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 Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 3:30pm On Nov 09, 2013 |
Congratulations on receiving your PER. The best next thing to do ... is to wait.  kelo314: My dear people I just received this message (edited version) now from CIC and I believe is a positive one, if there is anyone in the house who can explain better what next to do will be highly appreciated.... |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 10:50pm On Oct 28, 2013 |
Backgrounder — Expression of Interest (EOI): Preparing for Success in 2015 The Government believes Canada can and should compete actively to attract the best and brightest newcomers to resettle here. That’s why we are getting set to treat most immigration applications in a revolutionary new way. Having a job is the best path to economic integration. EOI will select immigrants based on the skills Canadian employers need and, in turn, should they pursue citizenship, they will be welcomed as equal members of the Canadian family. As of January 2015, the EOI system will help switch from passive processing of applications in the order we get them to a prioritized system that gets in-demand people with the skills to succeed to Canada faster than ever before. The 2014 Immigration Levels Plan makes way for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to transition to this new system in January 2015 by continuing to reduce backlogs across the board. This will enable Canada to begin using EOI to identify the best candidates from day one. EOI works in two steps. Prospective immigrants would indicate their interest in coming to Canada by providing information electronically about their skills, work experience and other attributes. Individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria will have their “expressions of interest” placed in a pool and ranked against others already in the pool. CIC would only invite the best candidates, including those with in-demand skills or with job offers, to apply for a visa. Expressions of interest that are not chosen after a period of time may be removed from the pool. As a result, application backlogs would not accumulate and processing times will be kept to a minimum. We will also assess applicants on a variety of other factors such as education, work experience and language ability – with a greater emphasis on the ever-changing needs of the Canadian labour market. The Government is working with provincial and territorial partners to make EOI a success. We are also partnering with Canadian employers so they will be ready to find candidates in the EOI pool that meet their skills requirements when the domestic labour force cannot. Further details about EOI will be communicated in due course and as they become available. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2013/2013-10-28b.asp |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 10:43pm On Oct 28, 2013 |
News Release — Planning for Success, Putting Canada First Ottawa, October 28, 2013 — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced an immigration plan that will drive economic growth in 2014 and position Canada for success in the years ahead. “"Securing economic growth is and will remain our Government’s top priority,"” said Alexander. “"Canada is in a global competition for the best and brightest immigrants, and this plan is crafted with attracting the people we need for Canada to succeed."” After tabling the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, Alexander said Canada plans to welcome 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents in 2014, with record admissions forecast in both the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Provincial Nominee Program. “"While Canadians will continue to get the first crack at available jobs, getting the right people in the right places is key to addressing regional labour needs and fueling Canada’s long-term prosperity,"” said Alexander. “"We need newcomers willing to put their skills, ideas and energies to work."” Economic immigration is slated to increase to 63 per cent in 2014. The remaining 37 per cent will consist of family class immigrants, refugees and others admitted under humanitarian programs. Economic immigration image described below “"We will continue to drive down backlogs, reduce wait times and improve service. We will continue to reunite families. We will continue to give refuge to the world’s most vulnerable,"” said Alexander. Canada is moving from passive economic immigration to active recruiting under a new intake system tentatively titled the Expression of Interest System (EOI). Our plan for 2014 takes that change into account and works toward a successful launch on January 1, 2015. Every summer, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) consults with provinces, territories and stakeholders across Canada to develop a balanced immigration plan. We also seek feedback from the Canadian public. This year, CIC received over 4,700 responses between June 21 and August 31, 2013. Planned admission ranges for other immigration programs will be released in the coming days. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2013/2013-10-28.asp |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 3:05pm On Oct 15, 2013 |
borie4u: u guys are not helping new people at all with these discussion. Its seems this thread is for people who already have 90% info that is needed for this Canada Skilled Visa Thingy. @ Canada Skilled Visa Thingy.Please, go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp and read up all the information there. You will find all the wealth of information you need to DIY! |
| Politics › Re: Professional Association Of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) - Strike Action by thebaft(op): 7:42am On Sep 29, 2013 |
m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/foreign-service-vows-to-clear-visa-backlog/article14587759/?service=mobile#!/ After striking a deal to move to a higher wage scale and end a six-month rotating strike, Canada’s foreign service officers are now pledging to turn toward clearing a backlog of visa applications abroad created by the job action. The contract deal, announced Thursday, came after Treasury Board president Tony Clement had initially pledged to stick to a standard, or “patterned” offer – only to return to the table, after the Public Service Labour Relations Board found that he negotiated in bad faith. Both sides then made concessions to reach a deal. “I don’t think either side caved. I think that the minister and his negotiating staff decided it was time to seek a compromised solution, and compromises were made on both sides,” Tim Edwards, president of the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, said in an interview Friday. “I don’t have any insight into Minister Clement’s thinking, but they did establish a trend there. They demonstrated they were – in a very small number of cases – willing to go beyond [standard] patterned settlements, and it seems the same logic applies to us.” The union got the higher wage scale it was seeking, but gave up severance pay for those who leave voluntarily – a key government demand. Mr. Edwards expects members will approve the deal, which is backdated to 2011 and expires in June of next year. That means the foreign service will receive retroactive lump-sum raise payments and Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clement will soon be back at the table. It’s the fourth deal signed since summer by Mr. Clement, but also the latest case where the government’s “patterned settlements” were sweetened to drive a deal through. Mr. Clement declined an interview, but his office said the negotiating tactics “reflect the government’s commitment to reaching fiscally responsible settlements that are fair to Canadian taxpayers and to employees.” The deals come as Mr. Clement undertakes a public battle to overhaul the public-service workplace, which has not sat well with the unions. “I think they’ve really tried to make unions look like villains,” said Kevin Grabowsky, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, which reached a deal last month. “This last round is probably one of the strangest, in that they came to the table with, ‘That’s it, that’s all, go away, we don’t need to listen to you about anything else,’” Mr. Grabowsky added. The union then began minor job action, including buying a billboard in Mr. Clement’s home riding. “We’d been slowly getting their attention, and I don’t know what the magic thing was, but they called us to get us back to the table,” he said. The Conservative government has shown “absolutely no respect” to the public service since the 2011 election, said Chris Aylward, executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. One of its groups reached a new deal this summer. “I think their approach has been pretty consistent for the last little while – and that is to delay and circumvent the bargaining process,” Mr. Aylward said, urging Mr. Clement to “start respecting the public sector workers, and treat them with dignity and respect.” Mr. Clement has allies in his push for public service austerity. Gregory Thomas, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, said Mr. Clement showed resolve in holding out during lengthy disputes, and pushing to roll back certain perks. “Clement demonstrated that he wasn’t afraid to weather a strike, and a long strike, and the union didn’t get everything they wanted,” Mr. Thomas said. The public service strike has left a backlog of work. New permanent residency applications are taking 70 days to process, twice as long as when the strike began in April. Mr. Edwards suspects some students and visitors were put off by visa delays caused by the strike, and avoided Canada altogether. “There is a significant backlog to clear, and that will take months,” he said. “But our members will contribute heavily to that effort, and we’re looking forward to getting back to work.” |
| Travel › Re: Obudu Cattle Ranch by thebaft: 12:03pm On Sep 27, 2013 |
Chaflyje: Pls does anyone know the state of the Ranch and how functional it is right now... Iam thinking of a trip down there but will appreciate first hand info on state of things there... anyone plsz?I was there in Oct last year. The resort was still functional as of then. |
| Politics › Re: Professional Association Of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) - Strike Action by thebaft(op): 11:42am On Sep 27, 2013 |
http://www.pafso.com/news_releases.php?newsID=168 News 26 September 2013 - Canada’s Foreign Service Officers Reach Tentative Agreement with Federal Government The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers is pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Treasury Board of Canada to end our six-month labour dispute. “PAFSO is satisfied with this deal,” said PAFSO President Tim Edwards.“This agreement was reached through compromises on both sides,” continued Edwards. “We salute the spirit of constructive engagement which our employer brought to our latest discussions. This deal is a victory for free and fair bargaining in the federal public service.” With the signing of this tentative agreement PAFSO has ordered an immediate suspension of all strike measures and work to rule. The agreement requires ratification by the PAFSO membership and approval by the full Treasury Board. PAFSO’s Executive Committee and Treasury Board president Tony Clement have agreed to recommend acceptance of the offer. “We are pleased that the Government has recognized the tremendous value and dedication which Foreign Service Officers provide to Canadians and their elected representatives,” said Edwards. “It has been a hard-fought battle and I would like to salute the unity, resolve, and stamina of our members in securing a fair and equitable deal. We’re excited to get back to doing the work we love, promoting and protecting Canada’s values and interests abroad.” The 1,350 Foreign Service Officers have been without a contract since July 1, 2011 and in a legal strike position since April 2, 2013. This agreement concludes the longest federal public service strike since the introduction of collective bargaining in 1967. Contact: media@pafso-apase.com |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 4:14am On Sep 25, 2013 |
Tranquill: Brov you started something nice but then dont make us feel that it is only the information that comes through you is correct. There was update and someone posted it here, you are dismissing it without even taking 2 mins to check out CIC site yourself. Replying someones comment means you have access to internet why not comfirm it urself?Dear all, We can always use the date in the Date Modified: field at the bottom right area of the page to confirm if updates were made or not. Current date is 2013-09-23. The tentative next date should be 2013-09-30 or so... |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 7:12pm On Sep 20, 2013 |
mercylicious: My guys,Congratulations! With determination, you can achieve anything! |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 2:02am On Sep 19, 2013 |
nanonye: Thanks a lot guys couldn't be more grateful for this response. Please I have another question. I lost my original birth certificate so any idea what alternatives I can use? Do they accept Age Declarations? Thanks a lot. quote author=ferdimako]You can use an age declaration. It is a legal document. Also, you can attempt to contact any National Population Commission office near you (at the local government offices) and ask them for the process on how to obtain a Birth Certificate via Birth Registration. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 10:52pm On Sep 17, 2013 |
nanonye: Hello guys. Its great to know that such a forum exists to help fellow FSW applicants. Please for those of us that have received their PER I will like to know what you included as evidence of work experience. Did you simply include a copy of your employment letters along with a reference letter? I read the guide on the CIC but please guys I want to know from you guys. Thanks a lot.[b]Nanonye, It was difficult. But I got documents from various sources and not just one letter. I got a letter from my company introducing me as an employee as I needed it for a visa application at the Lagos embassy. I got a second letter from payroll stating my salary. I also included my payslips and on a copy of my bank statement, I used a highlighter to mark my salary payments for one year. I got a letter from my supervisor endorsing my duties and responsibilities. I also included my employment letter. I included some signed copies of my timesheets. I included parts of my company's work policy document that stated official work hours etc. Also, I included a memo which was sent to me when I changed job roles 3 years ago to another work unit. In short, I did not submit a letter, I submitted a manual... It is not easy asking your employer for such a letter, especially with our shrinking job market. Picture this ... Monday Morning: FSW Applicant: Sir, please give me a letter stating my duties, salary, etc. HR Manager: Why do you need one? FSW Applicant: I need it for the FSW 2013 programme that I am applying for. I want to leave the company and emigrate to Canada. HR Manager: Eh! So you want to leave us? Ok... No problem. I'll let the MD know that you are planning to leave. Tuesday Afternoon! FSW Applicant: Sir, I saw my job position being advertised in today's Guardian newspaper. HR Manager: Yes, but you told us that you wanted to leave. We had to start shopping for your replacement.  FSW Applicant: One just has to be careful. So my advice is this, if you are having difficulties getting a single letter with all the information, get various documents to support your statements. The more documents you include, the stronger your evidence. Good luck!!![/b] 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 10:16pm On Sep 17, 2013*. Modified: 6:57am On Sep 18, 2013 |
@ifechukwukamso/solomonwis, Not at all... I used a foreign bank draft to pay. I had to transfer money from my domiciliary account to my friend in the US and he was able to buy an international bank draft in Canadian dollars and send down to me. It took around 4 weeks for me to receive the draft back home. However, that was even faster than the 7 weeks it took for me to receive my ECA from WES. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 7:41pm On Sep 16, 2013 |
dearstan: Congrats thebaft! When were you debited?Thanks! I submitted a bank draft with my application. The PER mail stated that they accepted my bank draft as payment on 6th September 2013. A receipt number was also included in the mail. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 5:08am On Sep 13, 2013 |
blueQueen: Congrats...one quick question...did u include evidence to show that u can take care of yourself financiallyYes dear, I had to include bank statements showing that my accounts contained the naira equivalent of the minimum funds as stated in the link below http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 7:21pm On Sep 12, 2013 |
UPDATE: Dear all, I applied for the FSW 2013 programme under the 2147 NOC. My application arrived at CIO on 24 June 2013 and to God be the glory, I received my PER today - 12 September 2013. 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 9:56pm On Aug 13, 2013 |
ferdimako: 5 is not acceptable, sir.That is correct. A score of 5 is equivalent to 0 points. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 5:33am On Aug 13, 2013 |
mercylicious: Hello house,How many points did you need to get from your IELTS score? You have 6 points from Reading; 6 points from writing and 6 points from speaking. Unfortunately you do not have any points from your listening. So you have a combined total of 18/24 points. That is not bad. Please perform another assessment on your requirements and confirm if you can sail through with 18 points. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 9:23am On Aug 09, 2013 |
mercylicious: Agh agh, u guys made me feel guilty of posting. Abeg, sofri, una hear. We are here to share opinions.Don't feel too bad about it. Isn't it kind of nice to have two guys fighting over you?  As per your IELTS, it will definitely be posted. Mine was posted like 2 days after the actual date. |
| Politics › Re: Professional Association Of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) - Strike Action by thebaft(op): 9:17am On Jul 27, 2013 |
Striking diplomats vow major visa shutdown Foreign service officers will launch walkout Monday at 15 centres as arbitration bid fails Striking foreign service officers are withdrawing all services at Canada's 15 biggest visa processing centres abroad starting Monday, following a failed attempt to go to arbitration to settle the bitter contract dispute with the government. The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, the union representing the officers, said Friday that Treasury Board President Tony Clement had rejected its offer of binding arbitration because the union wouldn't accept the conditions Clement attached to the offer. The union began staging rotating job actions in the spring at different embassies and visa processing centres at different times, which has slowed down work abroad but not completely stopped it. Now the union is stepping up its pressure on the government. "Effective Monday, in order to persuade the government that binding arbitration remains the responsible way forward to resolve our dispute, PAFSO members will withdraw all services until further notice at Canada's fifteen largest visa processing centres abroad," PAFSO said in a statement. The centres are: Abu Dhabi. Ankara. Beijing. Cairo. Delhi/Chandigarh. Hong Kong. London. Manila. Mexico City. Moscow. Paris. Riyadh. Sao Paulo. Shanghai. "We take no pleasure whatsoever in these strike actions and their real, severe, and mounting effects on the Canadian economy. But it should now be evident to all Canadians that from this point forward the government of Canada bears sole and complete responsibility for these impacts," the union said. The tourism sectors and education institutions and organizations have been vocal with their concerns about the foreign service strike because of its impact already on the processing of visas. PAFSO encouraged them and others Friday to urge the government to "bargain freely and flexibly." After the last round of negotiation broke down with no resolution and weeks went by with no talks scheduled, the union proposed to the government that they go to binding arbitration. The government then responded that it would agree, only if the union accepted certain conditions. It wanted the conditions kept confidential. But in its statement Friday PAFSO shared some of the conditions and said two of them were "so paralyzing that their acceptance would have predetermined the outcome of arbitration in the government's favour and negated the purpose and integrity of the process." Union accepted some conditions The government wanted to exclude any mention of other bureaucrats who perform similar work, according to the union, "which has been at the heart of our position since day one." "Equal pay for equal work," has been the union's slogan throughout the strike and it's the main sticking point in the dispute. Ending their work action during the arbitration process was another condition the government wanted to impose and is one the union accepted. It also accepted two other conditions, but without accepting all six, the government said no to arbitration. The union is accusing Clement of "cherry-picking criteria" that would have favoured the government's position and of "negotiating in bad faith." Clement rejects those accusations. In his own statement released Friday he said the government has put a fair contract offer on the table and it's "disappointed that PAFSO was so quick to reject our willingness to enter into a binding arbitration process that the union itself requested." He said the Canadian public is concerned about PAFSO's willingness to disrupt international business and tourism during the busy summer season. "However, we want to reassure Canadians and our international friends that, despite PAFSO's actions, Canada remains open for business, and that we continue to welcome visitors and international students to experience Canada," Clement said. On Twitter Clement said he couldn't comment on future options but that new Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander "will be able to deal with the resources needed." http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/07/26/pol-foreign-service-workers-arbitration.html |
| Politics › Re: Professional Association Of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) - Strike Action by thebaft(op): 6:18pm On Jun 17, 2013 |
This will definitely add more days to ALL visa application processing times. As if the processing times were not long enough already ... |
| Politics › Professional Association Of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) - Strike Action by thebaft(op): 6:17pm On Jun 17, 2013 |
Notice – Strike Action June 11, 2013 — The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) union is currently taking strike action. PAFSO union members responsible for processing visa applications have been walking out of offices in Canada and overseas. Posted processing times for both temporary and permanent resident visa applications do not take into account work stoppages. Anyone applying for a visa should anticipate delays and submit their application as far in advance as possible. Contingency plans are already in place to ensure all offices remain open and are providing at least a minimum level of service. Priority will be placed on urgent humanitarian applications. CIC continues to closely monitor the situation. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2013-06-11.asp |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 4:35pm On May 24, 2013 |
LadyGuinivere: A few tips for those getting their documents verified with WES@LadyGuinivere, I still have a couple of questions for you. Did your University verify your degree certificate only or did they also have to verify your transcripts as well? And, did your University just reply the verification email or did they have to write the response on letter-headed paper and send back to WES via post/courier? |
| Travel › $600,000 Dollar Fraud By Bogus Immigration Consultant And His Accomplice by thebaft(op): 7:58pm On May 23, 2013 |
$600,000 Dollar Fraud: A Suspected Bogus Immigration Consultant and His Accomplice to Appear in Court Montréal, May 22, 2013- Montréal residents Jean-Michel Labelle and Ekatarina Mdivani have been charged with defrauding nearly 400 people from China by billing them for so-called immigration services. They are scheduled to appear at the Montréal Court House tomorrow to each face nine counts of fraud and making and uttering false documents under the Criminal Code of Canada. The fraud is estimated at $600,000. The investigation was conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Immigration & Passport Section. Forged Training Certificates Jean-Michel Labelle, 58, manager of Immigration internationale 9-1-1 Inc. and Ekatarina Mdivani, 48, allegedly defrauded the victims through a representative who travelled to China. The victims were led to believe that they were engaging into a legitimate employment process through which they could to immigrate to Canada. They paid a sum of money in exchange for training in a particular field of employment. Forged training certificates were issued on behalf of a Canadian federal agency and on behalf of bogus companies. The investigation shows that Jean-Michel Labelle did not submit any of his files to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and that he kept the money he collected. Immigration Fraud The mandate of the RCMP in Quebec is to detect and disrupt criminal activity in relation to immigration, passport and citizenship. The RCMP investigates suspicious activity involving individuals who fraudulently offer immigration advice and services. These profit-motivated criminals abuse the trust of people who put their hopes in immigrating to Canada. Public Appeal If you have information on illicit activity by individuals or groups of individuals who fraudulently offer immigration advice and services, please contact the investigators of the RCMP at 514 939-8306. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/nouv-news/com-rel/2013/05/130522-eng.htm |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 7:11pm On May 22, 2013 |
solomonwis: Oh really?But of course, LadyGuinivere's response was useful. By the way, thanks for "wishing me well". I do appreciate it! |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 6:19pm On May 22, 2013 |
solomonwis: Although your question is directed at LadyGuinivere,I can provide an insight while she answer your question.@solomonwis, You are quite right! The question was directed at LadyGuinivere and not at you. Thanks for your effort though, but I am yet to find anything useful in your response. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 6:08pm On May 22, 2013 |
LadyGuinivere: Without intervention ke. I have 2 degrees. For the university de sent via email. It took dem 15 days to reply after I don call fire down. D oda degree de sent with nipost for verification.@LadyGuinivere, Thanks for your response. It is extremely useful. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 8:10pm On May 21, 2013 |
LadyGuinivere: @Solomonwise , inspectors in public health n safety. I used WES. They took close to a mth to process. Cuda been faster if no b naija scl delay.@LadyGuinivere, Did WES contact your naija school for verification via e-mail or via post? Also, did you have to follow up with your school or did your school verify your documents without your intervention? Thanks. |
| Travel › Re: Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program-timelines Here by thebaft: 4:51am On May 16, 2013 |
Hmmm... this is a very interesting thread. |
| Travel › Re: Travel To Seychelles by thebaft(op): 9:03pm On Feb 20, 2013 |
tzetzefly: And you must also know that it is quite expensive to live in Seychelles. The country depends on tourism no freebies.....Now why would someone going to the Seychelles for tourism be looking for freebies? |
| Travel › Re: Nigerian Passport Application: This Sounds Right? by thebaft: 6:46pm On Feb 19, 2013 |
The applications are done online. The imigration officer will fill in your details on your behalf and smile away with your NGN10,000. |
| Travel › Re: Travel To Seychelles by thebaft(op): 4:12am On Feb 19, 2013 |
Thanks once again ... You've been most helpful! |
| Travel › Re: Travel To Seychelles by thebaft(op): 7:04am On Feb 18, 2013 |
Thank you very much! Do you know which foreign airlines fly to the Seychelles from Nigeria? |
