tajuowo:
did you submit police character certificate for your spouse? with your response i can put my cousin's mind to rest

Pristine664:
Good morning everyone.

Please who has successfully applied for spousal Open work permit (SOWP) through the new portal??

Newbiein2016:
You can definitely make an enquiry with your MP's office for help with the status on your spousal sponsorship application but just FYI - they are not able to influence the outcome of your application.

Re: your TRV refusal, this sucks but when you have "significant ties" in Canada such as a spouse, you need to fight harder to convince them you'll return after your visit. What documents were submitted?

cathrynjegs:
I've come to say thank you to all the members of this wonderful group for all the free information that is posted here and to share my timeline and testimony

Timeline
I applied for my study visa last year July and visitor visas for my daughter and husband but I had to defer my Sept 2022 admission to 2023 because the visa was not forthcoming.

Jan 2023 I got a request to go for medical meanwhile nothing came for my husband and daughter
Feb 14th 2023 I got my PPR and my dependents got rejection letters
I submitted my passport and it took 8days to get the visa.
After plenty reading on this group we decided to apply for a SOWP for my husband instead of another visitor's visa
April 16th 2023 we applied for a spousal Open work permit for my husband and a visitor visa for my daughter.
May 5th 2023 medical request came in for both of them
They did the medical on the 18th of May
May 29th PPR dropped
June 8th passport was ready for collection
June 28th arrived in Canada

We decided to travel early even though my school starts in September so I can still be fit to fly as baby no 2 is on the way.
Port of entry interview was a breeze, the officer just asked for my school's letter of acceptance, letter of introduction, proof of tuition payment (I paid 3000 CAD before coming) and the bank statement of my sponsor(my dad). There was no question on why we were coming in early, nothing about the pregnancy too and we were not asked to show our personal bank statements.

Documents submitted for my husband's SOWP
LOE
Pay slips for 3months
Employment letter
Land documents
Pictures of our building under construction
Letter from his father to support the monetary gift he sent
Statement of account from his pension manager
Bank statement showing closing balance of N2.3m
Confirmation of funds letter from the cooperative society in the institute he works for because he also saves money there
My bank statement showing closing balance of N5.8m
My student visa and letter of acceptance
Our wedding certificate
Family pictures

Documents submitted for my daughter
I wrote a supporting letter explaining why I couldn't leave her behind
Her birth certificate
My bank statement
Affidavit of support from my father that I submitted in my study permit application.
My study visa and letter of acceptance

God truly came through for my family, I thought my study permit application will be rejected because of the pregnancy or that we would have issues at the POE but everything just went smoothly, better than expected.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, all that we read gave us the confidence to apply by ourselves. May God bless you.

cathrynjegs:
I've come to say thank you to all the members of this wonderful group for all the free information that is posted here and to share my timeline and testimony

Timeline
I applied for my study visa last year July and visitor visas for my daughter and husband but I had to defer my Sept 2022 admission to 2023 because the visa was not forthcoming.

Jan 2023 I got a request to go for medical meanwhile nothing came for my husband and daughter
Feb 14th 2023 I got my PPR and my dependents got rejection letters
I submitted my passport and it took 8days to get the visa.
After plenty reading on this group we decided to apply for a SOWP for my husband instead of another visitor's visa
April 16th 2023 we applied for a spousal Open work permit for my husband and a visitor visa for my daughter.
May 5th 2023 medical request came in for both of them
They did the medical on the 18th of May
May 29th PPR dropped
June 8th passport was ready for collection
June 28th arrived in Canada

We decided to travel early even though my school starts in September so I can still be fit to fly as baby no 2 is on the way.
Port of entry interview was a breeze, the officer just asked for my school's letter of acceptance, letter of introduction, proof of tuition payment (I paid 3000 CAD before coming) and the bank statement of my sponsor(my dad). There was no question on why we were coming in early, nothing about the pregnancy too and we were not asked to show our personal bank statements.

Documents submitted for my husband's SOWP
LOE
Pay slips for 3months
Employment letter
Land documents
Pictures of our building under construction
Letter from his father to support the monetary gift he sent
Statement of account from his pension manager
Bank statement showing closing balance of N2.3m
Confirmation of funds letter from the cooperative society in the institute he works for because he also saves money there
My bank statement showing closing balance of N5.8m
My student visa and letter of acceptance
Our wedding certificate
Family pictures

Documents submitted for my daughter
I wrote a supporting letter explaining why I couldn't leave her behind
Her birth certificate
My bank statement
Affidavit of support from my father that I submitted in my study permit application.
My study visa and letter of acceptance

God truly came through for my family, I thought my study permit application will be rejected because of the pregnancy or that we would have issues at the POE but everything just went smoothly, better than expected.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, all that we read gave us the confidence to apply by ourselves. May God bless you.

Scogyoddyniv1:
Good evening to all in the group.

I need all your kind advice and guidance on this matter.like I said earlier on this group an agent is assisting for our application.
The main applicant which is my wife and two children has been asked to proceed with their medicals.
The three that were given approval for applied as students while as the spouse the agent did visiting visa instead of the spousal Open Working permit (SOWP)
Peradventure my visa is approved will I be able to convert the vising visa to SOWP when I get to Canada.Since my wife is an holder of a student study permit.
Please I need your input here the guru's in the group most especially the ones already in Canada.
Thanks in anticipation.

Jahlivesforever:
F-1 US VISA HOPEFULS:

ON SCHOOLING AND WORKING IN AMERICA
About schooling or living or working in America, I think a lot of people either live in bubbles or do not have quality information. So, I am going to do this once, and give as much information as I can, based off of my own limited experience and knowledge. Anyone with better information is free to complement or challenge what I say. “I know somebody who know somebody” is not information. That somebody you know might not be telling you the whole story.

1. To enter the US you need a visa, and there are different kinds – student visas (e.g. J-1 and F-1), fiancé visa (to come see your fiancé), spousal visa (for people who are married or coming to get married), H1-B visa (if a US employer employs you), etc.

2. As a student, whether on J-1 or F-1 you are only allowed to work 20 hours max a week, and usually on campus. Of course, there are students who exceed this work limit, usually working off-the-book, under-the-table jobs, which is illegal but not uncommon.

3. When you finish school as a student, if you are on an F-1 visa (usually for students who self-sponsor or are sponsored by the school through research assistantships, teaching assistantships, etc.) you are allowed to do a one-year OPT (optional practical training) – like an internship to practice what you learned in school. NOW LISTEN CAREFULLY. This OPT is usually ONE YEAR for F-1 students, but if you did a STEM course, your OPT can be up to THREE YEARS.

4. So, when you hear someone say they finished school and stayed back in the US, they are either doing their ONE YEAR or THREE YEARS OPT.

5. For students on J-1 (usually those sponsored by a government or some scholarship bodies like the World Bank, Fulbright, etc., which is my visa category), there is also the option of a ONE YEAR Academic Training (AT), which is the equivalent of the OPT that F-1 or self-sponsored students get. In many cases, J-1 visas have a condition for such students to go back to their countries immediately after their program, and for some countries, like Nigeria, stay back for two years, before they can come back to the US to work or live permanently. However, this does not mean you cannot visit or even study in the US during this period. In fact, you can get a new visa, say an F-1 for another program, however, that 2-year condition will still be waiting for you (legally speaking that is, though I hear people may be able to find a way around this, even though dem no dey talk the way clearly).
I hope you are still following me:

6. So, what happens after your ONE YEAR or THREE YEAR OPT? Some employer has to sponsor your visa (if I am not wrong, basically, get you a H1-B visa, which is a work visa) for you to stay back legally. And if this does not happen, what is your fate? See you, see your country. Again, legally. Please, I am not interested in what people do illegally to stay back in the US. So it is normal for people on OPT, who have not got sponsors yet, to be worried and in some cases desperate. Some people might decide to enroll in another program to remain in the US and delay doomsday. Note, you cannot get OPT twice for the same level of education. So if you get one for masters, you can only get another one after your PhD.

7. So, what are the options of staying back after school? Well, the straightforward one is getting an employer to sponsor your work visa (and this is not the easiest thing in the world). Outside this, a common one is marriage. People get married – real or fake, to stay back. “I know somebody, she just finished and she no come back”. Sister, your friend fit don marry tay tay, no tell you. I know people for my set wey as dem show from Africa within two semesters dem don marry before dem even focus on school. Fake marriage na money. I won’t go into the issues that are involved in that now. E no concern me. Real marriage, if una like una sef, then God bless una union.

8. Outside the easy-hanging fruit – marriage, loads of people stay back illegally. Their visas expire and they just stay back. What this means is that you are an illegal or undocumented (as Oyibo like to sugarcoat things) resident. This also means because you don’t have a work permit na only under-the-table, minimum wage kinda jobs you can be doing. Those jobs pay cash because the employer is also avoiding paying taxes to the government. Those jobs na sufferhead job of course, but if you convert your dollars to Naira, na big man you be. These are the kind of jobs that you apply in the morning and get before 12 o’clock o. Ehen.

9. Also, some undocumented people might be using a fake social security card or other people’s own to work. The thing with staying undocumented is that you cannot leave the US, because your visa is expired. As you leave like this, there is no way to come back in. Some of the people who stay abroad for donkey years and have not returned home may be illegal residents. “I know one man, since 20 years e never come back, even when im mama die, he no come.” That man fit dey undocumented and as he comot like this, gate don close.

I believe now you have a clearer picture.
So, if you are coming to school in the US and your goal is to remain back, here is a summary of things you need to know:

1. You most likely need to get an F-1 visa. If you come with J-1 like me, even if you decide to marry, you go still go do that your two years for Nigeria before you can come and live permanently with your wife here. If you don’t want to do that, you can switch to a visitor visa, but you cannot work with that kind of visa, unless you want to continue doing under-the-table for the rest of your life.

2. If you get an F-1, just know you have ONLY ONE YEAR after school, or THREE YEARS if your program is STEM. And in that time, if you don’t get an employer to sponsor you, (which is not impossible, but definitely not a MY CASE IS DIFFERENT matter), you will either go back or find one of the roundabout ways people use to stay back in America endlessly. There are pros and cons to roundabout ways as you should know by now.

3. Marriage is probably your surest bet – if you fall in love, whether willingly or by force, good for you, and if you want do arrangee marriage, still good for you.

IF I AM TO ADVISE PEOPLE LOOKING TO RELOCATE ABROAD THROUGH SCHOOLING…
Canada is definitely your best bet. Trust me, I honestly don’t get the hype about being in America.

Immigration in Canada is a way better package than it is in America – in fact, they cannot be compared. If you get a student permit for Canada, after school, you get the same number of years as the length of your course to stay back and find a job. So, if you do a one-year course, you get one year. In this time, you can file for permanent residency, and even if you don’t get it immediately, you can always extend your after-school stay until you get a permanent residency. So, for Canada, the hardest thing is getting a student permit, because immigration officials know that people just use school these days to come to Canada so they can stay back. A Canadian Study permit is definitely more difficult to get than a US Student Visa, again, for obvious reasons. If you manage to get into school in Canada, if you want to stay back, this is almost a sure way to. In a few years you can get your permanent residency, and a few more years you can get your citizenship. As a permanent resident in Canada, your chances of getting jobs in the US are way higher, if na US dey hungry you last last.

And lastly, to find job after schooling in the US is not undoable, but in fact, like in many countries (as I suspect), it is not a walk in the park. Be prepared to do loads of applications (because there are thousands of people across all 50 states applying for those sweet jobs too). But if you want to finish school and work at McDonald’s feel free to relax. Nothing do you, your job sure.

ShowYoung:


The agent is mistaken.
Children (age 0 - 8 years) need visitor visa or study permit (age 3 and above) to accompany their parent.

Your 11 month old child should have gone for a visitor visa.

Children of study permit holder who hold visitor visa can study free of charge because Visitor Record will be issued to them at the port of entry which will enable them to study without applying for study permit.
For you, you should have applied for spousal Open work permit (SOWP). Visitor visa is not good for you because you will not be able to work or study. The purpose of SOWP is for the holder to work and, recently, study without study permit if the study is not more than 1 year.
In fact, when you enter Canada with SOWP, IRCC will send you an email that they want to add additional 18 months SOWP provided your passport will not expire in Feb. 2025. They want to give you till 2025 or more. This is a new and temporary measure to extend work permit free of charge.

ShowYoung:


The agent is mistaken.

Children (age 0 - 8 years) need visitor visa or study permit (age 3 and above) to accompany their parent.

Your 11 month old child should have gone for a visitor visa.

Children of study permit holder who hold visitor visa can study free of charge because Visitor Record will be issued to them at the port of entry which will enable them to study without applying for study permit.

For you, you should have applied for spousal Open work permit (SOWP). Visitor visa is not good for you because you will not be able to work or study. The purpose of SOWP is for the holder to work and, recently, study without study permit if the study is not more than 1 year.

In fact, when you enter Canada with SOWP, IRCC will send you an email that they want to add additional 18 months SOWP provided your passport will not expire in Feb. 2025. They want to give you till 2025 or more. This is a new and temporary measure to extend work permit free of charge.

ShowYoung:


The agent is mistaken.

Children (age 0 - 8 years) need visitor visa or study permit (age 3 and above) to accompany their parent.

Your 11 month old child should have gone for a visitor visa.

Children of study permit holder who hold visitor visa can study free of charge because Visitor Record will be issued to them at the port of entry which will enable them to study without applying for study permit.

For you, you should have applied for spousal Open work permit (SOWP). Visitor visa is not good for you because you will not be able to work or study. The purpose of SOWP is for the holder to work and, recently, study without study permit if the study is not more than 1 year. Sowp holders can study full time


In fact, when you enter Canada with SOWP, IRCC will send you an email that they want to add additional 18 months SOWP provided your passport will not expire in Feb. 2025. They want to give you till 2025 or more. This is a new and temporary measure to extend work permit free of charge.

Scogyoddyniv1:
Very Urgent Please

Hello Bobomaigida,

Kindly assist as my one year old child visa was denied and the agent want to re-apply and insisting he want to package another Student permit him.
My wife is the main applicant which is going to study and four of us are dependants.
Here is the current status
Wife Adult- Student permit (Medical Request instructions approved)
Age 3- Student permit (Medical Request instructions approved)
Age 5- Student permit (Medical Request instructions approved)
Age 11 month -Student permit DENIED
My application (Husband) - He packaged visiting visa for me still waiting for Approval

My question is since the boy is still very small can I ask the agent to package visiting visa for him since he is accompany his mother not the student visa that was refused earlier.

Dheeavu:
Good day house, Please I would like to know if anyone has applied for Open work permit with the new measure IRCC announced for outland applicants.. My husband lands next week and I just wanted to know if the process is seamless, we however have our AOR and we've been approved for sponsorship. we are just waiting for Medical. Thank you

nnamdi346:


Thank you very much.

Initially, we applied for our child to accompany us, but unfortunately, the application was denied. One of the reasons highlighted in the GCMS note was the issue of traveling with the child. As a result, we made the decision to proceed without our child in order to improve our chances of approval. I am currently employed full-time in the UK and not actively seeking employment in Canada. However, I require the SOWP (spousal Open work permit) because it has a shorter processing time compared to a visitor's visa. Additionally, having the SOWP would allow me to start working as soon as possible if I decide to join my family in Canada. Furthermore, since my child is under two years old, I anticipate that her visitor's visa will be processed within the same timeframe as mine, making it feasible for her to travel with my spouse by January 2024.

OkukuOne:
Yes, but what is the reason for the urgency? It would be best to wait patiently for the return of the passport. Once you have your spouse's passport in hand, you can proceed with the application. However, I am curious as to why you didn't all apply together initially. If your intention is for your spouse to receive the visa first before applying for a Spouse Open work permit (SOWP) and Visitor Visa (VV) for your child, the sudden change in plans should be addressed in your Letter of Intent (LOI) or Statement of Purpose (SOP) to ensure fairness and clarity. These questions should be properly addressed in your LOI/SOP to give you a better chance of success.

Good luck!

OkukuOne:
Yes, but what is the reason for the urgency? It would be best to wait patiently for the return of the passport. Once you have your spouse's passport in hand, you can proceed with the application. However, I am curious as to why you didn't all apply together initially. If your intention is for your spouse to receive the visa first before applying for a Spouse Open work permit (SOWP) and Visitor Visa (VV) for your child, the sudden change in plans should be addressed in your Letter of Intent (LOI) or Statement of Purpose (SOP) to ensure fairness and clarity. These questions should be properly addressed in your LOI/SOP to give you a better chance of success.

Good luck!

deharbay:
Please I have a spousal application that have been for about a year now. At background check stage. I’m thinking of applying for visit and the work permit. Will that be okay? Or I should just keep waiting for my PR

ShowYoung:


1. Yes and No.
To increase the chances of visa approval, it is better to stick to career progression which is Teaching.
When she gets to Canada, she can change course or opt in for a second program in Criminology etc.

2. No concern. This is why you will emphasize on career progression.

3. It will boost your home tie. spousal Open work permit is issued to the spouses of international student; holders can work for any employer. You will be able to work.

4. Supposing that tuition fee and miscellaneous expenses have been taken care of, you need just $4,000 additional POF. If you have children, $3,000 for each children is needed. Please use the CBN rate of $1/345 to calculate to get the applicable value. All in all, 10m - 12m will be enough if tuition fee and miscellaneous expenses are not included.

I hope the above answers your questions accurately.

IamRx:
Good evening all,

I have been a follower here and I must confess, the information here are really helpful and insightful.

Please I need some advice;
My wife studied Criminology and Security Studies (2.1), she graduated 2018 n served till 2019

Since then no job, so she took on a teaching job.

My concern is, can she still do a criminology/criminology related course in Canada or it has to be something related to teaching (she's not keen on that)

2. The 5 year gap (would be 6 next year as we are targeting Sept 2024) should we be concerned?

3. I would love to go with her as a dependent, if I can get a letter of 24 months from my office will it improve our chances as I would like to use it as home tie alongside other information; if yes, will I still be able to work Canada knowing that I'm on leave here in Nigeria.

4. Will a 10 - 12m POF be okay for both of us (this does not cover tuition n flight)

Thanks.

Enddystar:
HOW TO RELOCATE TO CANADA FROM NIGERIA THROUGH A STUDY VISA - NO IELTS

The Study Visa relocation route is what you need if you hate IELTS or TOEFL exams like most Nigerians.

With this relocation path, you can relocate, study for free, and work in Canada without wasting money on any travel agent or writing IELTS/TOEFL academic exams.

And the best news is that you can go for this relocation path even if you are above 40 years.

HOW DOES THE STUDY VISA work?

Step 1. You choose a Canadian School and Program in a province of your choice.

Step 2. You apply to the University/College depending on your CGPA plus school requirements.

Step 3. You get an offer letter and head on to Apply for a Study Visa.

Step 4. You arrive in Canada to study and get your Study permit.

Step 5. You graduate and apply for Permanent Residence in Canada.

WHY IS THE STUDY VISA RELOCATION PATHWAY THE BEST FOR YOU?

#1. The Study Visa is the highest administration rate pathway to Canada today (undergraduate to Ph.D.).

#2. Most routes are inconsistent – for instance, relocation paths like EE, PNP, and others were paused for people outside of Canada, and guess what? The point system takes into consideration your age, language, Canadian education, Canadian work experience, IELTS, and more, which makes them very competitive.

#3. Does not need IELTS as far as you studied in English.

#4. Your age does not matter.

# You are allowed to work up to 20hrs per week as a student.

#5. Your Spouse/Family can join you. And guess what? Your husband or wife will get the spousal Open work permit – to work anywhere in Canada.

And your children get work or study visit Visas depending on their age.

#6. You get Canadian work Experience – imagine getting the top 2 requirements others sweat to get into the EE, PNP, or other relocation programs.

#7. No agents are required. You do everything, plus the support you need to scale through.

You may have heard that getting a Canada study visa is difficult compared to the UK. Yes, this is because has lots of perks that some other top countries do not have currently.

The truth is, Canada is in dire need of immigrants. They want people to come and study and work in their country.

They have been facing serious labor shortages post-COVID, but they also want to make sure that they're not opening their door to every Tom, D|ck, and Harry.

Nothing good comes easy!

The journey becomes easier with every step.

Cheers ✌️

tayogbade:
Hello everyone,

Please I need all the advise I can get.

My study is starting in September. Visa has been approved.

I applied alone and used my husband and two kids as home ties.

Now I want to apply for them.

What visa do you think I should apply for, for my husband and two kids.

Note: my course is for 10 months

Thank you all in a advance

Didenwe:
PPR AND PASSPORT RECEIVED

Timeline for my Application:

Visitors Visa (old portal): February 7, 2022
Biometric: February 11, 2022
Visitor's Visa (new portal): April 7, 2022

Dead silence + GCMS twice = nothing

spousal open work permit: February 27, 2023
Background check started: February 28, 2023
Visitors Visa (old portal) withdrawn by IRCC: April 10, 2023
Medical Report request: May 5, 2023
Medical passed: May 29, 2023
BVL: May 29, 2023
PPR: May 29, 2023
Passport sent to VFS Abuja: May 30, 2023
Passport received back: June 07, 2023

Didenwe:
PPR AND PASSPORT RECEIVED

Timeline for my Application:

Visitors Visa (old portal): February 7, 2022
Biometric: February 11, 2022
Visitor's Visa (new portal): April 7, 2022

Dead silence + GCMS twice = nothing

spousal open work permit: February 27, 2023
Background check started: February 28, 2023
Visitors Visa (old portal) withdrawn by IRCC: April 10, 2023
Medical Report request: May 5, 2023
Medical passed: May 29, 2023
BVL: May 29, 2023
PPR: May 29, 2023
Passport sent to VFS Abuja: May 30, 2023
Passport received back: June 07, 2023

Didenwe:
PPR AND PASSPORT RECEIVED

Timeline for my Application:

Visitors Visa (old portal): February 7, 2022
Biometric: February 11, 2022
Visitor's Visa (new portal): April 7, 2022

Dead silence + GCMS twice = nothing

spousal open work permit: February 27, 2023
Background check started: February 28, 2023
Visitors Visa (old portal) withdrawn by IRCC: April 10, 2023
Medical Report request: May 5, 2023
Medical passed: May 29, 2023
BVL: May 29, 2023
PPR: May 29, 2023
Passport sent to VFS Abuja: May 30, 2023
Passport received back: June 07, 2023