olokings:
as a follow up to putting it out there, i will give an expose' to what my profile looked like and how i packaged my application. Long Post alert.
highlights of SOP and tactics for family visa application
start with a good self-introduction: - i prepared a very detailed SOP. this was intentional because i was putting up a family application of myself and 5 accompanying family members, hence what may be usually overlooked at for single applicants / those leaving their family members behind may not necessarily apply to me given i will be subjected to even more scrutiny.
I drafted my SOP with a clear table of contents, i wrote it with a title, sub-titles, and bolden+italics for points i needed to highlight of importance. i started my SOP with an introduction to myself as though a typical job interview [name, DOB, educational background, professional certification, career highlights, etc.] framework (it is an interview in a sense isn't it?) stating what my intent (to apply for a TRV [Study Permit], and my dependents' [Spousal Open Work Permit + Study Permit for kids]. I clearly mentioned the school, program, start & end dates with duration in months. (highlighted the attachment of LOA, Tuition Payment [in my case i deliberately paid full tuition because i needed to demonstrate financial stability since someone who is going with accompanying member should have that logically] with tuition payment acknowledgement from my school
To address the following: Why study in Canada? why not study in Nigeria? What are your educational goals? what will be the impact & value of the program you are going for study in your business / employment / future endeavours when you return to Nigeria? what are you job experience / skills gaps / career experience that warrants or establish the need for the study?
why the specific university / college chosen? - viewed from the lense of facilities, community, infrastructure, etc. : I further went to add a sub-title where i detailed my employment / carrer profile, an opportunity which i leveraged to deliberately tie the proposed post graduate study to my career progress, highlighting the benefits, value proposition, how acquisition of this additional educational credential will place me above my peer in the office, position me for executive, leadership, and management positions, foster my private professional practice to set up consult after my career (see how i am demonstrating what i will do when i return), how credential & skills documentation a very big differentiator in my office. I specifically highlighted that i have embarked on a post secondary study during the course of my professional career (reemphasizing the value proposition) and how my employer acknowledged the additional qualification (attached the letter) and i was able to participate for further promotion few years later (attached a doc. to this effect). I intentionally mentioned my under grad project and how it positioned me to excel at this current study (further arguing why the study).
Then i moved on to sub-title, "Reason for the Study and Choice of *** school Canada". I started with stating how the program aligns with my professional aspirations, skills i will gain, and the credential will demonstrate experience i have gained in the field for the period i have worked. I stated how the program in the specific school is specially designed for reasons given in the school website, how it resonates with my personal goals. I mentioned that i have sought an unpaid study leave from my employer which was granted (doc attached), how the school is well known for excellence in that course, the community is accommodating and encourage easy transition for international students, learning is experiential, not subject to reccurent strikes and industrial action, cultism et al (see what i did there, why canada & not nigeria), how i prefer to use the opportunity to experience the canadian culture, landscape and serenity which i have researched on the net, as it is a great place for families (see what i did there again?, tactically introducing why travelling with family), mentioned passively that i looked at Europe and west africa, however, based on personal reason (some of which i had mentioned) i prefer to pursue the study in *** school, in *** province, in canada. I also mentioned how the changes ongoing in the industry here in Nigeria warrants talents to upskills and develop further in other to be resilient et al... grammar grammar grammer but you get the gist.
i went on to detail the duration, course highlights and how i look forward to excelling with accelerated learning during the study to ensure that i finish with good grades, and on time in order for me and my family to return on **** date back and resume my employment and private freelance practice at home in Nigeria (see what i did there again?)
Now onto the biggest issue, to address What are your home ties? why are you travelling with the family for the study period?- viewed from the lense of Family, Economy, Financial, career prospects, etc. - i sub-titled "Reason for travel with family for study at *** school, province, *** canada: i introduced my spouse, how long we were partners (doc attached), how we are very close and depend on one another for everything (see what i did here, setting the floor why i cannot be without her), highlighted various endeavours we have embarked on together as partners, both academically, professionally, and socially. gave some reasons here and there what we have done to ensure a stable and single unit family, mentioned / introduced our kids all 4 of them, mentioned our property (just one) which we developed together (added property valuation report), and how we love our home. highlighted that we are fully commited to co-parenting, maintaining a single functional family unity for the development of the kids psychologically, emotionally, mentally, academically, etc. because young ones are super impressionable hence we cannot leave them with anyone other than ourselves to raise (see what i did there again, we must do it together & can give them to any one else, appealing to the human nature of the VO tactically). talked about the personal aspiration of my partner. specifically mentioned that i need my family to be physically present with me during the study for emotional support, will provide my partner the opportunity to further pursue her personal goals of self achievement since she will be working whether paid / unpaid to practice skills in a flexible schedule, and i will be happy enough to perform exceptional well academmically (see the idea there now?). i mentioned that i have research *** province, and looked up schools there which fit my kids' educational needs, afterwhich i contacted one and notified them of my intent (attached communique docs, kids passed term results, etc.) and they are ready to accept my kids as soon as we land.
Now, because, my third child (only) was birthed in the US, i mentioned that on *** date, i embarked on family vacation where we had our child (introduced him) in the states, and as a family tradition of witnessing all my kid's birthing, i was present with the siblings. however i highlighted that we ensured that the birthing process was self-pay and in order to ensure that we are not financially indebted to the US govt. we acquired all zero balance receipts for all aspects of the medical procedures (attached everything!!!) after which we returned to Nigeria as soon as the child was cleared for international travel (see what i did there to demonstrate authenticity of return). I further stated that, since i am the primary provider for the family, it will be counterproductive to leave them behind and be sending funds when i am a student with limited working hours myself, hence my resolve to travel with them. I also mentioned that during our stay, the whole family shall be covered by comprehensive insurance to the tune of $****** (attached each persons insure cert), hence we shall not be a burden to the canadian or provincial govt. during the **** months before we return back to nigeria (by now you are seeing the tactics).
in a sub "head proof of home ties" note the flags - i argued that i am employed with **** for *** no. of years (to demonstrate stability), stated my gross annual earnings converted in $CAD which are backed up by paystubs, mentioned the future financial prospects when i return as per promotion at my place of work, stated that my employer although granted me study without pay there is a 100% reabsorbtion rate for study leave returnees, mentioned that i still have over 20yrs of career growth ahead of me hence the motivation to return and continue to climb up the corporate leadership ladder. i also mentioned my financial indebtedness to my bank where i recieve my salaries and how i need to return and reactivate my salaries in order to close out my indebtedness and enjoy my full gratuity and pension when i eventually retire. mentioned when i can access my pension, the physical requirements to process my gratuity (mentioned the amounts), my life insurance (mentioned the amount) which can only kick in if i pass in service and how this secures my family (see the tactic there again, reiterating family commitment). mentioned our jointly built home with value in $CAD. Mentioned my aged mother, & in-laws whom i support financially from time to time whilst specifically highlighting the medical conditions that required routine check up and treatments. mentioned my freelance business practice which just kicked up and how it can grow further with adequate skills documentation, mentioned my professional certifications, small businesses that my partner runs etc.
then i wrapped up with saying how the whole duration for the post study program is one big family vacation & bonding time which will create lasting memories for the kids and my partner which is one of my personal goals after we return on **** date back to Nigeria, hence i have made $CAD****** available for the period to cover tuition and living expenses whether partner works or not (see the closing there right?)
what is your travel history (if your have)? - mention all visa denials with reasons, give one liners to the why you made those travels to demonstrate that you are mostly intentional in all of your ventures. - i talked about all the little little family trips we have taken, both intra&international, even the small ones in my community corner where we have our home (all to demonstrate that we move together and not always without - further burtressing the single family unit mindset). attached each family member travel visa history pages. i mentioned the two denials we have had specifically France in 2014, and USA in 2021 when we wanted to birth our last (4th) child [i was intentional with this because we were interview for medical tourism and denied based on eligibility not met, so if i am not upfront with this, and during info sharing, USA agency flags this, i may be seen as misrepresenting / lieing, so be tactful].
Now onto the mother of them all---- what is your proof of means of financial support (POF)? - state amounts to show tuition + living expense (for full duration of program) + miscelleanous expense + buffer + flight ticket (return). mention any and all spikes in your transactions (lump sums), mention any loan obligations shown as deductions in your accounts (you can even use them as home ties) --- I started with stating that i and my wife will be co-sponsoring this initiative and attached our ONE YEAR bank statements (MBS). stated the source of funds as salary, consulting commissions, partner's sales income, employee emoluments, and other personal excesses.
Explained every LUMP SUM (excess of N1m creditted into the account, even employer payments) with verifiable evidences and refernce.
Now you need to note that the whole money used for POF was credited into the account exactly 9 days before i submitted my application, and the account was less than N100K worth before then. so what did i do, i didnt pay my tuition from my account, instead i took a loan from a lender, had them pay the money into a colleagues account, and have him process Form A to pay my full tuition for me. I added the tuition receipt and included the cost in my PoF. then, i had a couple of projects i was developing for my employer which they paid to me, (altough that money was to be expended to other team beneficiary by me) i held the money for 3 weeks after applying then disbursed. by the time i disbursed, the account went back to less than N4m which i further disbursed into my crypto wallet. And yes, i used my crypto wallet value as part of my PoF. i simply screenshot my crypto portfolio, my profile page, trade history, crypto platform's email confirmation of trades, email confirmation of credit & debit alerts into & out of my personal account based on crypto trade.
Then i prepared a table showing our financial plan for the *** period of stay in *** province, in canada
i started with stating how much our total PoF is $CAD85,000.00 required for all 6 of us.
aspects of the table includes; program tuition, one year cost of living, extra months remaining cost of living, miscellaneous, flight tickets (return). total the full expense costs. Added a line for amounts paid (tuition), and calculated the outstanding expendition. Added a line for Cash in Bank (PoF) in $CAD, and another line for guaranteed future receipts/income, and another line for fund reserves based on digital crypto wallet in $CAD. i quoted this because i didnt want it to be that we are spending the whole of our life savings on study trip.
I added a remarks under the table that i converted the Naira to $CAD at CBN rate, but i converted monies in the Dorm accounts to Naira at prevailing black market rates of US$1 - N580 because using this rates will boost the monies.
Then i closed up by saying that the amounts will enable my whole famliy to comfortably live in *** province even if my partner and i didnt work, considering also the fact that i have paid my full tuition (with attached receipt) for the program.
I further added a sub-title were i use bullet points to explained each lump sumps for the one year period, and clarified all my funding sources.
i added a sub-title where i listed all documents attached to the application as categorised.
then i went on to Criminality Background Check, Conclusion, and Prayer: - i stated that during the stay in canada, i and my family will be at ***** province, for ** months starting from *** data to *** date after which we will return to Nigeria on *** specific date to resume my active service with my employer while my partner will return to ***** her personal engagements.
i highlighted that i have a clean record in my home country and place of employ for *** years, and fully commit to conducting myself ethically wherever i am. i further made a commitment statement that i and my family will blah blah blah during our stay and maintain the scope limits of the visas if granted, as well maintain / adhere to any & all governing laws + regulations of canada.
signed my prayers.
PS: also included is letter of sponsorship from my partner to me stating her commitment to co-sponsor this endeavour financially during our stay in the province. i also gave her a co-sponsorship letter doing the same thing in her Letter of Purpose.
caveat: Ayam not a guru / agent / SOP writter / Review. so i will prefer any and all kweshiuns be put up here so the family can collectively attend to it.
na work i no get make me type this epistle as i dey wait make class time reach. lazy man sitdon dey look NL. lol
Best of luck to every one.
Wow! What an expose. Thank you for this detailed resource. 11 Likes 5 Shares |
Travel / Re: Canada Spouse Open Work Permit (sowp)timeline by Hezy: 8:43am On Jan 22, 2023