while I am in Canada, is there anyone here in my shoe ?

Please let me know if you have an Outland dependant and you are already in Canada , thanks

Chikaima18:
Hello everyone, thank you for all the information here. I am still trying to read up and I apologize if my question has been answered in the past.
Is there need to apply for sowp for kids with American passport? Thank you

You don’t apply SOWP for kids, I think they’ll only need to apply for ETA since they’re Americans.

Find more information here on how to apply for one https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

gbjobs1:
Pls, I'm interested in this too. Prices are really high right now.

Any update on your file

Opemipo21:
Hi, from my understanding when I contacted CiC when my application was at that stage, I was told it’s to confirm if you meet the Exemption restriction. So the senior officer has to be the one to approve your exemption. Once that is done you will get a call to submit your passport and when your passport is returned an exemption letter will be added to your return envelope.
FYI, I never used my exemption letter, just telling them that I was reuniting with family was enough.

Thanks for the heads up, which phone number did you call them at? I called them in Canada and I was advised to reach out to Nairobi office as they’re not able to access my profile

hayqinsbFX:
YEs i sent the xemption email.

I guess the files are just in queue to be reviewed by an officer.

normally, review required means a senior officer needs to look at the file. In this case, i am ppositive its just in the queue to be processed.


I also strongly believe its dependent on canadas discretionary travel ban.

Well, I don’t think it’s in any queue because nothing is processed , we should be seeing progress from folks here if it is, at least I do see updates on sowp forums on canadavisa.

If no one is reporting any update I will conclude they’re not working on them for now, maybe they’ll in the future.

I also understand review required means a case analyst is not satisfied and need a senior visa officer to look into it but it usually doesn’t take this long especially when visa process began more than three months ago

hayqinsbFX:
And there are no visa officer notes .

Right, they’re not processing them at all. But I know India vo are working on Indian sowp applications even though their visa offices are still closed.
I have sent up to four exemption emails and I also reached out to my MP but no luck yet.
Did you send any exemption email?

hayqinsbFX:
Two GCMS notes say the samething.

Anyone else orders gcms notes?

Eligibility- review required.
Criminality - passed
Info sharing- complete.

This is exactly what I have as well and I applied twice

Mysine:
Hello Opemipo2,
Congratulations again. Please I have some enquiries regarding my application. I have a visitors Visa to Canada and my husband has a PR. He has applied for my own PR plus spousal work permit but I have not gotten any response yet.
1. Is it possible for me to go to Canada next month to visit him
2. Will you advice he obtains my GCMS notes?
3. Is re-uniting with family member (husband) a good enough reason to write an exemption letter?

Thank you so very much for your reply and help

1. Yes, if you’re staying longer than 14 days
2. You can apply for the notes to know the status of your application
2. You don’t need to email them for exemption, just go to their airport with proofs that your husband is a permanent resident of Canada and a proof that you are married to him ( marriage cert etc)

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html
Read the section with foreign nationals who are eligible to travel to Canada

demiiii:
Hello everyone,

I know we are all tensed waiting for the application eligibility to be change to passed. But someone should please assist others who need information on how to go about applying. Using your personal experience or others you are aware of.

kindly explain the best way to apply for a Mother who the applicant for study permit. What does she do immediately she gets it? How can should she apply for some of her family?
How should she bring apply for her spouse and 4 children 7,5,1,1?
Kindly give your best option for the period ? if she needs to get to Canada first or she can apply from Nigeria or she can apply immediately she has her AIP or she can apply for all her kids at once or she can apply for some of them?
None of them were included in the application as accompanying her due to the uncertainty of the outcome.

Thanks in antipication

I will say wait till you get your final approval , from what I’m aware of, there are people that get their final stage refused after getting their AIP approved.

Wait for your final approval , start your classes even if it’s online, get your enrolment letter and other documents, you can then submit a spouse open work permit for your husband and a visitor visa for the rest of them

Opemipo21:
Hi, you have to meet the COVID exemption for your application to be processed at this time. Am sure you have sent an email to the COVID exemption email. If you have then you should see if they think you meet the exemption on your GCMS note. If you do, they will process it and even attach the COVID exemption letter to your package when you get your passport back from them. I hope this helps!

It does and I thank you for your help . I had previously sent that email and I got an informational letter within a week in my GCkey account that I did not meet the exemption requirement. I have sent another email like two weeks ago but I am yet to get a response maybe they’ll consider me now, I in fact added our PR nomination letter alongside the documents I attached.

My rants above is just about them doing nothing on our application, at least according to SOWP threads that I follow on canadavisa, they still process Indians application even though they’re not requested to send their passport because their visa offices are still closed and they didn’t send any email to request the exemption like we are doing.

Anyone with an update? They’re processing Indians application even though their visa office is still closed, some of them that applied for gcms saw that their application was approved but couldn’t get ppr because visa office is still closed.

I have requested for my gcms notes twice and nothing changes even though they have my application updated to reviewing eligibility , I have sent the email for exemption and even reached out to my MP but nothing is happening on my app. It’s just not fair

Did you also clear big trailer trucks? If yes, how much will it cost to clear a 2008 Mack Pinnacle?

And how much will you clear 2013 Corolla via Grimaldi (Roro)

Opemipo21:
When did that change for you? My medical has been updated as passed since February 19, 2020.

My file review of eligibility started on 28th of May but my medical is still showing you do not need medical. We will send you a message if this changes.

I’m just curious that’s why I’m reaching out to know what’s up.

Edit: we submitted upfront medical alongside our application