Jejebaba:


You are really right sir and really appreciate taking ur time to respond to my yearnings, the salary is really low now, imagine from a pay of $102K USD (130k CAD) in 2014 and just 2 years experience to now around 70k USD (89k CAD) in 2018 after 6 years experience. Sometimes, i regretted joining the oil field because no one prays to have such huge paycut and its that bad to the extent that, Schlumberger in the USA now pay them per hour and the friend in Nisku told me they stopped paying them base salary and they only get rig bonus and coupled with the fact that, they can't work for 2 months in a year due to the weather which means, there will be no income for the 2months and these were some of the reasons he discouraged me from considering Canada Express entry.
If i were to be selfish, i would have chose the Canada PR immediately as i will have better work-life balance as Canada is a secular country but i am trying to not be broke and subject my family to untoward hardship just because of Citizenship. The option of not resigning my job but sending my family and kids to Canada while i keep working in the Middle East till i can get a job in Canada sounds good than to resign my job and we all move to Canada without a job guarantee which could drag us into debt if i dont get job there in time and having need to start from the scratch all over.

I now see where you are coming from.
Also $89k CAD is a decent wage. That is around $125k gross in Alberta. The option of leaving your family in Canada while you return to work might be the better option untill you are able to resettle yourself in Canada. Relocating to Canada would come with its own sacrifice, but in the long run, you would be glad you took the decision to relocate to a developed country.
I wish you goodluck in whatever decision you make. We are agemates. No need to address me as sir.lol

salford1:

I now see where you are coming from.
Also $89k CAD is a decent wage. That is around $125k gross in Alberta. The option of leaving your family in Canada while you return to work might be the better option untill you are able to resettle yourself in Canada. Relocating to Canada would come with its own sacrifice, but in the long run, you would be glad you took the decision to relocate to a developed country.

Thanks sir, it has always been my dream to settle my family in a developed country and i really appreciate your response to the yearnings of a 33 year old guy who wants the best for his family but has been confused due to the future of the unknown.

Gracias.

Jejebaba:


Thanks sir, it has always been my dream to settle my family in a developed country and i really appreciate your response to the yearnings of a 33 year old guy who wants the best for his family but has been confused due to the future of the unknown.

Gracias.

We are agemates. No need to use sir. lol.
We are all in a race to provide our family the best in life.
I wish you goodluck in any decision you make.

nuttyp:
Hello everyone,

I honestly need some sort of advice, assistance or help. Presently, am in dilemma whether to relocate to Canada or not. Few months ago, I applied for FSW, I have a family of 3, we were so lucky, God intervened that it took just about 1 month for approval. Passports stamped, COPR received and all of a sudden am having cold feet.

My story, I currently have a better than average, but not fantastic job in Nigeria, own a decent house. Wife has a degree, 2009 and MSC, 2015, in Computer Science, still looking for job. Laying hands on a side business though. One day, after thinking it through, especially because of the kids, currently have one, we decided to 'port' to Canada.

Now, fear of the unknown is really hunting me, wife's spirit and soul already in Canada, but am afraid. Where are we going to start from? Which province or town are we going to settle in? How do we get Jobs? How are we going to survive? I also have a degree, Computer Eng, MBA with over 5 years work experience. I may be wrong but our certificates may mean nothing in Canada, would we then have to go back to school in CA?

We still have till December before the visa expires, I am really confused, almost in a state of forgetting about everything and keep struggling in Nigeria. To resign and start one odd job in Canada would be a nightmare for me. No doubt, I want a better future for my kids, and also I want my wife to be happy and fulfilled in life, but am seriously confused and almost getting depressed.

Sorry for the long post, apologies, please assist if you can.

Many thanks.

Do you have IT experience? there is nothing like self research to see the current trend or job market in Canada and see how your skills compare... Aside from that you should be fine , taking your time is also good.

Please I have been following this thread for encouragement for a while now. I'm a tired banker of 10yrs, 2 children with a spouse unwilling to relocate. (He blivs naija will get beta etc etc) I've gone ahead with my PR applications hoping he'll change his mind. Now I want to find out, for those who did short landing, how many years is the validity of PR for you to come back?
I mean can you do short landing, go back then decide to fully relocate after 2, 3 years? What's the maximum period pls?

Pls help me out on this enquiry

Guys,I'm back with my question.
For those who enrolled in academic programs after landing in canny,did you use your school transcripts to process admission or the WES report?

I really need this info so i dont waste time and money running after school trascript.
Thanks.

WoodcrestMayor:
Guys,I'm back with my question.
For those who enrolled in academic programs after landing in canny,did you use your school transcripts to process admission or the WES report?

I really need this info so i dont waste time and money running after school trascript.
Thanks.

@woodcrestmayor, academic route is different from imigration ..so different rules apply. For example, immigrations asks you to provide ECA(document by document) while schools ask you to provide ECA (course by course evaluation). So if you do decide to return to school after getting PR and landing canny, you would still need to return to your najia school and ask for transcript again. Thats why most people do the immigration ECA first, and then if they want to go to school, they ask for an upgrade to course by course.. it wuld cost another fee, though smaller.. but most importantly, you would not need to go back to your school to ask for transcript again.

Or if you are bouyant enough, you could start pursuing the school option against 2019 (winter or fall) now, do both Evaluation types and save time in the future. hope this helps.

P.S: I haven't moved to canny yet, but I am pursuing the school option, hence my feedback.

overcomer296:
Please I have been following this thread for encouragement for a while now. I'm a tired banker of 10yrs, 2 children with a spouse unwilling to relocate. (He blivs naija will get beta etc etc) I've gone ahead with my PR applications hoping he'll change his mind. Now I want to find out, for those who did short landing, how many years is the validity of PR for you to come back?
I mean can you do short landing, go back then decide to fully relocate after 2, 3 years? What's the maximum period pls?

Pls help me out on this enquiry

You need to be in the country for 2 years out of 5 to be able to retain your PR card I believe.

Jejebaba:


Thanks for taking time to analyze this bro. Your analysis are well appreciated. You are absolutely spot on about the citizenship issue as regards Arab countries as they don't offer something of such. This was the reason i decided to start having a good structure in Nigeria in case of being sent home. We decided to start a biz in Naija and therefore asked my company to change my job contract to a Rotator instead of resident as this will avail me the opportunity of cutting cost and focus on investment in Naija whenever i am days off.
There is no job security in the oil sector as you rightly said, when advised by my mentor, he asked me to first concentrate on having liquid assets worth of 100M NGN before thinking about immigration, so in case things don't pan out as planned in the Express entry, i can still have my family survive on return of investments, ROI of the 100M, which can give average of 12% p.a (12M yearly of 100M investment). In view of this, we made changes to our life, relocate back to Naija, reduced vacations to twice a year (New year and summer only) which avail us the opportunity to invest 12M in 2017 and we plan to replicate this in 2018 till we reach the financial goal of 100M.
Job in the middle East don't give pensions, they only give you terminal benefits once fired.
This issue has been giving me sleepless night for some time now anytime my wife brings the issue of Canada Express entry up as i am afraid to loose all our life savings/ investments and not being able to get a worthwhile job after migrating because the stories i read on Quora about experiences of Canada PR immigrant is so scary and i am afraid to subject my family to any hardship they never experienced before.
I will need to sit down and crunch the numbers again except if some of the people i contacted about take home pay in Canada are not telling me the truth because they told me, they had serious pay cut due to the oil crises and their pay package is yet to be restored to their old package pre-oil crises.

Your friend is a slowpoke. What does he mean liquid assets of 100M Naira ? If he means liquid cash of 100 M naira, then that's like 354k Canadian dollars. Who has such liquid cash here ? Stop listening to that guy. Even if things don't pan out right away, there's a big safety net here. The government has a lot of programs to help newcomers, believe me. You won't go without the essentials here, no way. But like others have said, apply for the program, come here with your family and get them settled. After they're settled and you have all the important Canadian documents (PR card, health card, etc), go back there to work. Be going back and forth until you find something worthwhile in Canada, or before your residency obligation is about to expire. Really whats your other option ? Continue living on eggshells in an Arab country which won't give you citizenship. And when they tell you to leave the country (And they will one day), comeback to naija to this "business" which is a naija code word for there's no job in this country so let me try to generate wealth myself. If or when you inevitable return to naija and your savings finish, your quality of life will drastically reduce, and your wife will have a hatred for you, nor will she respect you again. She'll forever be thinking what me and the kids life would be if my (insert insult) actually had the courage to come to Canada. Believe me, I know guys currently in naija going through such a situation. You're taking the risk to maybe one day return to naija because of 70k USD you take home per year ? That 70k is worth playing with your wife and kids future and prosperity ? Think about that. Just my 2 cents.

@Jejebaba, I really understand your view point and the uncertainties surrounding your decision.
I think you should consider doing a short landing with the family and then return back to work.
Another option, is relocating with the family to Canada and flying to UAE for some shifts if possible, while applying for similar roles in Canada and observing the outcome.
I think Canada will be nice for the kids and your wife who is into IT as there seems to be high demand for IT professionals currently.
You really need to maximize the opportunities available right now to you and your family.

salford1:

I now see where you are coming from.
Also $89k CAD is a decent wage. That is around $125k gross in Alberta. The option of leaving your family in Canada while you return to work might be the better option untill you are able to resettle yourself in Canada. Relocating to Canada would come with its own sacrifice, but in the long run, you would be glad you took the decision to relocate to a developed country.
I wish you goodluck in whatever decision you make. We are agemates. No need to address me as sir.lol

Pls sir, I'd like to send you a PM to ask about something that's not entirely related to this topic.
Thanks in advance.

Thanks a milli for this.

I did my immigration ECA in 2013 and I'll be landing next month.

So i guess i'll just chill then.
I did an inquiry to WES but they are yet to respond.
Thanks once again

mamacajah:


@woodcrestmayor, academic route is different from imigration ..so different rules apply. For example, immigrations asks you to provide ECA(document by document) while schools ask you to provide ECA (course by course evaluation). So if you do decide to return to school after getting PR and landing canny, you would still need to return to your najia school and ask for transcript again. Thats why most people do the immigration ECA first, and then if they want to go to school, they ask for an upgrade to course by course.. it wuld cost another fee, though smaller.. but most importantly, you would not need to go back to your school to ask for transcript again.

Or if you are bouyant enough, you could start pursuing the school option against 2019 (winter or fall) now, do both Evaluation types and save time in the future. hope this helps.

P.S: I haven't moved to canny yet, but I am pursuing the school option, hence my feedback.

pepe1:


Pls sir, I'd like to send you a PM to ask about something that's not entirely related to this topic.
Thanks in advance.

You can send pm, but if you feel it's what others can also learn from, then it is better to share it here. In addition, you would get more answers and wide range of opinions.

WoodcrestMayor:
Thanks a milli for this.

I did my immigration ECA in 2013 and I'll be landing next month.

So i guess i'll just chill then.
I did an inquiry to WES but they are yet to respond.
Thanks once again

Oh, congrats, I didn't know you were post PR..so what you can do before the ECA validity period of 5 years expires, pick a school and request for upgrade to course by course. You need a recipient to send it to, otherwise, if you are not in any rush, then do a fresh WES application for course by course when you need it. As a PR, you can still get schools for this year, so the option is still open. Cheers.

@Jejebaba

Boss, everyone as at one point or the other asked themselves this same question.

To give you a tip. Ask yourself, "What would my kids say to me, if they find out I had the opportunity to give them a far better life 10/15 years ago but didn't because of the fear of uncertainty?" Because the kids and the need for a better life are basically why most people are going through this important stage of their life.

In as much as you want to be sure, I am afraid there is no guarantee for anything in life. If there was guarantee, I am sure everybody would have all they wished for.


If you choose to focus on the advice of that your mentor, how are you sure your business will keep producing positive results year in year out? Because if you are sure of this, then you have no reason to be afraid of uncertainty of moving to Canada.

You have the advice of elders in the house. The decision making is up to you.

PS:
Life is hard already, let us try not to make it complicated.

Jejebaba:


There is no job security in the oil sector as you rightly said, when advised by my mentor, he asked me to first concentrate on having liquid assets worth of 100M NGN before thinking about immigration, so in case things don't pan out as planned in the Express entry, i can still have my family survive on return of investments, ROI of the 100M, which can give average of 12% p.a (12M yearly of 100M investment). In view of this, we made changes to our life, relocate back to Naija, reduced vacations to twice a year (New year and summer only) which avail us the opportunity to invest 12M in 2017 and we plan to replicate this in 2018 till we reach the financial goal of 100M.

Good investment plan. However, note that the younger you are, the easier your PR process is. Also, the younger you are, the easier it is to acclimatise to a new environment and absorb displacement shocks.

How old will you be by the time you have your 100m? What role would depreciation have played? How many years left until retirement? Inflation nko? Are you sure that 12% will still be able to cover top notch school fees?

Most importantly, could canada and Australia have already cancelled or restricted the PR process?

Oga, carpe diem (seize the day). Your wife that you say you're considering about financial discomfort is not complaining.

Read up on the immigration process, take all the steps needed, it's fortunately not a capital intensive process (in comparison to your income). When you have COPR in hand, then you can continue all your philosophising about whether you want to relocate or not.

Congo spoke French, I've spoken Latin. This your matter is serious o! Abeg who go fit add Arabic join?

I think he wants to hear what he has purposed in his mind.

For me,the Canada move is a no brainer.

Tojued:


Good investment plan. However, note that the younger you are, the easier your PR process is. Also, the younger you are, the easier it is to acclimatise to a new environment and absorb displacement shocks.

How old will you be by the time you have your 100m? What role would depreciation have played? How many years left until retirement? Inflation nko? Are you sure that 12% will still be able to cover top notch school fees?

Most importantly, could canada and Australia have already cancelled or restricted the PR process?

Oga, carpe diem (seize the day). Your wife that you say you're considering about financial discomfort is not complaining.

Read up on the immigration process, take all the steps needed, it's fortunately not a capital intensive process (in comparison to your income). When you have COPR in hand, then you can continue all your philosophising about whether you want to relocate or not.

Congo spoke French, I've spoken Latin. This your matter is serious o! Abeg who go fit add Arabic join?

WoodcrestMayor:
I think he wants to hear what he has purposed in his mind.

For me,the Canada move is a no brainer.

To the gentleman who is getting the responses above, there`s really nothing more that needs to be added as every single person who has replied you so far has spoken great wisdom so please sit up.

You are holding onto a sense of security that does not take into account what Canada has to offer you. In your specific interest and the general interest of your family, have a rethink and look towards Canada. Like we say in Ontario, `it`s yours to discover`. All the best ahead.

Thanks all for your input and response. Its well appreciated.

Hi,

Just like somebody has already suggested. Going through ACCA is your best bet at the moment, because with ICAN you will need to write CPA exams (I don't know how many, but it feels like a lot still).

A friend of mine is doing short landing, but has started the ACCA program haven gotten exemptions for being ICAN certified. She only had to write some ACCA papers, after which she will apply for CPA through the MRA route.

I am ACCA not ICAN, so I just did direct conversion to CPA.

I hope this helps.

hayor2014:
@Virt

Good day, Please i would appreciate if i could reach you for the CPA wahala, I have ICAN and i am seeking the best means to get the CPA in the shortest possible time, and do you have an idea for the best locations for accounting jobs in Canada, i still am confused on where to live( wanna avoid Ontario, if possible), i am awaiting PPR also, e mail is ayoboy06@yahoo.com

Blackbuddy:


To the gentleman who is getting the responses above, there`s really nothing more that needs to be added as every single person who has replied you so far has spoken...

Not to sound like a buzz-kill, but I am scared for this our Oga. I am concerned that when he does get into Canada, with all the challenges that he will certainly face at the beginning, the drive and motivation that should keep him pushing on may not be there to sustain him. Ask yourself, Sir, "what do I/we really want?" People fluorish in Canada, people fluorish in Nigeria. Weigh your pros and cons. Nobody can make the decision for you. When the chips are down, when the challenges come, what convictions will keep you going? That's my concern for you.

Please guys, help clarify my doubt.

In sending the my passport and other documents for COPR, do I really need to send IMM008 family update even if nothing has changed in my status? The IMM008 form I saw online seems like a new visa application form asking for all details. Do I really need to fill it (about 5 pages) even as nothing changed in my status?

Those that have received their visa and COPR from Accra should educate me please.

This is an excerpt of the ppr mail:

UPDATED FAMILY INFORMATION: You must advise us of any change in your marital status or family composition. All family members must be listed on your IMM008 and Additional Family Information forms. Failure to comply may result in a delay in the issuance of your visa.

I did not send in the family update form, and the COPR for my family came through just fine.

itzppr:
Please guys, help clarify my doubt.

In sending the my passport and other documents for COPR, do I really need to send IMM008 family update even if nothing has changed in my status? The IMM008 form I saw online seems like a new visa application form asking for all details. Do I really need to fill it (about 5 pages) even as nothing changed in my status?

Those that have received their visa and COPR from Accra should educate me please.

This is an excerpt of the ppr mail:

UPDATED FAMILY INFORMATION: You must advise us of any change in your marital status or family composition. All family members must be listed on your IMM008 and Additional Family Information forms. Failure to comply may result in a delay in the issuance of your visa.

A555:
I did not send in the family update form, and the COPR for my family came through just fine.

Thanks a lot. Yours was Accra too right and you also received the bolded clause?

Please a quick question;

How does one with an MBA verify credentials?

amindondee:
Please a quick question;

How does one with an MBA verify credentials?

Hi, there's really no special way to verify your MBA. You just follow the procedure for getting an ECA like any other degree. This link will show you the steps to verify the MBA, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/become-candidate/eligibility/education-assessed.html

If it's from a Nigerian school, you may have to make some effort to follow up with the relevant department in your school to ensure your transcript is ready and the process can be seamless. Some schools are more organised than others hence the need to follow up.

You could follow and read up on this thread to see the experiences of others in getting their degrees verified, https://www.nairaland.com/4212543/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled

Good evening everyone,
Please is there any difference between the Bsc Nursing program(4yrs) and the 2years after degree nursing program other than the number of years it takes to complete. Thank you so much

Edmonton residents waddup!!

Please holla if you're resident there i need to ask some questions.
Thank you.

Virt:
Hi,

Just like somebody has already suggested. Going through ACCA is your best bet at the moment, because with ICAN you will need to write CPA exams (I don't know how many, but it feels like a lot still).

From what is stated on CPA website, people joining ACCA with MRA do not qualify for the conversion.

Issyman:


From what is stated on CPA website, people joining ACCA with MRA do not qualify for the conversion.

ICAN to ACCA is not a MRA ,you only get exemptions but you still write exams to pass finally

hayor2014:

ICAN to ACCA is not a MRA ,you only get exemptions but you still write exams to pass finally

Be careful with ur decision to write ACCA.

What if CPA cancels d MRA B4 u complete ur ACCA ?

All d best .

itzppr:


Thanks a lot. Yours was Accra too right and you also received the bolded clause?

Didn't complete the form too. But I included a letter that no change in family composition. Yes it was Accra.