₦airaland Forum

kiari:
My Chest.. I’m in sifia pains

Masekid:
PPR PLAYBOOK.

Disclaimer: I'm not much of a writer. So, make una take am as una see am o.

I grudgingly woke up this morning (28th May), did all my morning routines and I was about to step out when something in me told me to check my mail and viola! PPR mail was sitting pretty in my inbox. I couldn’t believe it!!! I was numb for a micro second.

Timeline:
-Decision to travel: Jan 2018

Never in a million years would I have ever thought that one day I'd be Canadian PR. So, in December 2017, my childhood friend who left for Canada in 2012 came home for xmas and after seeing my condition and also getting fed up of my constant rants about 9ja and life generally. In his words, he said "boboyi shey ori e pe sha, ki lon shi n shey ni country jakujaku yi", to translate "Guy, shey your head correct sha, wetin you still dey do for this yeye country". The thing is he has been hammering express entry to my ears since 2015 and was still shook that i had not taken any steps towards it. My thought has always been, where will I get the money to for the application, not to talk of POF (You should know that, I not from a wealthy family nor am I rich fellow). After the meet that Xmas with my wife and I, his words kept ringing in my wife's ears and she never let me a single moment of rest from then on till the new year. So sometime in the middle of January, I decided we give it a shot but then shinshin no dey account o.

After making the decision, God opened doors for our finances and some money came, i just diverted the funds to get our passports and register for IELTS in April.

-Applied for passport (family of 3): April 2018

9ja is truly a special country, chai! Getting passports was another war. The mistake I made here was going to ikoyi immigration office to apply for passport. Lord, it took 3 donkey months to come out, I should have gone to neighboring states to get the passports same day. Omo, you need to see the battalion of people at that office the day we went to capture. Sometimes, I wonder how many people will be left in this country when all is said and done.

-WES registration : April 2018

This was quite straightforward as we didn't have the WAEC ish then but trust 9ja universities na, they delayed on the verification of my wife's certificate for more than 8 weeks. Thank God we got it sorted sha becos it really made us uneasy at the point in time.

ECA REPORT: June 2018

-Received passports: July 2018

The period after collecting our passports was a tough time in our lives, I lost my job of close to 5 years. You see, i was based in Abuja and my family were in Lagos. I already had a tough life of travelling every other month on the road to see my family in lag, i tried flying a couple of times but mehn the expenses were to much for me, now, adding to the tough life I became jobless. I immediately packed my bags back to lag to stay with my family and started an interesting job of driving Uber/taxify since I had a car and i didn't want to sit at home and eat up all our tiny savings when jobs were not forthcoming. I must say i have met all shades of people while driving for a living, 9ja people can form and carry "shoulder pads" for no reason. It wasn't easy, I figured I had already hit rock-bottom and nobody could put me down under than I already was, I knew what my aim was and kept it cool and calm all through my driving days, like you must already know nothing in life comes easy! I wanna encourage someone out there that's feeling down and overwhelmed with the process, ONE STEP AT A TIME, AS LITTLE DROPS OF WATER MAKE A RIVER AND EVENTUALLY AN OCEAN and don't forget to lay your burdens at the foot of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

-1st IELTS BC: AUG 2018 LRSW 8, 7, 7.5, 6.5 (remark unchanged)

As you can imagine, when i saw the IELTS result above I was heartbroken and I found myself in tears in my car and after a few mins i thought to myself GUY!! why the hell are you crying. I cleaned my tears and drove directly to the nearest bank to pay for the next available exam and also pay for a remark.

Spouse’s IELTS: LRSW 8.5, 5, 7, 6.5

-2nd IELTS BC: SEPT 2018 LRSW 8.5, 7, 7.5, 6.5 (remark unchanged)

The second IELTS result wasn't as painful as the first. What went through my mind when I got the result was "Damn, I have just one more chance for this and if i didn't pass the next exam I would have to retreat for a while" because funds were seriously depleted. I registered for another exam and paid for remark again. I came to the forum to seek help for the writing aspect of the exam and @Arcugo came to my rescue with a link to a very good tutorial on writing.

-3rd IELTS IDP: OCT 2018 LRSW 9, 7.5, 8, 7


I was super excited, it felt like I had gotten PPR when i saw the result. I thank God for that. Immediately I got home that day i created a profile and ultra dived into the pool.

-CRS: 460

-ITA: Nov 18 2018

OK, in this section i'd just talk about how I put my POF in order as i feel this is the only part that's not as regular and straight forward as PPC, MEDICALS, WORK REFERENCE AND EDUCATION parts and also its the part a lot of people have questions.

POF DOCUMENT ORDER
PAGE 1- LOE explaining the fact the I'm using my wife's account to show POF and that the monies there are savings from both of us over the years.
PAGE 2- This page showed a table for the amount needed for a family of of three and the amount we were lodging as POF and also listing the other documents attached in the pdf.

PAGE 3- An xe.com page showing the then present day conversion rate for the amount we lodged in as POF.

PAGE 4- A reference letter from my wife's bank stating all the necessary info in CIC format.

PAGE 5- An investment letter showing our FIXED DEPOSIT.

PAGE 6- A deed of assignment for the piece of land property sold.

NO BANK STATEMENTS, NO PAYSLIPS.
PLEASE!! If you are showing POF in your spouse's account, please, attach a LETTER OF CONSENT FROM YOUR SPOUSE stating that he/she authorizes you to use the account. I have no idea how it skipped my mind as we eventually got an ADR for it.


-AOR: Dec 12 2018
-BIL: Jan 22 2019
-Biometrics done: Jan 24 2019
-MEP: Jan 25 2019

All the above processes from AOR to MEP were uneventful as the all came at the normal time. After, our ADR on FEB 4, then began the almighty deafening SILENCE. During the period I sent in CSEs every two weeks asking if my eligibility, criminality and security checks had started and I also called IRCC once. I got generic responses all the time.

-ADR: Feb 4 2019, To submit a consent letter from my spouse because POF was in her account. (ADR Submitted the-same day)

-Ghost update FEB 4 2019: ADR NOT APPLICABLE (NA)

-Ghost update May 25 2019: IP2

-PPR: May 28 2019, dated MAY 27. ( 5months, 2 weeks)
VO: OTTAWA

I wish everyone at their different stages of the process all the best. Though it may tarry but it will surely end in praise. Don't give up!

@ladymarshall @richness1104 over and out!

phummy164:
Hello house, please can someone help with NECO contact as my neco result and scratch card has been on awaiting verification since 1st of May and that's what is delaying my evaluation now. Was not even aware that they will verify NECO too..

Temyluvdee:
Thanks so much. But is it possible for CIC not to accept the softcopy? If yes,what could be the reasons?

Geetaybeks:
It depends on the bank you are using. I think I was charged same

gracechellar:
"If God be for you, who can be against you"

ladymarshall:
Hmm! Your question struck a very very deep nerve in me. Our sweet mothers!!! I was in the same shoes when I relocated to Western Europe. My mum had the same worries because she cares. I was young (still), single without a committed relationship , knew absolutely no one and was according to her, "too ambitious" (we all know the myth that "too ambitious" ladies rarely find husbands, lol). My aunties ridiculed her for that and she almost stopped me. But what's done was done. I moved!

Her mother's concerns are very valid, not because it makes logical sense in the context of material and career prosperity and/or true happiness since it is an established fact that the marriage institution itself does not lead to happiness or fulfillment, but rather the sharing of joys and burdens as well as companionship and children with THE RIGHT PERSON is the real happiness. Take the right person out of the equation, and marriage is useless, becoming a daily torture and a lifelong bore. Her mom's concerns are valid because she is a product of the Nigerian society which overvalues early marriage for ladies and see late marriage or no marriage as a life problem. Every Nigerian mother's fear is her daughter marrying too "late" or not at all, every Nigerian girl fears singlehood from 30 and we all know the stigma of being single post-30. But I am not interested in speaking to whether these fears are founded on myths or unrealistic cultural values or the twisted genderized concept of biological clocks, etc. Let me just answer your question directly.

1. If "easy" means having a powerful uncle or aunty that will get her jobs without merit, only just by submitting cv and lobbying, or having family and people around her do things for her with little effort on her part or getting people's mercy or pity, when you provide a sentimental story, or getting someone to help you pay bills when it is solely your responsibility to, then Canada will not be "easy".
If "easy" means working very hard for what you want and getting it on the basis of merit without nepotic connections, then Canada is "easy". If "easy" means earning a salary or doing business, paying your taxes and trusting the government to deliver good roads, rule of law, security, health system, in short a country that truly works, then Canada is easy. If "easy" means doing adequate research on living in Canada, networking when necessary, applying diligently for jobs, patiently trusting in God to bless our efforts and eventually getting a good job, then Canada is "easy". If "easy" means what you put in the system is what you get out, then Canada is "easy".
If "easy" means escaping all of life problems, not falling sick at all, living forever, not working hard for money but becoming wealthy, just because she flies to abroad where white people are, then Canada is not easy, neither is Nigeria, neither is the world. So what exactly does mumsy mean by "easy" or "not easy"?
Nigerians are diverse, we think differently, not all of us here think the streets of Canada are littered with gold, some of us here know we may have to do survival jobs if it gets so bad for a short time before we transit to good jobs, and we're still going to Canny, so what does momsy mean when she says "as Nigerians think it is". One thing is sure, her daughter will find a bearing, and start life, and a good career, but how soon? We cannot say because we are not God and cannot see the future but many Nigerians are doing fine there and even those not doing fine yet, will do fine over time. It always gets better with hardwork, focus and determination. It is not realistic to expect that you relocate to a different country, continent, culture totally alien to yours and instantly adjust seamlessly. Your body, mind and belief system need adequate time to adjust, I know this because it's the same adjustment process with where I live. How open her daughter's mindset and expectations are will determine how well she will adjust. But she will, she is human, and when push comes to shove and the race for the survival of the fittest occurs, her human instincts will lead her. How strong are her instincts?

2. Her daughter knows no one in Canny? It's not a problem. I know no one too, at least not family or friends. But now I am just knowing those who have just landed and are about to land. And they will clear ground for us We build connections and networks one day at a time. I knew no one when I just moved to my current country and I still got on very well fine and built powerful networks and mentors in the shortest time possible and heck I don't even speak their language so well. So imagine if i am in an English country. My career took off well and the only limitation now is residency and passport which I would get here if I am patient enough for 5 years but nope, too long, I'm impatient, Canada is the answer today today And I am ready to start afresh, no looking back.
Let me tell you that having or knowing families over there beforehand has little bearing on one's chances of success in Canada. In fact if one is not careful, listening to family in Canny as a JJC without comparing it with your own research can be your undoing. Let me blow your mind, I know someone through a former coursemate referral who I reached out to for advice since she is on ground in my first choice province. She got there some months ago and went to live with her aunty and she told me I must do survival jobs first when I land. Puzzled, I asked her if the mentorship networks, co-op programs and internships she tried out did not work out in the first few months, she told me her family did not tell her that but advised her to do survivals in hair salons immediately while she's looking for her career jobs. (P.s she's not on nairaland, and didn't access these resources). Sis didn't even know those programs existed Imagine! I told her straight away to leave that job and get relevant Canadian experience that can aid her job search. Abi what will arranging attachments in a hair salon do on the CV of someone searching for bank jobs? When it's not that she wants to get Canadian hair stylist certificate. They say we should get Canadian experience, she's doing Kanada experience Anyway I sent her the links and she has signed up for two already and just started volunteering in her career field. We've been prepping for upcoming interviews via skype. I give her 2 months max, she will get something good. And based on my advice, she will move out of that her aunty's house asap. Abi what's the point of having family that have hidden useful life-changing information from her, about to turn her to housegirl, is not like they gave her sibling points, family without value. Nonsense
The point of the story is while it's good to have family and friends on ground, most of momsy's daughter's success will come from her personal efforts, guts, research, career-specific networks. Success is not exclusive to people who have family there before. Momsy's daughter might be a disruptor and her success might be much faster than those who have been living there for long. She will thrive better when momsy supports her dreams with prayers and encouragement. So rather worrying over future uncertainties, can momsy please redirect her approach and encourage her baby girl instead? Mumsy should tell her daughter that as long as she is happy with her choices and it is what she wants to do, she is willing to support and pray for her and let God bless her efforts. And pray that God gives her good husband in Canada instead of discouraging her travel plans.

3. Regarding the marriage issue/worry, I will address the lady directly not the mother. It's her life, her mother has lived hers. Whether or not the lady will be happy or depressed as a single in Canada depends a lot on her, not her mother. What is her relationship temperament? To what degree is she gamophobic or anuptaphobic? People tend to lean more towards one than the other.
If she is a moderate or chronic gamophobic, she will thrive very well in Canada. It's an individualistic lifestyle over there. There will be so many other engagements that will take her mind off relationships, if she is socially inclined, she will probably only remember she is single when sexual needs arises, when she sees PDA in public, or when she talks to family back home or depending on what kind of friends she has and she will handle it well In this case, she will need to handle the mother's pressures tactfully too avoid it getting to her. She knows her mom better than anyone else

If she is anuptaphobic, to what degree? If it's moderate. She should just note these: If she eventually moves to Canada, there is no guarantee she will find a good marriage mate. Good marriage mates are not exclusive to a location. There are good and bad marriageable potential (Nigerian) men everywhere. Fact is Canada's dating culture is not as vibrant and robust as Nigeria, I have researched this and having lived in a similar country. Canadians are very conservative and it is normal for people (both Canadians and Nigerian-Canadians) to be very skeptical of newcomers, especially as issues of culture and jobs come on. No one wants a financial or cultural burden in a country where bills and cultural misunderstandings occur and if the goal is long-term commitment not just the regular satisfaction of sexual needs, relationships will take time to germinate and grow. Also because Canada is a country where the system works even for women as long she works hard, relationship style will differ. She would have to unlearn and reevaluate a lot of things that the Nigeria dating scene has taught her. E.g How do you impress your man? For many bachelors living alone in Canada, cooking is a survival skill they had to learn to cut costs, so cooking jollof rice well might not exactly impress them. Washing cloth and sweeping well? No need, there's vacuum cleaner and washing machine. Sex? Maybe but sex is not exactly a taboo or a weapon or sacred in that society as we think it in Nigeria, there is little or no stigma about it in the West, Intelligence? Maybe but literacy rate in Canada is 99% and the average Canadian is informed. Good behavior? In a immigration country with so many cultures mixing, the definition and expectation of "good" is very relative. Also what does her man need to do to impress her? if it's Nigeria, I'd say "na money be fine bobo", but in a country where economic opportunities are almost equal and attainable, money alone and "giving" may not necessarily cut it for her, there's tendency for her to desire more from her man, which extends dating time. Also she needs to factor in race issues as a black woman, we are unique Being black among whites or very fair skins is kinda a good thing if she can pull it off

If the lady is a chronic anuptaphobic and her self-esteem is seriously dependent on marrying. One alternative is to travel first and then mumsy can help her find a lucky naija man who she will come home to marry and sponsor abroad. I don't usually advice this because true intentions are difficult to decipher, it's 50:50 I have a girlfriend who did this successfully but both families knew each other before one family relocated so there was familiarity before. They've been married for a few years and I'm expecting my first godchild I have another friend who did this but divorced after 2 months. Oga JJC was after paper not love and he couldn't even hide it or pretend Sis got crazy and sent him back. I assisted her with packing into her new home post-divorce as per new life, new goals
Another alternative is to hurriedly find a man and get married before she leaves Naija to satisfy her longing for companionship, calm any fears and make her mother happy. But like they say, "if you rush too soon, you rush too out" Divorce is not a big deal in Canada so why rush in?
Lastly, she can decide to test Canada out, if she finds a mate (which I think she might) fine, if not, she can decide to get her passport first, then return to Nigeria, marry and stay while enjoying the mobility and rights that Canadian passport gives. I have two acquaintances who couldn't cope with the limited dating scene here and had to return to Naija to find a man. They're married and living in Naija now, yaaay I can't do that though but they claim to be happy and that is all that matters

Apologies for the long story and clogging the page, but I really liked your question and I am passionate about women and girls issues, although I love men too so I gave my opinion with a passion


Very well said... Mumsy also has this fear and your words are wisdom right now...

ladymarshall:
1. No. I have not seen anyone yet who has evaluated ND/HND as two or more certs with ICES. Use WES instead to get 2 or more certs

But perhaps you might be a trendsetter in this thread. We love trendsetters. Can you try it? If it comes out positive, then you will be our reference point. if it comes out negative, then it will re-confirm it and you can use WES finally.

Read more here to make up your mind https://www.nairaland.com/3999848/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled/1#59645806 and here https://www.nairaland.com/4843199/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled/286#74437123

Read page one for more advice on ECAs.

2. Yes, based on the assumption that you will use WES.

ladymarshall:
Oga, even we at the other side of the divide post-AOR are still shaking with one leg until PPR comes nothing is sure, any rejection/refusal is a deep pierce in the heart, recovery will be hard But PPR is a given, I'm sure, positive and hopeful

Don't worry, ITA will come soon. You have done your best. Just keep living, no pressure, it will end in praise

All the best to us

yemblaze:
@Topsmamen and others who got PPR....You guys deserve the shekere as our able @ifeoma77 used to shower PPR clinchers with her beautiful shekere ladies...

The legacy continues

BootyliciousHon:
Congrats to all who got ITA today!. Please if anyone knows of a May AOR group I would like to be added

Jenolyfavour:
Hello NL family. Must the account for POF be the same as your salary account?

mobenjackson:
Thanks @ladymarshall... I am very grateful fpr your response and that puts my mind at rest so i can fully study for my IELTS to clinch maximum CRS points pending when I'm ready to dive into the pool.

One last question Ma, when WES evaluates certificates, do they evaluate based on degree or class of graduation... i.e : like upper credit or 2nd class upper gets more point than lower credit or 2.2

Geetaybeks:
I'm depressed

Phaytie:
Good morning nairalanders.

Please, permit me to ask an abstract question,......pls, how does one deal with a mum who is skeptical about her single daughter leaving Nigeria to Canada.
On grounds that the said daughter is not married, and needs to get married in Nigeria first, because she may not find a good Nigerian man to settle with in Canada and she is getting older (even when the daughter in question has no current relationship that could lead to marriage).
And the mum also thinks that life abroad is not as easy as Nigerians think it is, coupled with the financial requirements for the express entry been expensive.

Pls, for those who have idea of these things, or are in Canada, how easy is it to find a bearing, and start life, career and otherwise, especially for a single lady who knows no one in Canny, except a cousin to her friend, who she has never met.
What are your opinions?
The lady has already began the process, ECA in progress, and IELTS soon.

toyinana:
I sent you a PM please add me to your list toyinanalove@gmail.com.

Thanks ind advance




quote author=johnnybravo1990 post=78762695]
Congrats. Glad to hear this.

*Edited* Bro, I wish I can ignore, but I will still say this. Is it a coincidence that after about a 20 minutes whatsapp call with me on 5th April(I have the call records with me), your Writing increased from 6.5 to 7.5 between your last two attempts? I know it was a short call we had, but it was free; you didn’t pay. Prior to this call, you even sent your tasks 1 and 2 writings for me to review, which I did. There is what we call appreciation. I’m not asking for vain glory, but please give some credit to who credit is due.

Henceforth, anyone coming to me for coaching, please carry your plenty money come o. No free or chicken-fee coaching. That way, I know I’m getting my due reward. Or else, you can try alternative sources. All the best to IELTS candidates.

toyinana:
I sent you a PM please add me to your list toyinanalove@gmail.com.

Thanks ind advance

quote author=johnnybravo1990 post=78762695]
Congrats. Glad to hear this.

Henceforth, anyone coming to me for coaching, please carry your plenty money come o. No free or chicken-fee coaching. That way, I know I’m getting my due reward. Or else, you can try alternative sources. All the best to IELTS candidates.

Avidreader748:
Pm me if you havent gotten contact for waec

Nkydechik:
Hello everyone,

Please who has information about Quebec nominations? I have read up their site but i still have some unanswered questions about how it works. Firstly their webpage is written in french, does that mean that fluency in french is a criteria to apply? I am interested in quebec because my occupation is in demand there. I started learning french 3 months ago but i find it so overwhelming especially with the listening. I dont seem to be able to get anything because they speak so fast. Has anyone here tried the quebec nomination program? Or does anyone here knows how it works. Thanks.

ednut1:
that money can't come out from anywhere as i dey. Chilling o

ladymarshall:
Lmao @ Church groups

Sometimes, our mothers are not the real one pressurizing us, it's her people and networks. "what will people say?" kind of worry

ladymarshall:
Hmm! Your question struck a very very deep nerve in me. Our sweet mothers!!! I was in the same shoes when I relocated to Western Europe. My mum had the same worries because she cares. I was young (still), single without a committed relationship , knew absolutely no one and was according to her, "too ambitious" (we all know the myth that "too ambitious" ladies rarely find husbands, lol). My aunties ridiculed her for that and she almost stopped me. But what's done was done. I moved!

Apologies for the long story and clogging the page, but I really liked your question and I am passionate about women and girls issues, although I love men too so I gave my opinion with a passion

Jaybye:
Or maybe you guys didn't uncheck the left box (which indicates the receiving address of your ECA result copy is a Canadian one). The courier charge for this left part is way cheaper than the one on the right side (for an international destination which is suitable to us residing outside Canada). The total ECA fee should be at least 80k or thereabout. I still stand to be corrected by the gurus in the house though.

titibaby:
Help needed please. My brother-in-law is about to commence his ECA. Please can I get the contact of people that can help with transcript in LASPOTECH and YABATECH urgently. We want to complete the ECA as soon as possible.

I will also appreciate the contact of someone who can help with WAEC. Thanks.

Tochai007:
Thanks @harry41.
I got an update. Application was approved May 3rd and still with Case Processing Center, Ottawa.

I'm wondering if that's where my PPR will be sent from or they'll still forward to AVO before I get PPR.
The wait is not funny anymore.

Harjeehbaday:
HURRAY……....IT’S PEEEEPEEEEERRRRRRR!!!!!

I promised to give the full gist of our Cannyland journey and am back with the bang!
89 Days from AOR to PPR! No be my power ooo, Na JEHOVAH help me…

I thank God for this privilege and success. I also want to thank everyone here for the support received from when I came across this thread last year - PART 3. Here I am giving my testimony in Part 8….

Let’s get right to it!


TIMELINE
IELTS (4 Times) – British Council
May 2018 – LSRW – 9, 7.5, 6.5, 6.5
June 2018 : LSRW – 9, 7.5, 8.5, 7
Nov 2018 : LSRW – 8.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7 CRS – 430 (after remark CRS – 439)
Jan 2019 : LSRW – 8.5, 7.5, 8.5, 7.5 (CRS – 444)

Spouse IELTS (3 Times)
May 2018: LRWS – 6, 6, 6.5, 7.0
Sept 2018 : LRWS – 6.5, 6, 6.5, 7.0
Dec 2018: LRWS – 7, 7, 6.5, 8.0 (after remark)

ECA completed – 24th May 2018
Spouse ECA completed – Sept 21st 2018
Entered the pool: August 28th 2018
ITA: January 30, 2019 (Draw – 439)
Medicals: Feb 11th 2019
AOR: Feb 22, 2019
MEP: Apr 10, 2019
BIL: April 12, 2019
Biometrics completed: April 17, 2019
Application changed to IP2 on May 14, 2019
Raised CSE to know my VO: May 11, 2019
Response from CIC: May 16, 2019 - AVO
PPR : May 22, 2019
Family of 5
Visa Office: AVO
Passport Submission: May 23rd 2019


DECISION TO TRAVEL
I have always wanted to study abroad. I did a lot of research into Universities in US and UK after secondary school; I was receiving parcels of University prospectus almost every week but finally landed in a Nigerian University.
Fast forward to 2007, I got a good Job and went for study in the Uk for 6 months, I returned to Naija in June 2008 and the plans of relocating abroad vanished from my thoughts cos everything was going well. In fact I was always fighting and abusing those that wanted to relocate …little did I know that my turn was coming…….Lest I forget I eventually did an online Masters from Heriot-Watt in 2010 which later worked in my favour in my Canadian journey.
Fast forward again to 2013, when things started becoming worrisome in Nigeria; Boko Haram wahala, fuel scarcity, political instability etc…I decided it was time to have a Plan B for myself and my family. My 2nd and 3rd children (gals) were delivered in the United States in 2014 n 2016.That brought some hope that incase of any further wahala, I will japaa …..in short cut out FINNALY OUT of Niaja; but in all things I still had hope in Nigeria that things would improve.

Fast forward to 2017, I sat down one day and had a deep thought of myself and what the future holds for my family in Naija …. I was really worried; because everything seems hopeless!. While I was still thinking of the next step, my friend told me he was relocating his family to Canada; Yepaaaaa where have I been all this while?
When the guy counted the number of my colleagues that have japaa, my journey began………….

ECA
My ECA was a breeze as I evaluated my UK Masters with WES, that didn’t take much time. It was before the WAEC saga! My wife’s evaluation took long and finally come out in September 2018. The school sent her transcript twice to WES, the first transcript was opened before it got to WES…THANKS TO VILLAGE PEOPLE….

IELTS
IELTS – Humbler of men since 18th century…
My timeline says it all, I sat for IELTS four (4) times; no be say I no sabi English but I no know when happen! I wrote the CBT in Lagos in January on my fourth attempt to increase my CRS score from 439 to 444 since I missed the December draw of 439. I also missed the Jan 23rd draw od 443 because my 4th IELTS result did not come out early. My spouse wrote three (3) times.

ENTERING THE POOL
We finally entered the pool in August 2018 with CRS of 430 while awaiting wifey’s ECA outcome. By Sept 2018, wifey’s ECA was out and our CRS score moved to 439..


ITA
We had to wait for good 5 months before receiving ITA!
We narrowly missed the December ITA draw of 439; I still remember how I was excited when I saw the draws thinking I already had ITA but when I saw the Tie-breaking rule: February 6, 2018 at 19:31:37 UTC; my heart sunk. E pain me walahi…..but life must go on!
The next two draws in Jan was 449 and 443 and I was still hoping for ITA. I was at work that fateful Wednesday, January 30th 2019 when I saw 8 missed calls on my phone from wifey. I called back and she was screaming, there was a draw! I couldn’t believe it…I ran to my system and checked…Lo and behold, draw was 439 and tie-breaking rule; April 26 2018.
I pretended nothing was wrong with me, jejely enter the gents and screameddddddd! Na so I carry my bag dey go house. It was a day to remember, since then the CRS score has refused to come down oooooo…

Lest I forget, we got nomination for OINP on my daughter’s birthday on Jan 14th 2019 but we had to decline the application after we received ITA.


MEDICALS
WE travelled to Lagos and had our medicals at IOM Ikeja on Feb 11th; we got there before 7:00am and left around 11:00am. The doctor was nice and friendly with the kids and everything went smoothly. There was a slight error on the passport expiry date written in the e Medical Information Sheet, Luckily I spotted it and informed the records officer to correct it.

PCC
We left for Ikoyi immediately after the Medicals for our PCC and it was smooth. We paid 7k for myself and my spouse and spent less than 1 hour.

PASSPORT PHOTOS
Immediately we left Alagbon Ikoyi, we went to Studio 24 Awolowo road, Ikoyi for our passport photos. I got the soft copies for 1,500 per person.


REFERENCE LETTER

A colleague told me our company doesn’t give reference letter and I believed! Silly me!!!
I spent almost one week looking for alternative means of getting reference letter until I met another colleague that told me to call our HR….Imagine..
I called and got my letter in 2 days….
Always ask questions when you are in doubt!

PROOF OF FUND

We used 100% money mutual funds from stanbic gift with a letter from Stanbic stating we could withdraw the funds at any time etc….. I also attached my statement of account with some money in the account as evidence of POF for family of 5.


AOR
I spent the whole night of Thursday, Feb 21st 2019 to review our documentations and save them accordingly. I eventually filled the form and submitted our application on Friday, Feb 22nd 2019.

MEP & BIL
I joined the Feb AOR, Jan AOR and other Indian whatsapp groups just to get updates on the EE applications. Those Indian people can worry…sharperly I deleted their groups to avoid heart attack…

April 10th, I got an update in my profile and it was Medical Passed. 2 days later, we got our BIL. We travelled again to Lagos for our biometrics (only wifey and I) this time……Lagos & Abuja people no understand wetin people like us dey go through…


VO
Wifey was always disturbing me about our VO, after several pressure…I raised CSE to request for our VO…Lo and Behold the response came after 5 days….ACCRA!

My people I couldn’t sleep well again ooo….Accra of all places, was thinking OTTAWA!!
I requested to join the Accra group on whatsapp and was seeing testimonies of people that received PPR. I joined my faith and prayed for the best.

GHOST UPDATES
I received about 2 ghost updates after the biometrics, IP1 in April and IP2 in May 14th
2019. I tried to only check my profile at night and in the morning…..but some days I had to check several times sha! E no easy eeee…..in P Square’s voice.

PPR
May 22nd 2019, I was at work and at about 9:29am; I was tempted to check the Accra whatsapp group…I saw someone received PPR already and same AOR date with me. Quickly I checked my email and saw the donotreply email from CIC, to check my account. I saw request letter, and assumed it was an ADR. I opened the mail and to check what the request was ………. it was PPR.

I was speechless! I cant describe the feeling sincerely. I could not continue with the work…..took few minutes break… PPR in 89 days, It can only be God!


Post PPR

I was asked to submit the Schedule A form for myself and wifey….Same day we got PPR, I left for Lag to drop the passports at VFS Lekki Next day. Got to VFS Thursday morning, submitted passports and left around 9:11am.

I sincerely want to thank everyone in this thread… @newmum0615, Ramj, Joo2018, ifeoma77 etc I cant start counting ….. To the Jan AOR, Feb AOR and Accra VO WhatsApp groups, you people are too much. We pray we will all succeed on our Journey to Cannyland.

Madam Ladymarshall.........Score me welll ooooooooo


Meanwhile am praying my passport is released before end of 3 weeks as I have an official travel for 3rd week JUNE!

ACCRA, PLS HEAR MY CRY OOOO!!! .

Sam07045:
Good afternoon everyone,
Please i need an advice oo before my brain blows as a result of over thinking. Lol.
So, i have my POF, i got all from my Family, sometimes in march i got 1.5m cash. I paid it in on different dates in march. I paid 500k each on different days. But i used 1million to transact on wed, on thurs, my dad also transferred 2millon ( transfer, not cash this time) into my account and the 1million came back with interest yesterday. Lol Please how do i go about all this? I also want to put the money into axa mansard money market so i can get interest on it...lol every kobo counts now. I want to put in my application unfailingly before this coming Thursday as I already have my ITA. Pls advice what i can do so i dont get a red flag. Thanks and God bless you all.

BYACHEM:
Good day house, please I need clarification about by birth certificate:
My birth certificate was issued by the local government which bears two names (surname and first name) while all my certificates carries three names( first name , middle name and surname) . Should I do one and same person affidavit or just do an attestation from national population commission? Thank you.