Torkwase1:
PPR IS HERE!!!

LONG, LONG PPR GIST.

This journey started in February 2018. A friend who's in Canada introduced Express Entry to me, tried to convince me to give it a try. He sent me the NOC and WES links. I had always toyed with the idea of leaving Nigeria, but I wasn't really ready, so I didn't do anything immediately.
A few days later, I heard one of our colleagues would soon leave with her family to Canada. I said ehn, is it that serious? Then a close friend from Uni left. I started giving EE a serious thought then.

My friend in Canada introduced me to an immigration lawyer that she used, Abrams and Kroschak. Then, I didn't know I could do it myself. That's how I sent 500 dollars to the agency as deposit. Well, they sent me an initial package of ducuments to fill, which I will pay another 1000 dollars before submission, apart from other payments o. Hey God. I don't have this type of money o.

NAIRALAND TO THE RESCUE
By a stroke of luck and grace, I stumbled upon the nairaland EE thread. I read several chapters, page by page, and watched YouTube Videos.
Then I realized, babe, people are doing this thing themselves o. I sent a mail to the Agent that I'm no longer doing. That's how I lost 500 dollars.

At this time, I had already sent documents for WES evaluation, and in my ignorance, I evaluated both 1st and Masters degree. See ehn, ignorance is costly.
By the time I met Nairaland EE thread, I had many regrets, and was eager to learn as much as possible.

IELTS:
I didn't practice much for IELTS, never had time and just felt I could handle it. A few days to my test, a friend called and asked me how many tests I've practiced. I said about 6 or 7. He scolded me, said I should have practiced way more than that. I got scared, and tried to squeeze in 3 more tests before the test day. I wrote my test in pencil, answers all in capital letters except for Writing. Thank God it came out great.
L- 9
R- 8.5
S- 8
W- 7. 5

First ITA: AUGUST 22.
My score was 476. I had to decline this ITA after some weeks cos I couldn't complete my POF. Was to sell off a plot of land, the person who wanted to buy it couldn't pay in time.

MEDICALS:
IOM Abuja, pretty straight forward

Second ITA:
November 27. Land sold, money paid, everything was ready.

POF:
I did a fixed deposit in Fidelity Bank, uploaded FD certificates and added their generic reference letter. I had money in two other accounts, for which I presented statement of results.

AOR: December 11, 2018

VO: Ottawa. I was so happy that my file wasn't going to Accra. My processing will be sharp sharp. Hahahaa!! Ottawa had other plans as I would soon see.

MEP/BIL: January 24

THEN THE WAITING BEGAN.
I had joined a post-ITA Telegram group. People started receiving PPR, COPR, and giving landing gist. We were always excited to get the news. I was calm, my time would come soon. If only I knew what CIC had in store. Those with AOR's in the same period as me started getting their PPRs too, I was still stuck in MEP. When I clocked 6 MONTHS in June , I called CIC help centre. They put me on the usual long hold. I didn't know I didn't have enough credit, when the agent said "Your waiting time is 2 minutes", MTN told me, your call credit has been exhausted!!! I Wan cry! Next day, I loaded anough credit, and called again. They said they will check my file,
. Another month passed, no show. This time, I was about the only one in the group who didn't have PPR. Kudos to my members, who tried always to cheer me up.
7, 8 months post PPR, I applied for GCMS notes. When they later arrived, everything was fine, no problem anywhere.

SECOND MEDICALS
One day, I was with a friend and got an update on my account. We were both excited, thinking PPR had arrived. I opened it to see, MEDICALS! My first test had expired. I broke down in tears that day. I was tired. At that point, I just wanted CIC to say they declined my application, so I'll kukuma stay in Nigeria. Which kain delay be this?
Went to IOM, booked an appointment for September 3. Luckily, I was able to get an earlier date after going back to plead with them 'cos I had a trip coming up.

PPR- SEPTEMBER 4, 12:15 AM
I was on night duty in the office, when I saw the mail. I wasn't even thinking of CIC again at this point. Lo and behold, READY FOR VISA!!! I screamed, my body started twisting in crazy dance MOVES, I burst out singing "Halleluya Ogo Ni Fun Baba" off key. My colleagues were worried. What is it, what is it, I couldn't talk. At least not yet. They said, come back and focus on your work, I continued my solo singing. If only you know I'll soon leave you guys with this work!!!
Even though I did night and closed by 7am, by 10 I was out to submit my Passport at Silverbird.

MY MUM:
Initially my mother didn't want me to go. Her worry was, I'm not married yet, it will not be good, I may not get a husband in Canada. Well, what if I stay back and still don't get married in Nigeria? Let me not lose both ways. So I insisted, we prayed, and she's finally cool. But I know at the back of her mind, she still worries.

LESSONS
This journey taught be patience. Ha! I had a swift IELTS, I thought everything will be like that. For where. I learnt to accept that there are things I can't control, and I should just let them materialize at their time.
I started coaching a few people in IELTS writing and speaking. It's been a bit inconvenient, cos of my work and travel schedule, but it helped take my mind off the wait, and made me feel useful to other people.
Now that the Golden Mail is finally here, I am excited to start this new phase of my life.
Thank you Nairalanders, this group is a gem. And to imagine it is free. God bless you all. It ended in praise for me, it will for all who are waiting too.

Prettiepearlz:

I am not sure you read from the beginning before quoting me , Sometimes we need to understand the dynamics of the conversation before making insinuations Lady. We were talking about fraudulent people blocking ways for genuine people because the lady in question said she called a cic agent and the guy was yarning opata that she can’t use it blah blah blah. I am not sure anyone is advocating for it to be stopped, neither did you see it in my post that I am clamoring for an end to cash payment reference letter , I only responded to Tina26 when she quoted my response (which i wondered why) to the lady who felt she couldn't use her job because she was paid in cash to the link with people who got PPR with cash payment reference letter. And I wondered why employees pay their workers in cash, you need not respond because it can also be seen as a rhetorical question that doesn't need response or choose to explain why they do in case the good Lord touched your heart to respond and not being overly defensive and making unnecessary insinuations. I don't appreciate that Lady and I haven’t said PPR shouldn’t be given to such people after all they have the experience. Peace

mmaryam:


Finally got it Sept 9....Aor Sept 20. No issues no ADR. Just abandoned . But I'm glad it ended well

yodiyokun:
Please I need anyone that can offer insight on how best to proceed.

Early this morning we received an email for medical for my mum. She applied for PR on the Parent Sponsorship class. The medical form said she has 30 days to complete medical.

Today also, we received another email saying her VISA is ready and she should send her passport, medical results and police certificate within 15 days from today.

We have been calling all the two clinics that do the medical and also emailed a request for an appointment but the VI one says they are only booking in October. IOM is yet to respond, although I just sent the email like an hour ago.

Please my people, my mama want come Canada ooo and its like she won the lottery, please how can we get a medical appointment with 1- 2 weeks. Any suggestions?

Is it normal to receive request for VISA and medical the same day. I did my immigration over a decade ago so I don't know the current system.

yodiyokun:
Please I need anyone that can offer insight on how best to proceed.

Early this morning we received an email for medical for my mum. She applied for PR on the Parent Sponsorship class. The medical form said she has 30 days to complete medical.

Today also, we received another email saying her VISA is ready and she should send her passport, medical results and police certificate within 15 days from today.

We have been calling all the two clinics that do the medical and also emailed a request for an appointment but the VI one says they are only booking in October. IOM is yet to respond, although I just sent the email like an hour ago.

Please my people, my mama want come Canada ooo and its like she won the lottery, please how can we get a medical appointment with 1- 2 weeks. Any suggestions?

Is it normal to receive request for VISA and medical the same day. I did my immigration over a decade ago so I don't know the current system.

Bogini:
I enjoyed every bit of your story. I can relate. The way IELTS was swift for me, and when I saw that VO was Ottawa, I was just happy that everything will be done in a maximum of 3 months.... It's been over 6 months now, still waiting.
We must learn this patience by force, most importantly, to trust more in God.

Congratulations on your PPR. Can't wait to be like you soon

Bogini:
AOR March 9.
6 months passed.
Sent a message to Ottawa, raised CSE and mailed Ralph.
Only the message to Ottawa was responded to, saying our application is on the queue, and they can't provide any other information.

This stage, is the real test.
May God help us all

RegalB:
Please is there any way of ascertaining visa offices (AVO, OVO...) from 'Ready for Visa' (PPR) emails?

Your response will be very much appreciated.

ladymarshall:
Email Ralph or raise CSE

Icecreamy:
Hello ladymarshall, please I need your help kindly respond. Thanks

You're right it is, a pointer to the rest of us who have more recent AOR dates. Your PPR will soon land, fingers crossed!
The last part of the response from Ottawa, @bolded is funny though : "We thank you for your patience and for keeping your correspondence to a minimum."

Bogini:
AOR March 9.
6 months passed.
Sent a message to Ottawa, raised CSE and mailed Ralph.
Only the message to Ottawa was responded to, saying our application is on the queue, and they can't provide any other information.

This stage, is the real test.
May God help us all

ladymarshall:
@bold I'm sorry, did CIC send a new memo? Where did all these speculations come from? What exactly are the statistics? Please let the VOs do their jobs and allow us who were paid in cash collect our PPR in peace. It's not in your place to begin to guesstimate on people's applications like this. The wait is tiring and painful enough That's why there's background checks. We're not the first and won't be the last to recieve cash yet get PPR.

bankyh1905:
You're right it is, a pointer to the rest of us who have more recent AOR dates. Your PPR will soon land, fingers crossed!
The last part of the response from Ottawa, @bolded is funny though : "We thank you for your patience and for keeping your correspondence to a minimum."

yodiyokun:
Please I need anyone that can offer insight on how best to proceed.

Early this morning we received an email for medical for my mum. She applied for PR on the Parent Sponsorship class. The medical form said she has 30 days to complete medical.

Today also, we received another email saying her VISA is ready and she should send her passport, medical results and police certificate within 15 days from today.

We have been calling all the two clinics that do the medical and also emailed a request for an appointment but the VI one says they are only booking in October. IOM is yet to respond, although I just sent the email like an hour ago.

Please my people, my mama want come Canada ooo and its like she won the lottery, please how can we get a medical appointment with 1- 2 weeks. Any suggestions?

Is it normal to receive request for VISA and medical the same day. I did my immigration over a decade ago so I don't know the current system.

ladymarshall:
Have you raise gcms? If no, do that. The wait is not easy but what can we do? Stay hopeful

Bogini:
I forgot to add....
This was the information I got on my status the moment my application clocked 6 months.

For those who have more recent AORs, who will cross the 6 months line too, you should expect same. But I pray they speed up the process somehow so people don't have to wait this long before knowing their fate in the future.

yodiyokun:
Please I need anyone that can offer insight on how best to proceed.

Early this morning we received an email for medical for my mum. She applied for PR on the Parent Sponsorship class. The medical form said she has 30 days to complete medical.

Today also, we received another email saying her VISA is ready and she should send her passport, medical results and police certificate within 15 days from today.

We have been calling all the two clinics that do the medical and also emailed a request for an appointment but the VI one says they are only booking in October. IOM is yet to respond, although I just sent the email like an hour ago.

Please my people, my mama want come Canada ooo and its like she won the lottery, please how can we get a medical appointment with 1- 2 weeks. Any suggestions?

Is it normal to receive request for VISA and medical the same day. I did my immigration over a decade ago so I don't know the current system.

Bogini:
I forgot to add....
This was the information I got on my status the moment my application clocked 6 months.

For those who have more recent AORs, who will cross the 6 months line too, you should expect same. But I pray they speed up the process somehow so people don't have to wait this long before knowing their fate in the future.

ladymarshall:
@QUTEE

Jackolala:


Thanks a lot for this. I greatly appreciate it. And a big congratulation. I love and want to replicate your testimony of "first and last attempt".
Please mail me. Thanks in anticipation.

ladymarshall:
First, CIC agents who answer calls are not VOs or even the case analysts who review your application and provide recommendation. VOs make the final decisions and weighs the evidence of each case. Each case is different.

Post-AOR, don't be calling CIC like that to get advice on grey areas or what to do. They're not your friend or fellow applicants, they work for the government, not you. Also every call you make and the details are recorded in your gcms notes. The last thing you want to see is @bold recorded in your notes, that would raise the VO's suspicion. Raise your concerns here or your AOR groups. Or better still, tweet at IRCC. And your case is not peculiar, so don't worry, provide the alternative docs as proof. Also remember to check page 1 and the search thread regularly. All the best.

terpenoid:
Please what's the minimum amount for POF?

terpenoid:
Please what's the minimum amount for POF?

mumayo:
congratulations. I'm so happy for you sis. you came! you saw and you've conquered.