Hi all,

I have been recently accepted for a Ph.D. at a university in Quebec for the summer term starting in May 2024.

1. I have guaranteed minimum funding from the department as a TA/RA up to 22500 CAD per annum in financial support for up to 4 years (totaling 82,000 CAD), my LOA/Admission letter stated this guaranteed funding can go up to 26500 CAD per annum.

2. The tuition for the entire duration of the 4 years Ph.D. is 50,000-55,000 CAD as stated in my admission letter.

3. I have been awarded the Concordia International Tuition Award of Excellence. This award is worth about 44,800 CAD, and it reduces the tuition of international doctoral students to the amounts paid by local students in Quebec.

4. From the award, it means I will have to pay the difference of about 5500 CAD per annum which includes Health Insurance cover and other university compulsory fees. See the attached screenshot.

5. Remember in item 1 above I have 22500 CAD minimum guaranteed funding in TA/RA from the faculty/department.

So looking at the TA and Tuition award, if I subtract 5500 from the 22500 I still have about 17k per annum left as a disposable fund for my personal and living expenses (the department will normally subtract the balance tuition from my salary).

My question is, with these obvious facts that my tuition and living expenses have been covered by the tuition award and department-guaranteed funding. Do I still need to provide a bogus SOA to IRCC for my student visa application?

Please I need your answers ASAP as I know some CIC VOs can be funny sometimes.


NOTE:

a. I can comfortably provide a POF of up to N10m or a bit more in my name, my account is busy (lump sums of inflows and outflows) and can show this. However, the money is not just lying there idle for months as I use funds to turn over businesses. But I can ensure the funds are available at the time of submitting the application.

b. About travel history, I have lived and studied in Europe for up to 6 years before returning back to Nigeria. During my time in the EU, I visited home about every year. So my passport has enough stamps to show this.

NLanders, kindly help me clear my doubts.

Even as you have covered your POF with all these aforementioned scholarships, it will be safe to know there are other areas which you need to tighten up. Home ties, personal assest..

MatrixReloaded:
Even as you have covered your POF with all these aforementioned scholarships, it will be safe to know there are other areas which you need to tighten up. Home ties, personal assest..

Thank you at @Matrix, I am married with 2 kids and by 3 kids by December. I don't intend to go with them now but they can join me later. I have a fenced landed property which I bought 8 years ago. I have registered a business where I get funds turnover as mentioned in my MP. Recall also I returned from Europe after studying and working for up to 6 years. This shows my willingness to return from Canada at the end of my programme if it becomes very necessary. Do you think these are enough home ties?

RommyNel:


Thank you at @Matrix, I am married with 2 kids and by 3 kids by December. I don't intend to go with them now but they can join me later. I have a fenced landed property which I bought 8 years ago. I have registered a business where I get funds turnover as mentioned in my MP. Recall also I returned from Europe after studying and working for up to 6 years. This shows my willingness to return from Canada at the end of my programme if it becomes very necessary. Do you think these are enough home ties?

The property get an estate valuation for it, business receipts, cac, family tree, wife consent letter, your profile is robust and it will fly with success at the end. You would need to present your statement to show evidence of support to your family whilst away then again prayer is the key.

MatrixReloaded:

The property get an estate valuation for it, business receipts, cac, family tree, wife consent letter, your profile is robust and it will fly with success at the end. You would need to present your statement to show evidence of support to your family whilst away then again prayer is the key.

@MatrixReloaded, Thank you yet again, my wife is in support and she can easily provide a consent letter (in fact, she actually suggested that I go alone first to satisfy the home ties ish). She works professionally as well and earns around 200k per month. Also, the registered business will still be running while I am away (Of course I will pull a few million to process my application but this is not too much to affect the business), so I can supplement their living expenses. My type of business doesn't necessarily need my presence at all times. I import cars and give them out to dealer shops to sell for me and remit to my account (thus the reason for the lump sum of inflows and outflows). Your suggestion for estate valuation is very much welcomed. I will work on this. I want to apply for CAQ this month but my application to IRCC may be in January depending on when I get the Quebec certificate of acceptance. So this is enough time to work on the the valuation of my property. Thank you very much. Kindly let me know if there other areas I need a touch.

RommyNel:


@MatrixReloaded, Thank you yet again, my wife is in support and she can easily provide a consent letter (in fact, she actually suggested that I go alone first to satisfy the home ties ish). She works professionally as well and earns around 200k per month. Also, the registered business will still be running while I am away (Of course I will pull a few million to process my application but this is not too much to affect the business), so I can supplement their living expenses. My type of business doesn't necessarily need my presence at all times. I import cars and give them out to dealer shops to sell for me and remit to my account (thus the reason for the lump sum of inflows and outflows). Your suggestion for estate valuation is very much welcomed. I will work on this. I want to apply for CAQ this month but my application to IRCC may be in January depending on when I get the Quebec certificate of acceptance. So this is enough time to work on the the valuation of my property. Thank you very much. Kindly let me know if there other areas I need a touch.

In as much as your profile is robust there are areas as per your educational background. Does your profession tally with your course structure. Your previous academics, what is your career plan for going back to PHD. In as much as you have lived in European country, why didn't you pursue the PhD whilst working over there. Remember you worked while living in Europe would this not be a problem if the VO sight using your PhD as an opportunity to access the Canadian Labour market.

MatrixReloaded:

In as much as your profile is robust there are areas as per your educational background. Does your profession tally with your course structure. Your previous academics, what is your career plan for going back to PHD. In as much as you have lived in European country, why didn't you pursue the PhD whilst working over there. Remember you worked while living in Europe would this not be a problem if the VO sight using your PhD as an opportunity to access the Canadian Labour market.

Great insights yet again, to be candid I never wanted to pay for a Ph.D., since I could not a get fully funded Ph.D. while in Europe. I didn't have the funds and luxury to pay for Ph.D. research which is very expensive anyway. I returned home when my permit was about to expire. I hate illegality. I didn't want to start hanging around Europe and hiding from the police because my resident permit was no longer valid. Yes, my studies have been consistent and my PhD is also in line with my research interests. Of course, convincing the university admission officers, and PhD admissions committee, and a series of interviews with Professors (Supervisors) with verifiable documents before they could offer me a place should be enough proof that my educational background is in tally. My work in the EU was partly part-time jobs tied to study permits and other times postgraduate work permits. I had fully funded EU-sponsored MSc studies worth about 44k euros during my first MSc in the EU. My second was partly funded. I only paid my living expenses thus the reason I had a part-time job. Thank you for pointing out these things as they will make up points in my SOP making some clarifications.

Hmmm... hope this isn't an attempt to showboat ?

All the best and learn French

RommyNel:


Great insights yet again, to be candid I never wanted to pay for a Ph.D., since I could not a get fully funded Ph.D. while in Europe. I didn't have the funds and luxury to pay for Ph.D. research which is very expensive anyway. I returned home when my permit was about to expire. I hate illegality. I didn't want to start hanging around Europe and hiding from the police because my resident permit was no longer valid. Yes, my studies have been consistent and my PhD is also in line with my research interests. Of course, convincing the university admission officers, and PhD admissions committee, and a series of interviews with Professors (Supervisors) with verifiable documents before they could offer me a place should be enough proof that my educational background is in tally. My work in the EU was partly part-time jobs tied to study permits and other times postgraduate work permits. I had fully funded EU-sponsored MSc studies worth about 44k euros during my first MSc in the EU. My second was partly funded. I only paid my living expenses thus the reason I had a part-time job. Thank you for pointing out these things as they will make up points in my SOP making some clarifications.

There is every need to ascertain your decision for a PhD in Canada.( Your part-time job shouldn't be noted either). This will even give the Vo every impression you are out to access public funds. They know about PGWP but they don't want you to be dependant on it. Given that the PhD comes with heavy ripping of there economy. They would want you to spend a fortune doing your PhD research/thesis. So you need to show that you have an excellent income flow since your returned from Europe... your part time work in europe isn't a boost either.(Purpose of Visit). At no point should your account run below 25m if you are presenting your statement. You won't pay your educantional bills at there country,OK!!! What about how well you fair in your home country.

KingOfAllIgbos:
Hmmm... hope this isn't an attempt to showboat ?

All the best and learn French

Not any attempt at 'showboat' at all. I am just trying to get clarifications and @MatrixReloaded suggestions have been quite helpful. I find it very important that his suggestions has been taking me on routes I would never thought is important for the CIC VO. You are welcome to offer your guide too. I have never applied for a North American visa before so I am quite a novice at it and I do not know how their process works. In Schengen study permits, you rarely would be invited for a physical interview (at least not in my time). Denial or approval is mostly dependent on the documents you submit. They, of course, verify such documents.

RommyNel:


Not any attempt at 'showboat' at all. I am just trying to get clarifications and @MatrixReloaded suggestions have been quite helpful. I find it very important that his suggestions has been taking me on routes I would never thought is important for the CIC VO. You are welcome to offer your guide too. I have never applied for a North American visa before so I am quite a novice at it and I do not know how their process works. In Schengen study permits, you rarely would be invited for a physical interview (at least not in my time). Denial or approval is mostly dependent on the documents you submit. They, of course, verify such documents.

Wish you all the best chief. 👍

Sky is the limit. You're already on The Path. To greatness.

We all walked it. I just didn't do the Canada route.

MatrixReloaded:

There is every need to ascertain your decision for a PhD in Canada.( Your part-time job shouldn't be noted either). This will even give the Vo every impression you are out to access public funds. They know about PGWP but they don't want you to be dependant on it. Given that the PhD comes with heavy ripping of there economy. They would want you to spend a fortune doing your PhD research/thesis. So you need to show that you have an excellent income flow since your returned from Europe... your part time work in europe isn't a boost either.(Purpose of Visit). At no point should your account run below 25m if you are presenting your statement. You won't pay your educantional bills at there country,OK!!! What about how well you fair in your home country.

Thank you very much for your helpful insights. This is exactly why this thread is very important to me. In Europe, If you get this type of robust funding, you will literally get your visa approved within the shortest possible time. It could be even in a week. Once the embassy/VO can verify from the University that what is stated in the admission letter is true and the documents the applicant submitted are true and genuine, they approve your visa right away. No need for any physical interview at all where the VO countenance/state of mind can determine to a great extent your approval or rejection. As I have come to know the approval or rejection of a visa in the US/Canada is majorly dependent on the VO, not really about the volumes of documents. I have read comments where people have less funds yet they approve their visa and other times those with robust funds are denied. Thank you so much @MatrixReloaded.

MatrixReloaded:

There is every need to ascertain your decision for a PhD in Canada.( Your part-time job shouldn't be noted either). This will even give the Vo every impression you are out to access public funds. They know about PGWP but they don't want you to be dependant on it. Given that the PhD comes with heavy ripping of there economy. They would want you to spend a fortune doing your PhD research/thesis. So you need to show that you have an excellent income flow since your returned from Europe... your part time work in europe isn't a boost either.(Purpose of Visit). At no point should your account run below 25m if you are presenting your statement. You won't pay your educantional bills at there country,OK!!! What about how well you fair in your home country.

Do you mean that my SOA shouldn't run below N25m even when the funding from the faculty and the tuition award covers everything and still leaves up to 17K CAD for living expenses per annum? I explained this in my MP. Kindly clarify this bro.

KingOfAllIgbos:


Wish you all the best chief. 👍

Sky is the limit. You're already on The Path. To greatness.

We all walked it. I just didn't do the Canada route.

Thank you, Chief. I hope I will come back to state my positive experience.

RommyNel:


Do you mean that my SOA shouldn't run below N25m even when the funding from the faculty and the tuition award covers everything and still leaves up to 17K CAD for living expenses per annum? I explained this in my MP. Kindly clarify this bro.

Yes your personal account in your home country is your financial statues. Your account must meet your ambition and current statues. This will clarify every loopholes in failing to meet up with your PhD requirements. Often times schools can retrench some people due to low funding from the govt body responsible. Remember this living expense does not go directly to your account. Thou you need to make research on this fundings and make it collerate with your available fund in your home country. First calculate your tution fee, living expense and make sure you have near equivalent in your account before presenting your claims to the VO

MatrixReloaded:

Yes your personal account in your home country is your financial statues. Your account must meet your ambition and current statues. This will clarify every loopholes in failing to meet up with your PhD requirements. Often times schools can retrench some people due to low funding from the govt body responsible. Remember this living expense does not go directly to your account. Thou you need to make research on this fundings and make it collerate with your available fund in your home country. First calculate your tution fee, living expense and make sure you have near equivalent in your account before presenting your claims to the VO

Ok, thank you for the clarifications.
However, during the interview, one of the supervisors mentioned that the university would normally deduct the difference in tuition and then pay the remainder in monthly salaries once I meet up with my obligations as a TA/RA (this I know I can easily meet up with). The remainder amounts to the 17k pa after deductions as I mentioned previously. Presenting N25m in SOA may be a tall order as the funds are presently tied to cars in the market (the car business is slow due to the bad economy). Of course, it is the guaranteed funding from the faculty and the Tuition award that prompted me to accept the doctoral admission offer. (I am not about japa at any cost).

Ph.D. research is very expensive and I can't afford that when wholly sponsored, this is the major reason I have not taken up a fully self-sponsored doctoral programme. I of course don't want to do a PhD in Nigeria as our universities lack the equipment in my field of research. I don't how many universities have HR-MS, Q-TOF, NMR, and other high-end analytical instruments necessary for my kind of PhD research.

@RommyNel

I need your guide on how you eventually overcame this phase.

THF2024:
@RommyNel

I need your guide on how you eventually overcame this phase.

@THF2024, Sorry for the late response to your inquiries. I suppose you must have sorted the issue and found solutions, if not you can reach out.

Guys, it is PPR this afternoon.

timeline.

CAQ Issued Janaury 9
Permit Application: February 10
Biometric: February 12
IRCC Request for medical: April 11
Medical at IOM: April 15
Medical sent to IRCC by IOM: April 16
Medical Passed: April 18 (Morning)
BVL and PPR: April 18 (Evening)

God is the greatest.

Thank you at @MatrixReloaded, your advice on this thread were very valuable.

Ok