boco2126:
On this IELTS issue...my two cents.

1. Stick to a FEW practice materials! The number of materials for IELTS that we see on a daily on this thread can be overwhelming. Try out only a few and stick to the one that resonates with you. Don't use ieltsliz, Jay, Cambridge, ieltsadvantage, road2ielts etc at the same time (some of these peope don't agree on the same approach and reading all can get really confusing). If you try one and it sits well with you, ditch others. Focus on that one and be a master of it. I almost got overwhelmed at some point, because l wanted to open every link or try every material l saw here. But l had to give myself brain oh.

2. Practise everyday. No excuses. Create the time. Even at work, you can use your lunch break to practise. Instead of listening to music or radio on your way to work, listen to your downloaded tips on writing, speaking, reading, listening. When walking down the streets, have an earpiece on (l hate this, but we can make sacrifices for one month abi?) and keep LISTENING. At weekends, practice speaking with your wife/husband, friend, son/daughter etc. Write out questions and tell them to ask you (under exam conditions). I finished a WHOLE 30 leaves notebook for listening practice (yeah l work an 8 to 5 and live on the mainland with my office on the island -remember, no excuses!). Always check your wrong answers and replay those portions and find out what you didn't hear properly. I used youtube for listening/speaking/reading.

3. There's this ielts expert too, one Ryan (cannot remember his surname) that l think is underrated. I used his tips for writing. He talks about 15 sentences max for writing. 3 paragraphs with 4 sentences and the closing paragraph should have 3 sentences. This keeps you in check and you already know what to write before the exam, all you will be waiting for on the ielts day is the topic given! I can share his materials if you drop your email address.
For writing, write letter and essays! Don't read what someone else wrote. Write yours too. Some people practise writing by reading another's work -WRONG! write yours too and compare. Minimum letters to write on different topics - 10. Minimum essays - 20. Revise your work and look for better ways to reconstruct your sentences. I suggest you write with pencil on your exam day so you can erase if need be.

4. For reading - use youtube. It also has a timer, so practice using the time and don't stop the timer or pause the video. The easiest comprehension in reading are the first two. Spend less time there. Say 5 mins tops for each. You do not need to UNDERSTAND nada. Just look at the instructions (very important), then the questions, then scroll through the passages for the answers. You need all your time for the last two passages. They are more technical.

5. For speaking - Be confident, relaxed and know your basic english and introduction (see ieltsliz). See this as an interview. We all attend interviews don't we? I got a list of 42 likely cue cards from ieltsliz blog (l think she said they change it every 3 months but she always update the cue card questions) and l practiced the 42 different topics and l always set my two minutes timer with my phone. You can be in the BRT or your car and practice this one, or when walking down the street or whilst doing chores at home, or lying down in your bed doing nothing (l did this. Some days, people will think you are going crazy because you are talking to yourself, but...who no go no know). One of the 42 questions l practiced was my cue card during my speaking test -something on my pet animal (l was wondering "madam why me? Animal kwa?" but because l had practised earlier, the examiner had to cut me off when it was two minutes. I just went on and on.

4. Lastly and certainly not the least...the place of PRAYER. I'm catholic, so when l saw the prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino here, l made a mental note to say it. I started saying it every day from September till i wrote my exam on the 1st of November. I even added a 9 days St. Joseph of Cupertino novena with prayer and fasting which ended on the 31st of October (l'm that extra oh. I left no chances). I asked my family to add me in their prayers too. So, pray, pray and pray. Whatever works for you. Someone dropped one St. prayer here on financial assistance for POF, best believe l'll look for that prayer and do it too!

5. People have done it, you too can. Don't be discouraged if you have tried more than once. We don't give up on this thread oh. Being here has taught me a different level of selflessness and never say never spirit. People you don't even know are quick to help and empathise and l am still in awe of you guys.

6. Please drop your email address so l can send the Ryan materials to you.

This too shall pass!

All the best everyone and my apologies for the long post.

Trizadove:
please seniors,
my question goes thus: In 2016 i created an account with WES where i sent my BSC transcript for evaluation. i wanted to use it for admission purpose in the USA.
i still have my document with them but now that i want to use the report for Immigration purpose, i sent mails to them but no response yet. will i have to start the process from the beginning or how do i get the Canadian report since my transcript was sent to their office in USA?
please who ever has their number should give me. i have called their number several times but didn't connect
thank you

wasseynewest:
I bin dey suspect this ur lafta honourable senior

croxx86:
Good day all!!!

Going through this thread has been really helpful and i must commend all contributors.

I intend applying for EE and using my wife as primary applicant as she has advantages both age wise and masters degree from a foreign university.

I want to find out if it is mandatory i do an ECA as well

Thanks

iPopAlomo:
AOR...

4TH DECEMBER...

Please share link for December AOR WhatsApp group...

Thanks...

Ifeoma77:
Lmao
See ehn, its lack of PPR that is causing all this one. Whenever the thread is dry, people get antsy

Oya close your eyes and let us pray...

Heavenly Father,
Let it pour!!!

Amen

Tojued:
%age statuses by month as per Immitracker. Based on my past experience on reaction to this post will start with following disclaimer points

September is another proof of real slowdown .. At end of 2 months June was 14%, July was 11% and August was 11%. Compared to this September is at just 3%. September also saw MEP move from about 12/14 days post AOR to ~28 days post AOR. So a little slowdown was expected. But this is too much.

My guess is sooner or later CIC will have to update their website and change that 6 month number. It will get more and more difficult to justify that number in 2019.

Threemg:


Run to Page 1 kiakia, jowo mashe j'afara because Ij'afara lewu to avoid wasting spending money twice

joo2018:
Interesting analysis.

I disagree with the bolded though. The reason September was slow and MEP since then is now average 4wks and not 2wks was the reduction of ITA expiration date from 3 months after ITA to 2 months.

September was the month when both June and July ITAs expired. That's 4 rounds of draws for a total of 15,000 ITAs.

I think CIC is comfortable with 4wks before MEP. If they become dissatisfied with the time-frame, it is easier to increase the submission deadline back to 90 days than to reduce the service delivery standard of 6 months processing for 80% of applications (huge political implications) or to reduce number of ITAs issued (immigration targets will make that difficult).

After all it was just in November 2016 that the deadline was originally raised from 60 days to 90 days.

badtlimo:
thanks for your reply ...but if she decide to come as a Canadian will she apply for the visit visa over there in Canada or will it be when she gets here in Nigeria (visa on arrival)

joo2018:
You might need to create it and post the link here so people can join.

bababode825:
@Onyeenyeh

How far?

IP2 since November 17th. VO Ottawa

Which way?

boco2126:
On this IELTS issue...my two cents.

1. Stick to a FEW practice materials! The number of materials for IELTS that we see on a daily on this thread can be overwhelming. Try out only a few and stick to the one that resonates with you. Don't use ieltsliz, Jay, Cambridge, ieltsadvantage, road2ielts etc at the same time (some of these peope don't agree on the same approach and reading all can get really confusing). If you try one and it sits well with you, ditch others. Focus on that one and be a master of it. I almost got overwhelmed at some point, because l wanted to open every link or try every material l saw here. But l had to give myself brain oh.

2. Practise everyday. No excuses. Create the time. Even at work, you can use your lunch break to practise. Instead of listening to music or radio on your way to work, listen to your downloaded tips on writing, speaking, reading, listening. When walking down the streets, have an earpiece on (l hate this, but we can make sacrifices for one month abi?) and keep LISTENING. At weekends, practice speaking with your wife/husband, friend, son/daughter etc. Write out questions and tell them to ask you (under exam conditions). I finished a WHOLE 30 leaves notebook for listening practice (yeah l work an 8 to 5 and live on the mainland with my office on the island -remember, no excuses!). Always check your wrong answers and replay those portions and find out what you didn't hear properly. I used youtube for listening/speaking/reading.

3. There's this ielts expert too, one Ryan (cannot remember his surname) that l think is underrated. I used his tips for writing. He talks about 15 sentences max for writing. 3 paragraphs with 4 sentences and the closing paragraph should have 3 sentences. This keeps you in check and you already know what to write before the exam, all you will be waiting for on the ielts day is the topic given! I can share his materials if you drop your email address.
For writing, write letter and essays! Don't read what someone else wrote. Write yours too. Some people practise writing by reading another's work -WRONG! write yours too and compare. Minimum letters to write on different topics - 10. Minimum essays - 20. Revise your work and look for better ways to reconstruct your sentences. I suggest you write with pencil on your exam day so you can erase if need be.

4. For reading - use youtube. It also has a timer, so practice using the time and don't stop the timer or pause the video. The easiest comprehension in reading are the first two. Spend less time there. Say 5 mins tops for each. You do not need to UNDERSTAND nada. Just look at the instructions (very important), then the questions, then scroll through the passages for the answers. You need all your time for the last two passages. They are more technical.

5. For speaking - Be confident, relaxed and know your basic english and introduction (see ieltsliz). See this as an interview. We all attend interviews don't we? I got a list of 42 likely cue cards from ieltsliz blog (l think she said they change it every 3 months but she always update the cue card questions) and l practiced the 42 different topics and l always set my two minutes timer with my phone. You can be in the BRT or your car and practice this one, or when walking down the street or whilst doing chores at home, or lying down in your bed doing nothing (l did this. Some days, people will think you are going crazy because you are talking to yourself, but...who no go no know). One of the 42 questions l practiced was my cue card during my speaking test -something on my pet animal (l was wondering "madam why me? Animal kwa?" but because l had practised earlier, the examiner had to cut me off when it was two minutes. I just went on and on.

4. Lastly and certainly not the least...the place of PRAYER. I'm catholic, so when l saw the prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino here, l made a mental note to say it. I started saying it every day from September till i wrote my exam on the 1st of November. I even added a 9 days St. Joseph of Cupertino novena with prayer and fasting which ended on the 31st of October (l'm that extra oh. I left no chances). I asked my family to add me in their prayers too. So, pray, pray and pray. Whatever works for you. Someone dropped one St. prayer here on financial assistance for POF, best believe l'll look for that prayer and do it too!

5. People have done it, you too can. Don't be discouraged if you have tried more than once. We don't give up on this thread oh. Being here has taught me a different level of selflessness and never say never spirit. People you don't even know are quick to help and empathise and l am still in awe of you guys.

6. Please drop your email address so l can send the Ryan materials to you.

This too shall pass!

All the best everyone and my apologies for the long post.

Tojued:


I have no strong views on the analysis. But it does seem like they're struggling to keep up with that six month benchmark. Processing times are waaaaay longer this year in comparison with last year. Has capacity increased in line with the increased targets? The six months is an automatically calculated average.

Newmum0615:
Finally dropped my resignation letter this morning. Whew! Mixed emotions.

Canada is calling my name. Speak Trudeau, your subject is listening.

smslive2:
Me i don tire to answer the same set of questions over and over again... Why do we bother to populate page 1 with so much information when people will simply ignore the page and ask the already answered questions

Onaliaku:
Nigeria schools can frustrate people.

I paid for ECA with ICES on the September 14th, meanwhile I have paid for my school to send my B.Sc transcript to ICES since August 21.

After frustrating my life, I paid for email and courier (I don't want any long story)the school finally sent the transcript on October 24th and ICES received the email immediately and then received the courier on November 7.

The 10 weeks waiting IS KILLING ME NOW, seeing that my school wasted a lot of time sending ordinary transcript. I am currently at 6weeks since email sent and 5 weeks since they received the courier and I'm depressed already.

please have any of you received your ECA from ICES recently? and how long did it take from when the received your transcript from your school? Help a sister her.

Onaliaku:
Nigeria schools can frustrate people.

I paid for ECA with ICES on the September 14th, meanwhile I have paid for my school to send my B.Sc transcript to ICES since August 21.

After frustrating my life, I paid for email and courier (I don't want any long story)the school finally sent the transcript on October 24th and ICES received the email immediately and then received the courier on November 7.

The 10 weeks waiting IS KILLING ME NOW, seeing that my school wasted a lot of time sending ordinary transcript. I am currently at 6weeks since email sent and 5 weeks since they received the courier and I'm depressed already.

please have any of you received your ECA from ICES recently? and how long did it take from when the received your transcript from your school? Help a sister her.

Onyeenyeh:
Lol. None yet. "Supposed" IP2 since Nov 20.patiently wanting now, at least till the 6th month

Onaliaku:
Nigeria schools can frustrate people.

I paid for ECA with ICES on the September 14th, meanwhile I have paid for my school to send my B.Sc transcript to ICES since August 21.

After frustrating my life, I paid for email and courier (I don't want any long story)the school finally sent the transcript on October 24th and ICES received the email immediately and then received the courier on November 7.

The 10 weeks waiting IS KILLING ME NOW, seeing that my school wasted a lot of time sending ordinary transcript. I am currently at 6weeks since email sent and 5 weeks since they received the courier and I'm depressed already.

please have any of you received your ECA from ICES recently? and how long did it take from when the received your transcript from your school? Help a sister her.

Chicagomum:
All the best dear. I decided to wait after a couple of people told me to do so. If the result is not okay i will register for the 5th of January exam

It will end in praise! why do most people use this phrase? I smile when ever i see it lol...