It’s PPR + COPR after 10 months !! Brace up for a long read….

BACKGROUND (My IELTS success story as earlier shared in Part 5)

Finally, IELTS has been put to the cross.

I have no choice but to step out from the shadows as a keen and silent observer to motivate and encourage someone in this big family.

1st attempt (BC, April '18)
L - 8.5
R -8.0
W -7.0
S - 7.5
Right from the onset, the aim had been to max out to hit 441 (if u know, you know ). Because of the urge to enter the pool (CRS - 438) and belief that CRS was going to drop based on last year's draws, I didn't bother to request for a remark. After waiting and closely following the draws, I realized that this was not going to happen. I decided to write TEF - I have intermediate French knowledge - in June since I stood a better chance of raking in more points. TEF didn't bulge and humbled me. Still, I refused to be discouraged and remained resolute.

2nd attempt (BC, September '18)
L - 8.0
R - 9.0
W - 6.5
S - 7.0
After putting in extra preparation, BC hit me with this result. I didn't even know whether to laugh or cry but I was certain this was an anomaly. I didn't even think of an EOR as I believed it was a lost cause. As usual, I refused to let it get to me and immediately searched for available exam slots. I decided to give MOD a shot and was lucky to get a seat in less than 1 week outside my town. Yes, the struggle was for 3 additional points but trust me, every single point you can get counts in this journey.

3rd Attempt (MOD, September '18)
L - 9.0
R - 9.0
W - 7.5
S - 8.5
God finally came through for me. Safe to say MOD was the game changer. Waiting for this result was mentally exhausting as I kept second guessing myself all through the waiting period even though I knew I gave my best. To say I am relieved and elated is an understatement. Now sitting at 441 and hoping CRS drops soonest - The next battle !

To everybody battling with IELTS, please do not give up. Remain resolute, prepare harder and heaven will definitely favour you.

TIMELINE
Final decision to migrate - October 2017

IELTS:
07 April '18 LRWS - 8.5, 8.0, 7.0, 7.5 (1st attempt)
28 June '18 - TEF (LRWS - A2, B1, A2, A2)
08 September '18 LRWS - 8.0, 9.0, 6.5, 7.0 (2nd attempt)
29 September '18 LRWS - 9, 9, 7.5, 8.5 (Finally maxed out)

ECA: 18 May '18

EE Profile created: 18 May '18 (CRS - 438)

EE profile updated: 12 October '18 (CRS - 441)

ITA: 15 October '18

AOR: 9 November '18

MEP/BIL: 11 December '18

BIL completed: 12 December '18

IP2: 08 August '19 ( Not certain but most likely came few days earlier cos I didn't check my account for about 1week )

PPR: 08 August '19, 11:05pm

AOR to PPR: 9 months (272 days)

Application Approved: August 28 ‘19

COPR: September 6 ‘19

VO: Ottawa

No ADR

Single Applicant

No Travel History


DECISION TO MIGRATE
I had always wished to leave from the day I could tell my left from my right. My desire to leave the country was not necessarily borne out of the dire situation and bleak future of the country (ended up playing a huge part though) but mostly because I love exploring new places.

I had gotten my international passport since 2015 and had never applied for any form of visa - was practically just using it as a means of ID. LOL. I was bidding my time and waiting for the right opportunity more so because I work in a Multinational organization and doing fairly okay.

By mid 2017, I was beginning to get disillusioned and dissatisfied with my job role. I was running my master's programme at this time and was ready to make a move.

Fortunately, about the same period, a friend told me about Express Entry and the processes but she didn't seem to have a good grasp of the whole process. I took note of the little information I got and moved on. By October, a very good friend of mine intimated me of his desire to leave soonest through the same EE. I quickly latched on that and he was able to give me a better understanding of the whole process and sufficient information to start the whole process. At this point, my mind was made up to follow through but my final exams was fast approaching. I decided to initiate the process in January immediately after my final exams. And that was how my journey started and I made it my topmost goal for year 2018.

Quest for further info then led me to this thread. I joined from Part 3 (I don old small for here but we was on a low *lol*) and I got more than 80% of the info I required for the process here.

ECA
By the time I was ready to start my certificate evaluation in February, I learnt our dear NASU was on strike. This was where my patience was first tested. Fortunately for me, the strike was called off few weeks later. Na so the journey start. I used WES (way before the era of WAEC) and it was actually a breeze. As I was based far away from where I schooled, I got my sister to go to my school to make the application. Got a contact thereafter who was super helpful and he followed through till verification. I never stepped a foot in my school all through. My evaluation was completed within the stipulated timeline.

MEDICALS
Immediately I saw my IELTS result on October 12th, I just had the feeling ITA (I never imagined it was just 3days away) was around the corner and I proceeded right on the spot to book for my Medicals at Q-life Clinic. On my first contact, I was booked for November 28 but I pleaded with them to check if there was any available slot before then. Lucky enough, I was able to get a November 8 date. Few days later (after getting ITA), I called back to confirm my appointment and was lucky enough again to get it moved to November 5.

Flew down from my base to Lagos about 3days before the set date - people based in Lagos and Abuja are very lucky. We are sha beefing you people Lol. On the D-day, I got there quite early but met a sizeable number of people. The whole process was relatively smooth and without stress. Left about 6hrs later. To be open as possible and to avoid any unwanted story later, I declared a benign health condition but which was now under control to the doctor. When the worries of passing medicals set in and my thoughts were everywhere ( I just dey start, I never see anything), I was almost regretting telling the Doctor. My fears were unfounded and worthless as I passed my medicals at the set time without any issue. Hallelujah somebody !! �

PCC
I actually got two PCCs for this journey. First one I got in May by proxy using Inspector Moshood. I was confident back then of getting ITA before it expired but for where?! E no happen till it eventually expired. Got the second one also by proxy in October immediately after I got ITA. This was also hassle free. I scanned and submitted both the certificate and the fingerprints page (wasn’t ready to leave anything to chance).

ITA/AOR
Getting an invitation was my beginning of real test of patience. I had to take the IELTS three times not because I didn't get the minimum score at the first try but because I just had to max out. The aim was to max out and hit 441 and then ride my luck hoping the draws (era of 440+) will be favourable at some point or at the extreme, wait for official completion of my Masters degree.
At that point, I had written the last paper of my Masters degree programme and was rounding up with my project work but then I knew I couldn't just wait on them because the school is notorious for delays and all forms of administrative bottlenecks and frustrations.
Then came October 15th (just 3 days after I had updated my IELTS result), the day of unexpected miracle draw. What a wonderful day !! I had taken the day off from work after so many frustrations to get my project supervisor to grade my work and let me move on. Waiting for him in front of his office bored and tired, I decided to find succour in the thread as usual. Then boom, I saw a post announcing the draw. With all different shade of emotions, I dashed straight to the CIC site for confirmation. There it was staring at me out of the blues, a draw of 440 !
At that point, I didn't even how to react, what to say or what to do. I will never forget that moment. Chaiii...see God blessing me in the arena of my oppressors. Lol. Na so I comot the guy office and didn't even bother going back for a very long time. Safe to say final results were not compiled till April this year. Hmmnn.
Then the journey to gather and sort all my documents started. Because I had spent so much time here, I already knew what and what was expected of me. I had been diligently keeping screenshots of information that was applicable to me all the while I was waiting for ITA. So I found it quite straightforward. Gathered all and finally submitted November 9th.

POF
I used my Stanbic Mutual funds account. Had about 70% of the funds required already in it. Got a gift for the balance from my brother. I prepared the gift deed myself and got it notarized. I didn't have to go to Stanbic bank to get my reference letter. I contacted them via mail and was asked to pay a token of #2625 and it was mailed back to me in less than 3 days. Also got my 6months account balance from them. It was quite easy and straightforward. For submission, I included the reference letter, 6months account balance, gift deed and transfer receipts of the gift.

PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT
Claimed 3 years of work experience from current organisation. Getting a reference letter was quite tricky. Had informed my former supervisor months earlier of the need to sign my reference letter which he agreed to. But by the time ITA dropped and I went back to him, oga started dragging feet o. He suddenly started referring to company policy why he can't sign on a letter head paper and bla bla and I didn't want to explore the idea of preparing it on a plain sheet and notarizing it. At this point, I was confused and getting worried. Because of confidentiality and to avoid unnecessary rumours, I didn't want to go the HR route but at this point, I had no choice. If I go cast, make I cast, the stakes are too high to chicken out. After a couple of back and forth between HR and my current supervisor to endorse my JD as I had prepared it, it was accepted and forwarded to our Head Office for processing. I sha had to lie I was going to visit in the abroad. Lol

After plenty follow ups and frequent calls, reference letter came after about 2weeks but big comma dey dere. Because of a 'company policy' of reference letter not exceeding a page, my JD was muddled up and was looking incoherent. But which kind wahala be this na ?! Well, nothing a LOE can not fix. I simply typed my JD the way it should be on a plain sheet and got it stamped from HR and also included it. Other documents included in the placeholder was my 6 months pay slip, most recent salary review letter and employment letter.

BIOMETRICS
This was supposed to be one of the easiest phase of this journey but the experience I had left a sore taste in my mouth and further convinced me I just needed to move to a system that works. I travelled to Kaduna to spend some time with my brother (and at same time hope to get biometrics done) when I got my biometrics request on December 11. Left the next day for VFS Abuja to get it done. It was straightforward and without stress and my account was updated in no time. Leaving Kaduna back to my base was nightmarish. Journey that was supposed to last less than 4hrs travelling via rail and air eventually took me more than 30hrs plus stress on the road due to inefficiencies and delays both at the train station and the airport. One would think they all planned to frustrate me that fateful day. Very frustrating experience but I'm glad I could recount it with a victory smile on my face.

THE WAIT
This phase forcefully taught me patience and perseverance. It was nothing but nine months of emotional torture and it brought out the mental strength in me I never knew I had. How I managed to pull through I really do not know but was just taking each day as it came. Thinking of my IELTS and ITA struggle, I believed in my mind I was gonna get compensated with a short wait. For where ?! Rather, it was waiting game reloaded.

After submission, I joined the November AOR group created by Ramj and also devoted more time to the thread as usual to get updates and pass away time . Looking at other timelines (especially single applicants), it was not uncommon for PPR to come within 5-6months and I had hoped for that considering my application was as simple as it could be. First few months after submission, I developed the habit of checking my account at least once in a week just to see any form of update. Because I knew it was still early, I wasn't really perturbed. I also made it a point of duty to call CIC agents once every month to follow through. In January, I found out that eligibility was met, criminality and security yet to start and my case file was good. In February, I requested for my GCMS notes believing there would have been more updates on my case file. It came after about a month and everything I heard from the agent was confirmed. From the notes, eligibility was met in December 27. At that point (in March), I strongly believed I was almost there and this heightened my expectations.

Fast forward to 6 months, still no show and I was still patiently waiting. The silence during this period was deafening and I was getting tensed. Not even a single ADR or make ghost even visit me na. Lol. I increased calling the agents to twice a month to get updates, I was been told the same thing - eligibility met, security and criminality yet to start. In fact, this was all I heard for all the times I called. Lots of applicants in my group were getting PPR. To make matters worse, even some single applicants (which we believed CIC was notorious for delaying our applications) that we shared similar profile were getting PPR. Wetin come do my own case file?

At this point, I just had to make peace with my inner self for the sake of my sanity. Stopped checking my account often and also stayed away from nairaland. I took solace in the fact that eligibility was already met and there was no issue whatsoever with my application. I believed it was a case of 'when' and not 'if'. I committed myself to more work and spending more time with my Play Station 4 console just to take my mind off it. Of course, it never worked completely but it gave me little respite. Few friends that knew about my application were already getting worried for me but I was just calm all through or maybe I was just faking it. Lol

Fast forward to August 8th, I was about closing from work and decided to check my account (hadn't checked for over a week) and there it was, my application had been updated. The almighty ghost update had decided to visit me. Yipee !! I couldn't even shout or scream, I was just staring at the computer screen. Finally, I knew it was closer than ever. On my way back home, I was just postulating plenty and hoping it was going to come in the next couple of days - didn't know it was already at my doorstep. Lol. Got home and went to shower. In the middle of it, I heard a notification sound from my phone and I was convinced out of the blues that it had arrived. Checking my phone and there it was at 11:05pm, the long anticipated GOLDEN MAIL ! I had always imagined how I was going to react when PPR drops but there I was numb and smiling sheepishly and just muttering, "thank you God". The relief I felt was indescribable, I felt like the whole world had just been taken off my shoulders. Considering how long I had waited, it was more of relief than excitement. Nine months of second guessing and worrying had come to an end !

COPR
Few minutes after savouring the relief of getting PPR, I got to work by sorting the requested documents and dusted and removed cobwebs from my international passport. Lol. Next day, I dropped them at the courier service for onward transfer to VFS Lagos for processing. Application was approved August 28th and got COPR and stamped passport back on September 6th. The feeling is surreal. Holding my stamped passport and COPR trumped the joy and excitement of getting the golden mail. It is the hard proof that I am going to my new home. Finally, I WON !!



If not for anything, this journey has further reinforced my belief that no two persons’ journey in life is the same. My application was nowhere complex but delayed longer than I could have imagined. Life is not a competition, just face yours squarely and let God settle you. I strongly believe everything happens at God's appointed time because he knows best.

Special shout-out to my November AOR group, you guys are the best. It's a big and loving family and I can't wait to meet up with you guys in Canada. And to this great Nairaland thread, I owe a great part of this success to you. That's why I vowed that no matter how long it took, I must come back to share my story here so that others could learn as I did or be inspired just as I was. For those new on this journey, I know it has been said over and over but I’m going to repeat it again – Nothing beats reading and researching for this life-changing journey. This thread especially is a goldmine of information and some altruistic seniors (May God bless them!) further took their time to carefully sort the information. Please study it. This piece of advice could make or mar the success of one’s application. And to those still waiting, hang on – the end is near. Delay is not denial !

La fin !

I'm actually surprised with the 30k-40k been quoted. I prepared my gift deed myself and got it notarised by a notary public for about 2k in Lagos (TBS complex to be precise).

As you earlier opined, I got the contact from the list of notary publics on Page 1.

Tojued:


Notarising my deed (at a law firm) cost either 5 or 10k. Can't remember exact figure again. I think twas 5k sha.

Please for those that have attended the planning for Canada session or have registered successfully for it, at what point post AOR did you register ?

Because I registered for the session but my AOR letter (NOV 9 AOR)was deemed ineligible and was told I need to be in the 'final' stage of processing before I could be eligible. I'm desperate to book a seat before they pull the plug finally in December.

Caught up with this thread in Part 3...

Got ECA done in Part 4...

Overcame IELTS hurdles and got ITA in Part 5...

PPR dropping in Part 6 by God's grace...

Slowly but surely, We shall get there !!!

Good people, please I have a query.

To sign my reference letter, can I use my former supervisor or must it be my current supervisor ?

P.S : I am claiming points for just one job role and both supervisors are still in the organisation.

Just when I least expected it !!

ITA in the bag !

Just got my CRS updated from 438 to 441 few days ago after almost getting drowned in the pool !

Thought it was going to be another long struggle but He had other plans. God is indeed wonderful and faithful !!

I'm literally shaking right now. This feels so surreal !

Somebody should wake me up plssss.....

Finally, IELTS has been put to the cross.

I have no choice but to step out from the shadows as a keen and silent observer to motivate and encourage someone in this big family.

1st attempt (BC, April '18)
L - 8.5
R -8.0
W -7.0
S - 7.5
Right from the onset, the aim had been to max out to hit 441 (if u know, you know ). Because of the urge to enter the pool (CRS - 438) and belief that CRS was going to drop based on last year's draws, I didn't bother to request for a remark. After waiting and closely following the draws, I realized that this was not going to happen. I decided to write TEF - I have intermediate french knowledge - in June since I stood a better chance of raking in more points. TEF didn't bulge and humbled me. Still, I refused to be discouraged and remained resolute.

2nd attempt (BC, September '18)
L - 8.0
R - 9.0
W - 6.5
S - 7.0
After putting in extra preparation, BC hit me with this result. I didn't even know whether to laugh or cry but I was certain this was an anomaly. I didn't even think of an EOR as I believed it was a lost cause. As usual, I refused to let it get to me and immediately searched for available exam slots. I decided to give MOD a shot and was lucky to get a seat in less than 1 week outside my town. Yes, the struggle was for 3 additional points but trust me, every single point you can get counts in this journey.

3rd Attempt (MOD, September '18)
L - 9.0
R - 9.0
W - 7.5
S - 8.5
God finally came through for me. Safe to say MOD was the game changer. Waiting for this result was mentally exhausting as I kept second guessing myself all through the waiting period even though I knew I gave my best. To say I am relieved and elated is an understatement. Now sitting at 441 and hoping CRS drops soonest - The next battle !

To everybody battling with IELTS, please do not give up. Remain resolute, prepare harder and heaven will definitely favour you.

This is despicable...won't even allow any lady try this on me !!

Just got a success text from them today ! Any other person ?

Anybody from Lagos for tuesday nd interested in making similar travel nd accommodation plans so we could save cost ? Holla...let's make sense !!