₦airaland Forum

Itzchord:
I use a Gtbank naira Mastercard. I paid for WES with d same card

THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE
During my childhood days in the north, when there was power disruption, my siblings and I would call NEPA with our home phone and give them tales that we were studying for exams and that we needed them to restore power. Sometimes, the officials would laugh with us over the phone and not long after, we would be back to the couch watching cartoons. I kid you not guys! Nigeria was that good. It’s unbelievable and surreal when I think about it now. As kids, we were opportune to relocate abroad on countless occasions but our Dad always waved it aside. I think he hated the idea and wouldn’t even consider it for a second. I guess he always felt the Western world would corrupt his kids as quite a considerable number of African parents would naturally think. We were okay with that but as time and seasons went by, and as we grew older, we watched our beloved Naija turn into a hideous monster.

This is to say that my mission to Temple Run myself out of Naija started when those NEPA people stopped picking our calls. In my home country, the word - "Temple Run" is synonymous with Naija’s “japa”. Lol.

So I had plans in relocating to the US or Canada just after my undergrad days and at the time, I applied to several Universities - University of Texas at Austin, University of Regina, California State University etc. I wrote and passed the Academic IELTS twice but I did not use the results. Talk about wasted time, money and effort (at the time, I thought it was). I got admission to 3 schools and unfortunately, my inability to show proof of tuition fees and other expenses did not allow me apply for study visa. No proper planning in that area. I guess I was clinging on to hope that some miracle would spring up. It didn't. I decided to move on with my life and later learned about the newly-opened Federal Skilled Workers program in 2015. I learned during the time that eligible applicants were either Masters or PhD degree holders or people who had high qualifications, I didn’t fully understand the process so I decided to burst it. Even if I did, I remember the CRS used to be above 480 then, so I didn't even think twice about it. I ignored the EE and decided to focus on other things worthwhile. That's when my sister - @dumprep's UK masters came up in 2015/16. She got admission and her visa was approved. As God blessed us, she travelled to the UK for studies.

In August 2017, I accidentally came across a website about the CRS cut-off. I opened it and saw it had dropped to 433. I checked to see the previous rounds and saw the draw was 413 in April 2017. Na lie! April was just a few months ago na! I’ve been dulling sha. What was I doing all this while? Information is power people! I did a quick research, immediately launched the CRS tool and simulated my scores. I came up with 436 (i.e. if I max out the IELTS). Not bad at all. Oya na. What are the first steps? General IELTS+ECA. Ok. Time to get busy!

IELTS
Seeing as I considered myself a native English speaker with prior experience of acing the academic IELTS twice (money, time and effort not wasted after all), I felt I didn’t need to prepare much since I was familiar with the tests, how pompous! I speedily registered for the next available General IELTS and practiced for a few days with Cambridge IELTS (good study materials I’d recommend anytime). The test day finally came and knowing fully well that I needed at least an 8 in Listening to max out the IELTS to get 436, I was completely dazed when I got to the exam hall and saw that the loud speakers were not working properly. I was extra shocked when the invigilator explained that we would need to use a smaller speaker. I thought it was a joke until I saw him come into the hall with a small radio-like device. Are you ‘kidney’ me? It was as small as a radio set, with that inlet where you insert cassette tapes. I looked around to see the faces of other candidates to see if I was the only one seeing this. Na only me sha. Did these people come for the same test? Am I in the wrong test centre? I kept mute and waited for the man to test the sound. Hmmm....not bad. The thing actually sounded loud enough. Just before we kicked off the Listening section, I could hear children screaming and playing in the compound just next to the British Council where the exam was to take place. Why are other candidates not speaking up? E be like say na only me come write dis exam. Me, I need extreme peace and calm biko. At least some semblance of peace. This IELTS ehn, i'm not taking any chances. We die here! So I summoned the invigilator and told him the area was noisy. Only for baba to tell me, "Eh bo. Nar for osh. Bot wen ar play d audio, you nor dae yeri natin outside" which translates to “Oh. Sorry. But when I play the audio, you won’t hear anything outside”. Okay na. Let's see. Surprisingly, there was no issue with the small and mighty boom box and thankfully, the Listening went well. Result came out as LRSW: 8.5, 7.5, 8, 8. This brought my CRS to 433.

It was like Mr. IELTS, the Humbler of Men said to me, “Na me you been wan max out abi? I pity for you. Olodo!”

ECA
While I was waiting for ECA to be completed, I watched the EE draws increase from 433 to 434 to 435. I began to question my thinking level. Mumu me! I should have started my ECA the same time I started planning to write the IELTS, or even before. It would have been an entirely different story if I knew then, what I know now. Too late anyway, no point in flogging a dead horse. My ECA was smooth with no hiccups. After 2 months, I had my WES ECA report in hand. I was glad. Things were going well as planned.

IRCC, CIC! WHY?
As soon as I got my ECA completed, I deep dived into the pool with 433, prematurely confident that ITA will come soon. It was once 413, 415, 423 and 431 so it will come in the next round, duh! Homeboy was feeling fly. Next draw came and it was 438. No worries, it will eventually drop. Next draw came out and it was 436. Okay, that’s a sliver of hope, maybe it will come down to 433 or lower.

It didn't.

It went up to 458 and dwindled to 452. The CRS cut-off never went below 439. It was downright appalling. My brain was on overdrive. IRCC! Haba now! CIC why na? Noooooooooooooo! I need my mummy! Lol.

While still in the pool, I ensured to keep monitoring the draws but kept getting downright disappointments. I figured if ITA comes, then all's well that ends well. IELTS and WES certificates were still valid anyway. I was torn in between creating a new profile and keeping the current profile. This was because my profile was several months old which means I had the tie-breaking rule advantage. In the same vein, I thought to go for the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) which required creating a new profile because at the time, Ontario was sending out Expression of Interest (EOIs) to newly-created profiles and to specific occupations. This was when I met @abakiki on Canadavisa forum. I remember she was on 434 and I was on 433. She was at the verge of going for the OINP and she advised I do the same since we were uncertain if the CRS cut-off would come down to the 430s. She thought it would be better to pay the 1,500 CAD and secure ITA than be in the pool waiting endlessly for ITA. I had the same belief too but I was reluctant to create another profile. What if I delete this profile and the cut-off comes down to 433 with a favorable tie-breaking rule? I'd surely miss that ITA, so I decided to chill. Few weeks later, I saw on Canadavisa forum that @abakiki had edited her signature which displayed the day she got nomination from Ontario. Wow! She has got nomination already? Nice! So I speedily recreated my profile with the hopes of getting an EOI too. Months passed by and nothing came, no EOI. Basically, I gave up on EE.

ITA FINALLY!
So my beloved sister finally returned to Nigeria and then one afternoon, while wallowing in self-pity, I got a light bulb! Desperate times……..hehehe. I figured we could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. She would be a PR and I would benefit from it by getting the 15 points as a sibling. I knew this would be no easy feat and it would be a long wait before I grabbed that ITA. We started the process immediately, her IELTS was a success, WES was speedy. Her CRS was 450+. Indeed, the Masters degree came in handy. Things were going great. In June 2018, we submitted her application. My birthday finally came and CRS went down from 433 to 427. Six points? Isn't it supposed to be 5 points? Anyway, no worries. 15 points inbound. I shouldn't be troubled. Lemme just cling to faith.

In October 2018, our joy was unspeakable when she got PPR. On December 10, 2018, she landed in Canada. I updated my profile same day to claim sibling points and CRS increased to 442. On December 12, just two days after I updated my profile, a draw was conducted and the ranking score was 445. Ha! These people have started again o! At that point, I prayed for a Christmas gift because I presumed the cut-off will be lower if consecutive draws occur. People came out with different speculations on why there might not be back-to-back draws in December. Trust my Indian brothers on Canada Visa Forum, one of them said the December 12 draw will be the last draw in 2018. Dude! Don’t……..angry………me! On December 19, I woke up lazily, did some routine activities which involved yawning, checking official emails and social media, scrolling the EE Nairaland thread to keep up with recent posts/messages, more yawning, Feliz Navidad-ing and lazying in bed as I was on vacation in the US at the time. About 10-15 minutes later, I got back to my PC, refreshed the page and saw my good man, @wasseynewest's post about cut-off at 439. What?!!! Issa lie! This long-awaited, elusive ITA is finally here?!!! It seemed like I just got PPR. Being overjoyed was an understatement. The holiday I was enjoying now seemed like it was taking too long to end. Holiday come and go na .

Let me mention here that all the while, my Dad was so much involved in the process that he could explain what ITA, AOR, eAPR, LOE, PPR and other acronyms in this journey mean. There was this one time, he asked me, “How far? Hope your documents are copacetic?” Sorry Daddy, you said? Copa…..kini? Copa….ce…what?” He meant to ask if my documents were in excellent order. That word is now etched in my brain. His contributions, prayers and wishes were of immense magnitude. Two months post-AOR, his faith was already way stronger than mine as he asked me if I would send my passport to him via courier so he would take to VFS on my behalf as an authorized representative. Three months post-AOR, he sent me a message saying, “Any news yet? I think you should order your GCMS notes. You are now over 90 days post-AOR, yes?” He also used to pray saying, “Wherever the soles of our feet touch, we will possess”. Canada, you ready to be possessed?

Now back to the matter where………..the real work began

PCC
In November 2018, before I went on vacation, I had already applied for and got the PCCs from my country of residence and Naija. ASP Moshood to the rescue, spoke with him on phone, good man. We agreed my sister would see him to get the PCC on my behalf. It went smooth. Uploaded both PCCs.

Medical Exam
I thought I would be able to undergo the medical exam before ITA. The hospital doctor explained that I needed to come with my ITA letter before I could undergo medicals. In January 2019, I went back to the hospital with my ITA letter, met a former colleague who worked there and she helped facilitate the process. Thankfully, it went smoothly with some occasional banter from nurses teasing me about not having syphilis or STDs and stuff. They didn’t know nothin’. Me that i've been a good boy. Smh.

POF
I submitted a 1-year USD bank statement and reference letter from the bank, merged the two and uploaded.

Sibling Documents
Proof of Residency of Sibling: Got my sister’s phone bills and bank statement as proof of address.
Proof of Sibling Relationship: Submitted declaration of age and NPC’s attestation of birth documents for both of us. Also attached the bio-data page of her passport and mine.
Proof of Sibling’s PR: Submitted the signed copy of her COPR and PR visa. Two months after she landed, she eventually got her PR card which I uploaded and sent via a CSE.

Reference Letter
This was a daunting task. My previous employer was happy to issue me a reference letter but it turned out to be exhausting, with HR constantly dragging their feet. I saw them, see me, see their slow motion, but for where? They didn't budge. After countless visits to their office and with no headway, I got into vex mode, logged in to my account, removed the employer and replaced with my current employer. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late, I got the "Profile Ineligible" message in my account. Ha! I now have to create a new profile as this one is now locked. Please guys, let's be super careful when updating our profiles. You don’t want to lose your tie-breaking advantage over your profile being ineligible due to an avoidable mistake. I had already claimed points with a 4-year work experience in a particular NOC and then replaced it with a 1-year work experience in another NOC. Mumu me! I won't lie, I had lots of 'mumu me' moments in this EE journey. So I quickly recreated a new profile and placed the 'slow-motion' company back in my profile. Eventually, I got the reference letter and submitted with my employment letter and staff ID card. Didn’t include payslips or salary statements (somehow, I expected an ADR for payslips and salary bank statement).

Education Degrees
Merged and submitted WES Certificate, Degree Certificate and IELTS result.

Every day post-ITA, I would flick through my documents to ensure everything was………….you know………..copacetic. Hehehe. I finally submitted on January 15, 2019.

Post AOR
Biometrics
Got MEP and BIL on February 23, 2019. I couldn’t go for biometrics until March 7 because there is no Canadian Visa Application Centre/VFS in my home country. It was either Accra or Lagos, so I picked the latter since it would give me an opportunity to see friends and family back home. I went for biometrics on March 7, spent 3-4 hours at the venue because I got there late. After completing biometrics, I hung out with some members of the January 2019 AOR group. Fun time! Fantastic people! Part 2 of our reunion gats to happen, this time in Canada. A shoutout to my fellow January AOR WhatsApp family, a band of special characters who make the wait for PPR less unbearable. Thank you guys.

The Wait
A teensy bit of excitement shrouded in extreme worry, anticipation, pressure, vex, nervousness, red eye, panic, eagerness, anxiety, stress…..*sigh*

In 2014, I fell victim to the sham of an immigration consultant which I inadvertently forgot to mention in my application. Dude ran away and was never heard of. I didn’t remember to mention this because I assumed the guy didn’t do jack on applying to IRCC on my behalf so I shelved it. 112 days post-AOR, I was notjustok and seeing as I selected “No” to the question – “Have you ever applied to IRCC……?”, I decided to raise a CSE to explain to IRCC in the event that the guy actually applied to IRCC. I got anxious about this which made me dwell on worst-case scenarios rather than the best. “What if something else occurred and my application is returned as rejected or incomplete?” I remember jokingly telling @Hephgirl and @ladymarshall that I will raise a CSE packed with some serious Band 9 English if IRCC decides to do ojoro on my application despite having raised a CSE. Lol. I had no idea that PPR was just 8 days away.

ADR
On May 10, just a few days after raising the aforementioned CSE, I got an ADR to submit birth certificates to prove relationship with my sibling and proof of sibling residence in Canada. IRCC explained that the previously submitted proof of sibling’s residence documents were unable to be viewed on their system. Hmm. Okay o. I re-submitted our NPC attestation of birth documents and the sworn declaration of age affidavit that came with it, a notarized affidavit by our parents to specifically attest that we are siblings, the bio-data pages of our international passports, our dad’s driver’s license (his passport had expired) and family photos with captions of year and location. I submitted the ADR on May 13 and two days later, PPR came.

@Hephgirl: my frenemy turned friend turned sister, thanks for the announcement, your words of encouragement and support. I will be around to return the favor when your PPR lands, which is very soon.

Acknowledgement
My sincerest appreciation to everyone here. Please permit me guys, I wish I could name names but the list is endless. You guys have been amazing! The banter, fights, funny memes, plenty balderdash, twaddle, hooey, bunkum, hokum, humbug, flagrant and blatant hogwash will absolutely linger. I don’t know how, but a reunion sometime in future with you guys is definitely imaginable.

For those in the different stages of this journey, let us keep pushing till we hit our targets. Keep at it until you get it. Giving up is not an option. It never is. This journey has taught me perseverance and this EE thread has brought me in close rapport with people of great character, beautiful minds and people with similar ideas, dreams and ambitions. Strangers turned friends and friends turned family.

God bless you ALL.

Our greatness weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try, just one more time - Thomas Edison

*Eyeballs @ladymarshall of Kuvukiland Cannyland, drops pen into waste basket and walks out the PPR exam hall with confidence*

safex:
S/He mentioned 35 years as current age, not 33 years.

sempe123:
I will be 35 by december.

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]

It’s Prêt pour Visa guys! Mail came in at 11:22 PM last night. I was about to go to bed when I saw the mail. The speed at which I went from being sleepy to fully wide awake was 0 to 100 real quick.

A special thanks to EVERYONE for the best wishes and prayers . You guys said it. We just started Part 8 and from your mouths to God’s ears, it has happened beautifully.

Express Entry has got us with different stories to tell and it’s been one hell of a ride………a roller coaster ride indeed.

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]

It’s Prêt pour Visa guys! Mail came in at 11:22 PM last night. I was about to go to bed when I saw the mail. The speed at which I went from being sleepy to fully wide awake was 0 to 100 real quick.

A special thanks to EVERYONE for the best wishes and prayers . You guys said it. We just started Part 8 and from your mouths to God’s ears, it has happened beautifully.

Express Entry has got us with different stories to tell and it’s been one hell of a ride………a roller coaster ride indeed.

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]

It’s Prêt pour Visa guys! Mail came in at 11:22 PM last night. I was about to go to bed when I saw the mail. The speed at which I went from being sleepy to fully wide awake was 0 to 100 real quick.

A

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

Zara01:
Is your spouse accompanying you to Canada? If yes, I don't see why he can't write IELTS to help boost your score, that's quite odd.

Nonetheless, what's your score? You can do a PGD and be done in 9 months, what do you think?

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden

Hephgirl:
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANNOUCE THAT
@TOPSMAMEN
P
P
R
IS HERE

joo2018:
Ghost mail.

Which stage of the process are you?

joo2018:
Pls clarify. Is it internship after graduation?

Lagbi1:
Pls I will like to be added to May AOR whatsapp grp. Thank you

ladymarshall:
Amen o!!! Seriously hoping and praying. I will take your statement before God tonight! It must happen as you said. Thank you

But I need @Topsmamen to go first. I need to mark that script

Hephgirl:
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANNOUCE THAT
@TOPSMAMEN
P
P
R
IS HERE

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]

It’s Prêt pour Visa guys! Mail came in at 11:22 PM last night. I was about to go to bed when I saw the mail. The speed at which I went from being sleepy to fully wide awake was 0 to 100 real quick.

A special thanks to EVERYONE for the best wishes and prayers . You guys said it. We just started Part 8 and from your mouths to God’s ears, it has happened beautifully.

Express Entry has got us with different stories to tell and it’s been one hell of a ride………a roller coaster ride indeed.

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]

It’s Prêt pour Visa guys! Mail came in at 11:22 PM last night. I was about to go to bed when I saw the mail. The speed at which I went from being sleepy to fully wide awake was 0 to 100 real quick.

A special thanks to EVERYONE for the best wishes and prayers . You guys said it. We just started Part 8 and from your mouths to God’s ears, it has happened beautifully.

Express Entry has got us with different stories to tell and it’s been one hell of a ride………a roller coaster ride indeed.

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

Topsmamen:
[s]To my dearest and wonderful e-fam, with great joy in my heart, I pick my golden pen from the basket of happiness to write you this announcement. Hope this meets you in good health? If so doxology.[/s]


Express Entry has got us with different stories to tell and it’s been one hell of a ride………a roller coaster ride indeed.

TIMELINE
ITA wait: October 2017-December 2018 (14 months)
ITA: December 19, 2018
AOR: January 15, 2019
Medicals Passed/BIL: February 23, 2019
Biometrics Done: March 7, 2019
Ordered GCMS Notes: April 24, 2019 (Notes are yet to be received)
ADR received: May 11, 2019 (1. Birth Certificates to prove sibling relationship. 2. Proof of sibling residence in Canada)
ADR submitted: May 13, 2019
PPR: May 15, 2019
Visa Office: Ottawa
Single Applicant

reavealhidden:
Please send a PM and I will send you the link....Thanks

Itzchord:
I use a Gtbank naira Mastercard. I paid for WES with d same card

beeodun:
Have you checked out NOC 1123 sis?
@ans123-yeah?

Luceecarter:
hello, please can you upload the template for the affidavit and attestation
thanks

Kuntos:
Pls do i need to send form and scratch card for waec only or do i still go there for them to send my result to wes?