₦airaland Forum

enjoy your stay

mummyDsquare:
LANDING GIST!!!
My people,
I promised I was going to drop my landing gist because I got valuable help from this group while on this journey and I do not take it for granted. I left via Lagos on Ethiopian airlines, 17th November, 2022. Travelled with hubby as it is just two of us (The Dsquare na the name of my unborn twins � and since they have refused to come in Naija, I’m sure they have been waiting for me to make this move so they can come as Canadians lmao �)

My mum, mother inlove and siblings all followed me to the airport. The drive to the airport was smooth and the flight was scheduled to depart by 1:40pm but two days earlier, it was moved forward to 1:20pm we started checking in at about that time. We left home at 7am and got to the airport before 9am and checked in. Agric took one Ziploc of my dried fish saying that they saw fish ants in it and that Canadian police will call their head office if they found it on us (yen yen yen) We left it for them and then one hustler came to meet us to help us with weighing our bags (beware there are many of them at that MM airport international wing). I told hubby make we ignore the guy but he said lets hear what he has to say. He charged us 50k so he could help us with our extra luggage at the ET counter. We burst out laughing and told him we won’t pay. When we got to the ET queue, the guys there charged is 40k, (we had 2 boxes 23kg and 24kg respectively, then 2 GMG bags both 27kg then our hand luggage were both 12kg each because we overpacked them lol) hubby was even willing to give them 20k but they started saying they won’t collect and acting like they helped us make the money so hubby asked my brother to get an empty GMG bag he brought from home and he removed items from both boxes bring them to 23kg each and then we didn’t pay anything at all. My MIL will help us bring the items in January as she lives in Canada too. When we got to the counter, the attendant was so nice and didn’t complain about the hand luggage as they were both meant to be 7kg each. She let us pass and we gave her small money. Every other stop was a breeze though from then on, at any stop, they kept asking for money down till it was time to board. It was as if they believe you won’t need the cash so they want you to finish it before you leave. I had frozen palm kernel oil in my luggage but I wrapped the bottle well with newspapers and put in Ziploc then hid with sweat clothes so they were not found.

We landed Addis Ababa at 9 something PM and proceeded for our next flight. Before we could use the washrooms and get to the next boarding gate it was already time to board. We left Addis at 11pm and had a quick stop for refueling at Dublin then arrived Toronto Pearson at 7:50 am.
Pro tip: If you use an iPhone 12/13 or anyphone that has that funny head (not the USB regular port enabled) you might want to get a magsafe charger or the regular cable that has that regular USB enabled port so you can charge your phone on the plane.

The food on the plane was not so bad and as soon as we came down from the flight I followed the signs and quickly rushed down to arrivals, We already did the ARRIVE CAN online before leaving Naija so the self service machine was a breeze. Please obey all the instructions you’re given and kindly ask questions on things you don’t understand.
One CBSA officer was quite harsh to the Indians before us (90% of those on the immigration queue were Indians btw) and we were praying she won’t be the one to attend to us but alas when it was our turn, her counter was free. She was nice to us sha, She then proceeds to ask for our international passports, asked if we were married and for how long we answered, asked our address and said our PR cards will be sent there. Asked if we had goods to follow and we said yes because we cargoed a lot of items. Then she said Welcome to Canada and directs us to customs to check in our goods to follow. We proceeded to customs and listed the goods we are expecting and they gave us a receipt with zero duty payment and told us the area we could pick them when they arrive.

My husband’s sister lives here so her hubby was already waiting for us and as soon as we left the airport doors, the cold hit us with dirty slaps on our faces and there was snow everywhere. We got home and ate and rested. Now we have gotten our sim cards, health cards, opened our accounts too. In case you are coming to any of the GTA towns in Ontario, you can holla!

Thank you so much to everyone who had contributed to my journey by relentlessly answering my questions.
I’ll be resuming at Humber college this coming January and I have started a work from Home IT job Hubby resumes Sheridan as he wants to take some nursing courses. Make sure you are prepared for the cold because even when the sun is up, cold still dey for Canada but thank God for warm clothing and heaters. All the best guys! :*

wow congrat

Ojoboak:
Hello All,
Decided to share this here to help someone. Finished filling and submission of my DS160 June 23rd. Paid MRV June 24th and went on to book appointment but only saw dates in 2024 and no date for Interview Waiver which I qualified. Was checking the apointment portal regularly but was getting no appointment available IW. Then I read somewhere here that IW dates will be available from 1st November and so Iput in my calender to check on that date. It was a long wait from August or so. 1st November, I logged on still no date but it took me to click something that i guessed sent an email to them. 10th November(a Thursday), got an email that I should log into my appointment portal and book appointment. But two days only 14th and 15th November available. No other dates was available 2022 and even 2023. Booked 14th, which was a Monday for 12noon.
On the appointment day, I raised to Walter Carringhton and was waiting for my 12noon slot. 11:45am, I approached the security at Walter Carringthon and was scanned, and got through to a Long table. Then the next big news was released, "You are to do your submission at DHL Office, 75 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, they are waiting for you" Just picked my envelope and head up to Ikeja. Got there at the nick of time as it was almost 1pm and collection stops 1pm. Dropped it successfully and head back to base.
On 18th November," Your document(s) have been collected from the US Embassy/Consulate" in my mailbox and was repeated on 20th. It was not clear to me and so I went to document pick up location. Behold my passport is back and -----------it was approved! Follow me Thank God ooo.
What is the learning here ; patience is key, decisions already made based on your DS160 among other things and lastly Baba God is involved.

this is not a mistake, that is were the application was treated.

We dont have Visa Officer that attend to Visa application in Nigeria, they use to send to (Nairobi,beijing, UK mostly)

Alexino360:
Please guys is it just me or why are most people visitor visa stamp location I've been seeing lately is showing Nairobi instead of Lagos or Abuja. My mom just got hers and the visa stamp says Nairobi. And she sent her passport to Abuja using UPS 2 way courier. So guys is this a mistake or is that how visa stamp is now ?

when did you apply for admission

GTXPRESGOLD:
Please I need advice�

I just got LOA to Conestoga college for fall 2023

Deposit deadline 31st December 2022

Deposit amount $1500

Tution balance deadline June 13th

(1year) 3 term program

Tution $21k

My challenge is
1 have just 3m, no sponsor. I intend to put application for memorial University as tution is low.
How do I go about this??
If I apply for memorial University and wait for the application results I will miss deadline for tuition deposit for the LOA already gotten will expire.
Please I need urgent assistance. This is the first time since 2014 I got accepted.

All advice will be appreciated �

Congratulations to all the successful candidates here.
I de read una testimony de cry. Have been on this since 2014 no success. Agents don chop my moni before I started DIY, no I got accepted I have the biggest barrier to break through �

cool

davodyguy:
I have always favoured public bus/metro over taxi.

From Dubai, to Sydney, to Tokyo, to Auckland, it's public transportation over expensive taxi.

While in France in 2019, despite the strike by the union, we still used public transportation

YEs boss i didnt input any Visa receipt ( MRV ) i think the system revalidate it
and my fees suppose to expired last year december cause i hear Visa fees last for 1 year but mine still working..

I only added my Daughter own, cause she was not yet gave birth to doing the time i booked ours in january 2021

HRprof:
Okay I understand, is better to choose Lagos, I’m regretting choosing Abuja, my appointment is yet to be canceled I know it will be canceled definitely by embassy. Is good they are giving opportunity to reschedule canceled appointments with location option without requesting for another visa payment.
If I understand you correctly that’s applicable to what you did right ?

have fate it might not be cancel since there is more IW now so keep the hope alive

HRprof:
Okay I understand, is better to choose Lagos, I’m regretting choosing Abuja, my appointment is yet to be canceled I know it will be canceled definitely by embassy. Is good they are giving opportunity to reschedule canceled appointments with location option without requesting for another visa payment.
If I understand you correctly that’s applicable to what you did right ?

that was my first time in europe so i dont know much on how to use their metro and bus i was using taxi athrough it exhaut my money oo

but now am more friendly using the metro line

davodyguy:
Which part of Italy did you stay in 2019?

Also how was the transport like?

Heard public transportation can be very messy

ROME MOSTLY

And also visited MIlan before going on a day trip to Switzerland

davodyguy:
Which part of Italy did you stay in 2019?

Also how was the transport like?

Heard public transportation can be very messy

well there is Appointment from 2024 in Abuja
i choose lagos nii, i dont want to go to Abuja again
i have change my mind with this cancel here and there with also the cost of going to abj by fly
it too much so i prefer LAGOS now that why i change it to lagos

HRprof:
Okay did they open Abuja or Lagos for you to choose? Do you know if Abuja embassy has resume interview?

lol

davodyguy:
May be because im close to most Consulate, I will not use courier, cos the wait for delivery can give you HBP.

I'll select self pick up, so I will know my fate myself

thanks

Ashirioluwa:
Employment letter
Her bank statement (1.7 million)
Payslips
Residential property document
Letter from hubby
Kids birth certificates
Current visas (Schengen, Uk)
Previous visas (UK, USA, CANADA, IRELAND)

i schedule another appointment
didnt start new application

HRprof:
did you start a new application after your cancelled appointment or embassy gave you optiin to choose another appointment

nope

sofia21211:
Hello the opening you saw , was it for interview waiver? I need help

nice one

BunmiBie:
Middlesex is better because they have more international students especially from Nigeria and the school is well regulated than Curtin.
Curtin is owned by An Australian university while Middlesex is owned by a UK University.

That's what I know about them.

more appointment are open i saw june July and august 2023 some minutes ago
thank God was able to pick June

wow congrat

what was document submited

Ashirioluwa:
My wife applied for a tourist visa in August 2022. Her travel date, as stated in the application, was from October 27 through November 3rd, so her travel date has passed.

Yesterday, she missed the deliveryman's call, but the man was able to deliver the passport today.
 
Biometrics was done - August 24

Visa approved - valid from November 28

congratulation

Oldfashioned145:
Long post alert.

I've dreamed of typing this a long time. I am a first time applicant. It was a DIY application and although it was full of all the imperfections of a hurried lady, I dropped my application at Gods feet and asked him to perfect it in the sight of the VO.

Application Submitted: May 4

Biometrics: May 11
Biometrics updated: June 29

Gcms ordered: August 5
Gcms notes received: September 28

Upfront medical: Sept 20
Upfront medical updated:Sept 27
Eligibility review: 17th of September.
PPR: November 30

Documents submitted
* Sponsorship letter
1. Statement of account
2. CAC documents
3. International passport of sponsor ( my mum)
3. Business receipts (old and new)
4. Security levy for her shops
5. Google Pictures of her shops and stocks.
6. Pictures of me and her in her shop ( sent through webform)
7. Pictures of her Goods at home. ( My mum buys drinks and liquor in bulk quantity)

*International passport of my dad with stamped pages
1. His landed properties
2. My siblings birth certificate.

*SOP
1. Waec results and scratch card.
2. Testimonial
3. Outstanding workers award.
4. Certificate of state of origin
5. Mega youth conference graphics with my face card on it.

After I submitted my application I kept sending other things I felt they might need through emails and even a letter of explanation. I am a student In UNN so with exams and all that I've been quite preoccupied but this week I decided enough was enough.

I fired mails to Beijing, new york, Sydney, nairaobi, Kenya and all the countries with an email address. I bolded my emails and sent morning, afternoon, night.

I just want to say thank you Jesus. Thank you father.

Also thanks to everyone who kept the hope alive and the faith.

Yours will surely come..

congrat

Kingo99:
PPR: long post alert

Skip down for timeline if you don’t want to read the story


Been a long journey. First time applicant. Used New Portal.
Tried getting admission for about a year but i never got one, i spoke out about my issue here on nairaland & @Showyoung responded to me.
I got admission to Fanshawe through him.

After the admission, the other hurdle is the study permit. @Showyoung assisted me in this too. I got all my documents with my father as sponsor, NOTARIZED all my documents, very important, had a land gift deed from my father also.

Submitted my applications on July 29th, did Biometrics in lagos on the 1st of August then the wait started.

Waited till November 1st then i sent Emails, webform & Applied for my GCMS to know the status of my application.
November 2nd i got a medical request, Eligibility started the same day too.

I tried going to IOM to do the medical without booking appointment because i read it once here that you can beg IOM and they’d allow you, went early in the morning but they bounced me, said i must have appointment, learn from this, highest you can do is email them for emergency booking.

Booked appointment & did the medical on November 17th, i got that medical sheet after the medicals & sent it through emails & webform, used NROBIIMDocument@international.gc.ca in sending the email.

November 21st i got a mail from NROBIIMDocument@international.gc.ca saying I should send them the medical sheet indicating “Completed”
I quickly emailed IOM iomabujamedicalbooking@iom.int & it was sent to me within the hour, IOM had actually sent my medical to irrc on November 20 (Saw that in the medical sheet iom sent).
I sent the updated medical sheet to Nairobi document mail & i got a message they will attend to it.

November 23rd, my medical was passed then another waiting period started, opened my portal about five time a day.

November 28th PPR dropped, prayers work!

Timeline

Submission: July 29th
Biometrics: August 1st
Medical request: November 2nd
Medical done on November 17th
Medical submitted on November 20th
Medical updated to pass November 23rd
PPR: November 28th

Tip: Notarize documents, Show proof of how your sponsor earns a living, have land documents as home ties, have a story line, explain in detail why you’re going to Canada & why you’d be coming back immediately after study.

Please what foodstuffs is allowed to carry?

congrat broo

diizzy968:
There is no joy in stealing from others, I don't take delight in such matter.

I shared my blessings with you on this thread sometime in September ending under my previous account timagbo but some individuals felt it was a lie and deleted it.

Kudos!!!

I'm glad you didn't delete my PPR.

I go drop my landing gist on Dec 11.

i dont think so
have u try to do the estimate

cucumbar:
even if you are paying at black market rate via scanner, it’s still cheaper than going through the airplane directly or those local travel agency like Wakanow and the likes.

i booked for a client family of 3 also with 1 infant making it 4 family altogether for 2.5m
that was 3 weeks ago Air maroc

davodyguy:
From Air France Lagos Rome Lagos 3 passengers

Ticket price for 3 passengers
USD 11,691.20 * N770 = N9,000,000 ( Nine Million Naira)

https://wwws.airfrance.ng/search/summary?pax=2:0:1:0:0:0:0:0&cabinClass=ECONOMY&activeConnection=1&connections=LOS:A:20221222@2245:KL0588:Y:YS50AENT:ECONOMY%3EAMS:C:20221223@0655:KL1597:Y:YS50AENT:ECONOMY%3EFCO:A-FCO:A:20230102@1000:KL1598:Y:YS50AENT:ECONOMY%3EAMS:C:20230102@1355:KL0587:Y:YS50AENT:ECONOMY%3ELOS:A&bookingFlow=LEISURE

This wat am saying exactly that why i send screenshot
so the person know who said skyscanner are more cheaper

davodyguy:
Forget those clickbait on the internet

Cheapest Flight to Paris is over N1million as of today

Air France Nigeria in VI, Lagos says

Ticket price for 1 passenger
USD 5,021.90 * N770

congrat u no kuku read corespondent letter na
lol baba just check PPR straight

okay4sure:
PPR Time !!!! people of Nairalander join me to praise the LORD.........Hallelujah !!!!
In fact God is faithful and I am hopeful....
Submitted June 16th
Upfront Medicals Done July 18th
Medical passed and Eligibility review on August 4th after a series of email and web form
raises.
PPR November 29 after I sent a series of emails and web forms.
Is a family Application Still waiting for my spouse visiting visa. I thank this platform because I did it alone with all the knowledge I acquired from naira land. I am not a good writer but I wrote my SOP myself. I pray , pray and pray, Jesus did it. God answers prayers
For those expectant, God will answer your prayers

congrat

barika fee

Malcomsaint:
Alhamdulillah.
It’s PPR
Second time applicant

First application got refused Sep 2021

Second application 1 July 2022
Eligibility started 25 August
Medicals updated 17 October
PPR 29 Nov

Self Sponsor
Documents submitted
LOA
1year school fee receipt
11M Bank statement 4months
Gift deed 5M notarized
Study leave
Land Documents
Pension statement
ID cards
4 months Pay slips
LOE
SOP
BIRT Certificate of family
Employment Letters
Promotion letter
ICAN certificate
NYSC certificate
Uni School certificate
WAEC
CV
The three IME forms required.

I thank God , I thank Me , I thank everyone on this platform you all have contributed to this one way or the other. And I thank Ketima . It has ended in praise.

Please someone should please advise me on steps involved on the submissions of passport.

Thanks you sir for sharing
Some will gain from here and to share their time line and documents will be a problem for them

It is your type we want on this platform. May God favour you always in your endeavors

YinksXO:
Long post alert!

Been on this thread for a while and I'm an older applicant. Started trying express entry around 2018 but something was always not aligning, transcript wahala and then low CRS scores. Wanted to try the student route in 2019 but a friend said because of my age, I most probably wouldn't get approved, so I abandoned it. In 2020, same friend advised me to try the student route for my daughter and that's when I came to this thread and it helped me tremendously to package my daughter's application which was approved and I've shared the story here too. So, while I was doing research for my daughter's application here, I'd see older people once in a while with approved applications, I started considering it again, the more I read about approvals for people within my age range, the more encouraged I became, so I took the plunge. Long story short, below is my timeline

Upfront medical - April 2022
Application submitted - 28 June 2022 (new portal used)
Sent a webform in July to ask them to update medicals.
Medicals passed - 20 August 2022
Eligibility review started - 31 October 2022
BVL & PPR - 3 November 2022
PP submitted - 4 November 2022 (Lagos VFS)
PP received - 22 November 2022

Documents submitted
LOA
SOP (3 pages)
Passport biodata page
MBA transcript
Other professional certificate(s)
Resume
MBS - personal account
MBS - business account
Bank reference letter stating I'm sole signatory
Coy registration documents
Coy Invoices and PO's
Board resolution letter, confirming my leave from work and that coy was going to fund my studies
Same person affidavit cos name arranged differently on different official documents
Notarized Letter of support by spouse - saying that he'd take care of our kids and help oversee my business.
MBS of spouse's coy account
IELTS & WES - submitted cos I had it
Old and valid visas and stamped passport pages
PCC
Deed of assignment
Birth certificates of my kids
Passport biodata page of spouse
Passport biodata page of mum (expired)
Death certificate of father
4 pictures - with spouse, kids and mum



Things that may have helped me:
* I have valid US and Canadian visit visas and just returned from a recent trip to Canada to visit daughter.
* I approached 2 MP's, one responded and said background check was passed but eligibility hadn't started as at September, other MP didn't respond.
* After my return from Canada in September, sent about 5/6 webforms and same amount of emails, sent about once every week, different days of the week. Different story each week but basically asking for a decision to be made on my application.
* Didn't apply with second daughter and husband
* Tuition paid in full
* My coy is funding my studies, so included a board resolution letter approving amount to be spent.

This platform has been great and I can't quantify the wealth of information you can get from here as long as you're patient and willing to research, will share some tips:

If you're following this thread or any other one you're interested in, leave the tab open on your device, that way you can come back and continue from where you stopped, just refresh to load new pages. You won't then miss responses to any questions you've asked or new points/stories that have been shared.
Use the notes app on your phone. If there's any information that has been shared on nairaland or any other platform that you think will be useful to you or someone else, copy it out and paste it in the notes app. This way, that information is easily accessible to you in the future, just use your search tab on the app. I find this is more helpful than screenshots.
Google and YouTube the heck out of everything! NairaLand is great because it gives you the perspective of Nigerians living in Nigeria, who are on the same journey as you but there are other resources you should make use of because it shows you what other nationalities are doing to get their applications approved. Some simple questions can even easily be answered once you use Google & YouTube, believe me you get samples of documents, updates on travel requirements, school recommendations, meaning of abbreviations, literally everything is available there, just type in key words and voila, you're in.

Lastly, thank you to each and everyone that has shared their journey here, thank you to people who've lent a helping hand to total strangers. As someone who is private myself, I know the first instinct might be not to bother to share your story but trust me, it helps in encouraging and hopefully giving people the needed push.
My program starts in January 2023 and once I'm settled in, I "wish" to help people reach out to MP's cos I noticed they hardly respond to people living outside of Canada, I'm hoping it will be possible. This offer will be free and for people whose applications have significantly gone beyond the standard processing time and it will be at my discretion.
Best of luck to everyone!

Wow congrat

TheGamePlay:
This is the first time I am posting here.

It's PPR
First time applicant
Upfront Medicals - November 3
Application Submitted - November 9
Biometrics Collection Letter - November 10
Biometrics Done and Updated - November 18
Medical Passed - November 25
Correspondence Letter - November 29
Passport Request - November 29


Please what documents do I need to submit my passport at VFS Lagos as a first time applicant. I did my biometrics there too.

yes oo

seyewest:
Good day guys,
With the extension of eligibility period to 48 months, I'm expecting this platform to get busy with POE interviews and stories... Good luck as you travel.

this is an example of what am saying after searching on skyscanner
and clicking on the lowest price, it will redirect to the mainsite of the lower price you choose
then you will see what currency they are going to charge you with,
for this one i picked below they are using Euro as their currency to charge, so how do you intend paying with black market rate ?

Iampeaceful:
Lagos to Paris for three people N1.2m


Lagos to Italy for three people N1.5M

I use Skyscanner for cheap flights or Travel Planna

when i got my visa there was ticket of 380k self it was something they make me not to book then

Am into Ticketing & Reservation too thanks for the hands of help

Iampeaceful:
I saw return for Paris (CDG) for N500k thereabout.
What's your travel date let me help you?

even with skyscanner he cant pay with naira it dollar they charge with

Iampeaceful:
Use skyscanner for Affordable flight to Paris.

haa how much but everything will show on their Trade portal na if u have taken one before na
which bank be that

davodyguy:
We need help in this country

The CBN trades portal for PTA is claiming that I have applied for PTA, which I never did.

Their email not working, phone numbers, no one is picking

What is happening to us in Nigeria?

24 hours email support
Email: support@tradesystem.gov.ng


Mondays to Fridays (8:00am to 6:00pm)
Phone 1: +234 (0) 708 065 1239
Phone 2: +234(0) 1 2361615
New Support Ticket
Check Ticket Status
+234(0) 817 665 6487