₦airaland Forum

Wow, Part 22 already. Time flies.

Keep the good work going, and all the best to the hopefuls.

Osemigho:
No one can predict government decision, except they have insider information. However, I can tell you that a good government priority is to protect its citizens. So they will do anything to achieve that, including banning all incoming flights if necessary. I will try to enter Canada as soon as I have the required visa and I am allowed to enter.

Osemigbo, glad to see you still helping out here.

To all those planning to travel soon. Don't panic, it will all pan out well. Wait a few days to see how things are, weigh your options and make a decision. Shit happen, all will be well in the end.

Soon enough many will figure out a way of getting here as suggested by someone earlier (probably through a neighbouring country).

CalcreteJB:
Can one still stay at the Airbnb if one is not going to do quarantine at least for 1 or 2wks before one secure an accommodation?

Sure, I stayed at an Airbnb for 5 weeks despite exempted from quarantine.

Airbnb with 28 days stay minimum tends to be cheaper. So I opt for one that is 4 minutes walk to the school and it helped with mobility and settling in before finding permanent accommodation.

Bukuns2000:
please if you book an Airbnb for two weeks, how do you feed yourself because they said you can't go out during quarantine or do you cook?

Yes you can cook. Also there is no need to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated.

CalcreteJB:
Please what are the documents to start arranging, how do I go about with accommodation, quarantine though I have been vaccinated, which airline is okay to use. I look forward to your response, thanks.

Hi, I gave a detailed and lengthy answer about preparation, airline search and airport processing on my previous posts. You can check my post on August 27th through my profile, it is on the first page of my posts (like 6 posts before this) and you will easily locate it.

For temporary accommodation, I will advise Airbnb for the first week or two. Then you can search and inspect permanent accommodation later. It might seem expensive but it is better to inspect in person before moving in.

For example there are 3 rooms in my apartment, I pay the least amount, got the biggest room and the one with the best view (I live downtown and can see the Toronto skyline through my window). The other tenants booked before landing and did zoom video to inspect. However, I inspected the place my self, selected the room I wanted and bargained directly with the person in charge to get 20 CAD discount if I am to sign 6 months agreement.

Also some of this online listing can be tricky, you may not know the real condition of the place until you inspect it physically, feel the vibe of the neighborhood and surroundings (Is it quiet or rowdy). One shocking thing is that Toronto is filled with squirrels and a lot of homeless/mentally unstable people. And some neighborhood are not advisable to stay in.

Also you have to consider bus stations. A place that is less than 5 minutes walk to a bus stations, street tram or subway station is advisable. Winter is coming...

Glad to see the thread moving.

Congratulations to those that have gotten their PPR. Wishing those waiting for their PPR success and to those that are delayed, all the best in your reapplication. All your efforts won't be in vain. It is all worth it and victory is near.

Been away for some time, school work overchoke, but we dey push am.

For those arriving in Toronto, feel free to reach out for any questions or tips. I also got connected to those that eased my settling in through this thread. That's the beauty of it all.

May God grant all our desires.

laidenews:
Thank you for your response.
My intended course of study is Data Science.

Did you apply there too?

Okay, like Atiteb4 said. Mail the grad coordinator and ask of their funding policy.

All the best.

BunmiBie:
Please, when I was applying, they ask if I am relying on then to fund me or I can fund myself.

I feel this is tricky. What would you suggest I select in this case?
Thanks

If you can't afford to self fund. Let them know you will need funding. I always pick yes no matter the application...

atiteb4:
I think she can ask the graduate school or department before she applies so that she would be sure

This is a great idea.

laidenews:
Hello Lekiboboe, thanks for your head up the last time. I just got a positive response from a supervisor willing to supervise my thesis if admitted. My question now is, do I ask him about funding possibility?
The school is Ryerson University and the requirement for admission is getting a supervisor before putting in application for admission.
Should I go ahead and ask him about funding?
I really want to be sure of getting funding before putting in application.
Thank you.

Congratulations on securing a supervisor.

Don't ask about funding yet, some programs automatically fund all admitted MSc thesis and Ph.D. students.

What is your intended course of study?

Mummy4life1:
I compressed it

MBS may be the best option.

shams040:
Please help me ooo, is there anyone going to Guelph Ontario or is there, am looking for apartment pls oooo

Book an Airbnb for a week.

Arrive there and check out permanent accommodation that suits you.

phlorem:
People of God TRV drops today May 13th applicant
MasterCard scholar UBC


God go do am for all of us wey dey await decision

Congratulations Phlorem really happy to hear this. Been expecting this for long.

Dofrenzy:
Thank God for the safe landing. So was it in Toronto they gave you your study permit?

They will issue the study permit at the first Point of Entry.

sweet2blv:
Thanks to all great minds who are impacting lives positively. You all are doing much more than the Presidency:

For MEng in UAlberta,Uwaterloo,UCalgary where a 3 Credit course cost CAD 1,800 on the average and its expected to take 8 compulsory courses with 3 electives. Want to know if CAD 30,000 is good to start with the tuition and other expenses.
Like how much do I need to have for a courses base master in any of these institutions?

There tuition should be on the school websites, it may also vary for different fields (business management and engineering may be more expensive).

Just add about 12000 CAD as living expenses and miscellaneous.

Amicableoga:
Does getting SIN have any connection with Nigerian NIN?

No, not connected.

shams040:
Please guys my school is in Ontario, what are the international airports that I can enter from?

Thanks

Shams, it is great to hear from you. Glad you chose Canada.

Pearson Airport (YYZ) is the international airport in Ontario.

Wow a new thread. May all our desires be granted.

Landing Gist...

So I booked Lufthansa/Air Canada (Lagos to Frankfurt to Montreal to Toronto). Don't let me bore you with the details, I will just highlight the key points.

Pre Departure

1) While searching for airlines to book, I discovered that Google Flight is the best tool to use. You can easily input your details, unlist unwanted connecting airports in the US due to there transit visa requirements and know the best flight fare for your trip directly from the airlines. The only issue is that for the major airlines you may have to book with USD on the airline site after selecting from Google Flight.

2) Thank you for the person that recommended SynLab Ibadan (₦50,400). I did my Covid test with them and got the result before 7 AM the next day.

3) If you are at MMA, Lufthansa and Qatar airways stand is close to gate A. So you can drop at gate A to save you stress.

4) Ignore the agricultural whatever people, simply tell them you have no agricultural product. I told them I am a student and na book full my woven bag. It worked. Also, I seem to have exhausted all my naira before going in, I ended up not tipping all those that asked for "show us love". Na only smile I gave them.

5) Weighing your bags on the day you are leaving before getting to the airport is advisable. Removing your loads and rearranging to cut down weight can be stressful and disjointed. Prioritize what you need most and make sure you are within the weight limit before arriving at the airport.

Post departure

1) My flight landed in Montreal from Frankfurt and I collected my study permit at Montreal. It is quite an easy process, I am fully vaccinated so exempted from quarantine and exempted from arrival covid testing.

2) Don't exchange your USD at the airport. The airport rate I saw was about 1USD to 1.10 CAD.

when you open a bank account upon arrival, you can deposit in for 1 USD to 1.22 CAD at the bank branch. And withdraw CAD with your new ATM.

3) For those taking this route (Lagos-Frankfurt-Montreal-Toronto), you will have to get your study permit and pick up your luggages before proceeding to Toronto. It may take up time, but don't worry your connecting flights to Toronto will be rescheduled at no cost to the nearest flight to the time you are done.

I was worried about it too, but it worked out well.

4) I booked an Uber with my GTbank naira ATM card upon arriving at Toronto.

Note that the app pickup exit is on the ground floor at Pearson, you will have to take an elevator to the ground floor. App pick-up is quite cheaper than airport taxi.


First Day in Toronto

1) I was able to get my SIN and open a bank account the next day. Both took about 2 hrs. SIN registration was done at Service Canada on College Street, I met about 5 people on the queue. All major banks have a branch on that street too and are close to Service Canada. So you can get a bank account same day. You can do both process without having a Canadian number yet.

2) Don't be in a rush to sign up for a cellular network. Ask around to know the coverage available in your area and the best rate. I found out that Public Mobile and Freedom are the most reasonable costwise in Toronto. They have 15CAD per month plan and 25CAD per month plan unlike the others with mostly about 40 to above 50 CAD plans.

3) Find someone around your locality to groom you on where to get most things you need. Don't get overwhelmed and take it one step at a time. Prioritize the necessity (Getting SIN, opening account, getting SIM, knowing where to get groceries).


To those expecting PPR, keep the hope alive. To those newly approved God will ease the travel preparation phase for you. To those arriving or newly arrived, God will guide our steps.

We shall all overcome.

YusufMonteCarlo:
Contact me on 08069492851 I will tell you what to do.

State it here, I am interested too.

Theonlywan:
Congratulations sir
Would you be kind to explain how to prepare for next year's scholarship to a newbie like me.

Important things you can work on:

Get publications, professional membership in association relevant to your background, find a vivid way to precisely link your intended study to finding solutions to the oil and gas sector (I detailed how my intended study can help improve pipeline network installation and prevent pipeline bursting hazards like the one that happened some weeks before the interview).


Important things that you can't change:

Your undergraduate degree class will be graded, your O level result in the 5 core subjects will be graded, academic awards during undergraduate studies will be graded.

Luck factor:

I remember during my interview, one of the panelists insisted that they should count my A1 (6 points) in geography as a core subject and remove my B3 (4 points) in Biology. That Geography is more related to Geomechanics Engineering than Biology. That's extra two points, and in a competitive scholarship like this, it goes a long way.

zaunty:
Hello everyone!
Hope you all are doing great!

Please is there any graduate student here (either MSc or PhD student) who has been admitted in York University, Toronto, Canada and will be willing to share a 2-bedroom apartment with me?

What is the location and price range?

Please, can someone help me get the e-mail I can use to contact PTDF or the WhatsApp contact of the Help desk?

Enjay316:
sorry ooo.make una no vex 4 this warri boy oo.I too dey ask question. abeg 3 questions
1. Can I use my MBS that was printed a week ago to apply or I should ask for a more current one mayb tomorrow monday?

2. How compulsory or relevant is Police report?

3. the Documents I have is much ooo.should I go to Business center and scan them all or I can use an iPhone with good camera quality to snap and edith.

thanks for always coming to my rescue Naira land.

Download Adobe scan. It worked excellently for me. It also have a feature in which you can access your scanned documents on your Adobe PC version.

shupy:
Our circumstances are different. I did use family but I didn't emphasize too much on it. I only stated "I come from a close knit family and all members reside in Nigeria".
I focussed more on establishments that were already in place and most importantly the career outlook of whatever program you're going for must be connected to Nigeria. In my SOP, one will actually think I will be better off returning to Nigeria than staying in Canada after my studies. Your future prospect in Nigeria must be promising.

I agree with Shupy on this.

Post study career prospects in Nigeria is a great way to proof home ties. It is really important.

StressFreee:
Well, our case here remain hopeless

During your trial years, were you notified that you couldn't make the scholarship or were you just left to decide on your own??

They usually don't send regret mails. They would release the full list in the next few days with the names of successful candidates from each state.

StressFreee:
Pls what time did you received your email??

11:21 AM...

Alhamdullilah, I was awarded the OSS MSc scholarship. But I won't be accepting it. I hope they consider someone else from my State.

To those selected congratulations, to those not selected, greater success awaits you in other endeavours... 2 years ago I was heartbroken that I wasn't selected for this... This year alone I was flooded with numerous offers from great institutions around the world... Please don't feel down, if you missed out on this, continue to try your luck and definitely one day your desires will be granted in a grand way...

We shall all overcome...

shams040:
I read that I can stamp here in US but will be emailing all the visa offices

I really hope that you will be able to do that. Considering your marital status and having a prior MSc, getting your family to Canada and getting PR makes Canada a better prospect than US.

Congratulations on your Australia offer too, it would have been the best way forward. But I heard there are present restrictions into Australia.

Perseverer:
Classified.

In short

Source = "No dey doubt me, I no fit lie give you"

Keren12:
Please guys I have urgent inquiries to make.
1. What's the maximum and minimum pages for sop?
2. Should I state and explain all the lump sum that has been entering my account in my sop?

1). No specified minimum nor maximum, it is subjective... Just make sure you present your case in coherent details... We have seen people approved without SOP (apparently the person wasn't aware of it's importance at the time of application submission, NOT ADVISABLE TO DO THIS), with a page SOP and some with upto 7 pages SOP... Different approach to individual cases...

Mine was 5 pages, with subheadings and ample evidence to support my write-up... I was wary of home ties, employment situation and personal assets, so I took my time to go beyond reasonable doubt in convincing the VO regarding those issues...

2). Please explain the lump sums in details.

All the best in your application... May God perfect it.

GhildishCambino:
Please how does one go about requesting their passport back from VFS after it has been processed??

You can use a courier service to pick it up for you. When VFS sent me a message to use their courier service, I declined due to the outrageous cost.

I went to DHL office, gave them a signed consent letter (the letter authorised DHL to pick up my application decision envelope on my behalf from VFS) with my details on it (passport number, application number, name).

The DHL fee was half of what VFS quoted to send it to me.