Sorry to hear what happened to you. Did your wife and kid travel together with you or you are already in Canada and they want to join you.

Paul4canada:
My wife and daughter not allowed to fly to Canada via Lufthansa yesterday.
Please learn from my mistake.
My wife was cleared after presenting several documents, Eg. A valid job offer in Canada, while my daughter was not allowed to fly, an infant of 3 yrs old. SOWP visa application was made to together with my kid application, upon approval, my wife Visa annotated as Worker, while my daughter's Visa annotated Visitor.
Due to his annotation, my daughter's was not allowed to fly. Visitors are not allowed to come to Canada.

We spent over 4 hours explaining that they are not coming as a visitor,the kid is a dependent.
Lesson, Make sure u get all requirements on ground like a JOB offer, spouse Pay Subs, Accommodation, Copy of husband permit, exemption to fly letter, Authorization letter ( Apply 14 days earlier before departure) ArriveCan App, etc.

Hello house, happy new year in advance.
I tried to do upfront medical exams, so I went online to book, they gave me 19th of January
2021 which is too far. Because I have submitted my application since November. Is there a way I can manoeuver the date to next week?

Ok. But please schools that pay per course. Whats the maximum amount of course one can select in a semester

Insanity:


For the whole program? I don't know of any at the moment, any one with information can chip in at this time.

How long did it take for decision to be made?

deommanuel:


I'm going to UManitoba. Shey na the same Winnipeg

These are colleges right?

awys:

NBCC,NSCC, Brandon university you can still get within those range

Chimzy4real:
These are colleges right?

Yes New brunswick community college,Nova Scotia community college,Brandon university also check Uni of Winnipeg and Uni of Manitoba

Good day. I am new here. Please how long did it take for your work permit to be approved?

Hello Paul4canada

Thank you for this update.

I had actually suspected this may happen after I read a post from evergold about authorization letters.

I plan to travel on the 6th with my 3 kids but since theirs aren't study visas, I was worried they may not be allowed to fly. I've applied for this authorization letters but also worried that with the holiday and breaks, we may not beat the deadline. I'm honestly tired with all the back and forth.

Please, aside from their visas and authorization letter, was your wife asked to produce any other documents for your daughter?

Paul4canada:
My wife and daughter not allowed to fly to Canada via Lufthansa yesterday.
Please learn from my mistake.
My wife was cleared after presenting several documents, Eg. A valid job offer in Canada, while my daughter was not allowed to fly, an infant of 3 yrs old. SOWP visa application was made to together with my kid application, upon approval, my wife Visa annotated as Worker, while my daughter's Visa annotated Visitor.
Due to his annotation, my daughter's was not allowed to fly. Visitors are not allowed to come to Canada.

We spent over 4 hours explaining that they are not coming as a visitor,the kid is a dependent.
Lesson, Make sure u get all requirements on ground like a JOB offer, spouse Pay Subs, Accommodation, Copy of husband permit, exemption to fly letter, Authorization letter ( Apply 14 days earlier before departure) ArriveCan App, etc.

Good day. How long did it take for your work permit to be approved because I applied for same September and it is over 3months now.

evergold:
So, I arrived on Dec 26th. I am very tired. Since I am not on study permit I don't think there is any reason to write full gist. I may add the pictures and videos I took to photos and link them here later.

The procedure to get your work permit is pretty much alike to that of study permit.

Whether today, tomorrow or next tomorrow oo make the good news just drop

Uzomachukwu:


Tomorrow is public holiday for IRCC offices world over. Since 26th fell on a Saturday, they moved their own boxing day to 28. So if there's to be any good news, it could be from Tuesday, I think.

I shall testify in this thread by God's Grace, Amen!!!

#sohelpmeGod#

Thank you. Please how do i convert my cgpa to a Canadian grading style.

awys:

Yes New brunswick community college,Nova Scotia community college,Brandon university also check Uni of Winnipeg and Uni of Manitoba

Maprince4:
Hello house, happy new year in advance.
I tried to do upfront medical exams, so I went online to book, they gave me 19th of January
2021 which is too far. Because I have submitted my application since November. Is there a way I can manoeuver the date to next week?

Good evening,

If you have not yet made any payment, you can try the other panel of pshysician if they have an earlier date for you to book for your medicals.

But if that is the earliest date you are able to secure, you would need to be patient. I dont think you will be able to manoeuver anything than to just wait for the 19th January should in case none of the two panel of physician has an earlier date than the 19th.

Hopefully, IRCC progresses your application further and sends you medical request before that date.

I wish you success and it will end in praise.

Yes, Birth certificate was required and exemption letter to fly.
Send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
secodly. for more information kindly visit the following website.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html

Whispering:
Hello Paul4canada

Thank you for this update.

I had actually suspected this may happen after I read a post from evergold about authorization letters.

I plan to travel on the 6th with my 3 kids but since theirs aren't study visas, I was worried they may not be allowed to fly. I've applied for this authorization letters but also worried that with the holiday and breaks, we may not beat the deadline. I'm honestly tired with all the back and forth.

Please, aside from their visas and authorization letter, was your wife asked to produce any other documents for your daughter?

Uriel12:


Me sef.
Same school.

Just sent you a message. Let's connect

Chimzy4real:
Ok. But please schools that pay per course. Whats the maximum amount of course one can select in a semester

6 to 10 depending on the course and school.

Chimzy4real:
How long did it take for decision to be made?

It depends on your program. I applied for Undergraduate studies and it took only a week.

Already in Canada to join me.

Kaykaykay1:
Sorry to hear what happened to you. Did your wife and kid travel together with you or you are already in Canada and they want to join you.

Chimzy4real:
Thank you. Please how do i convert my cgpa to a Canadian grading style.

https://applications.wes.org/igpa-calculator/igpa.asp

Use the above link. Ensure you have your transcript with you tho.

Please I want to send additional documents to support my home ties. Should I use the general webform or Nairobi Webform?

Please does anyone know any College (s) that their tuition deposit is low like Conestoga ?

Planning to apply for PGC in HRM

Who is going/applying to Durham College

Okay. Now it's clear why they need authorization. It is clearly stated that students traveling together with family do not need authorization

Paul4canada:
Already in Canada to join me.

Insanity:


For the whole program? I don't know of any at the moment, any one with information can chip in at this time.

What about Memorial University of Newfoundland, if you find a thesis based masters?

Please who is applying to Brandon or going to Brandon already

Thank you Paul4canada, I already have their birth certificates ready but this exemption letter to fly, does it mean it's different from authorization to travel and both must be handy?

Paul4canada:
Yes, Birth certificate was required and exemption letter to fly.
Send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
secodly. for more information kindly visit the following website.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html

Hello Kaykaykay,

Please can you send me the link where you got this information?

You would make my day honestly if they will not be needing any more documentations.

Kaykaykay1:
Okay. Now it's clear why they need authorization. It is clearly stated that students traveling together with family do not need authorization

Chimzy4real:
Please someone should respond. New brunswick looks like the only school that will take a 3.59 for masters in computer science. The issue is they pay per course. How can i call calculate that. Please

Check the number of courses you're expected to register for each semester... There are some courses you may select as elective. But there are also minimum number you can register. It all depends on your program, and route.... Check the attached for guide...

Profile and documents submitted.

Age: 28yrs
Course: PG diploma in Business administration
Resumption date: May 2021.

Academics:

LOA
University degree certificate (2016)
Academic transcript
NYSC certificate
Waec certificate
Testimonial

Proof of fund.

Fathers CAC cert
Tax clearance
Letter of sponsorship
Affidavit
Statement of account with more than $30kCAD
Evidence of first term tuition payment $6,000
Personal savings account statement close to 4m.

Proof of employment

My company CAC cert registered 6 years ago
Other CAC documents.
25 pages 6 months Company corporate bank statement of account showing 28million naira transaction during pandemic.
Business receipts
Executed contracts

Home ties.

Wedding cert
Wife's birth cert
2 siblings birth cert
Fathers passport
Personal SUV worth 3.7m ( This might not serve as ties but shows we no dey go Canada cos we are hungry. Lolz)


Others:

Police report ( That Alagbon certificate )
Duolingo English test .
6 pages SOP .
Mybankstatements


We can't know the VO concerns till we see GCMS note.


Being following this thread since April this year. Trust me, I actually submitted with the hope of knowing my application weakness then attach letter of explanation by next application. From that time till September, we mostly hear of ppr by second application. Someone here got it at his 4th application.


My SOP study plan might also be poorly documented, couldn't get someone to proof it for me then cos everyone was busy, I had to submit early October. Got admission since August.


Thanks for the mentions guys.

The gods will not be pleased with me if I don't post an update.
STUDY PERMIT APPROVAL TIMELINE AND APPLICATION DETAILS

TL SUMMARY
First-time applicant for Fall 2020, undergraduate (17 yr old at application date), the program is Bachelors of Comm, Institution is MUN.
School admission applied - Dec 20th, 2019
Admission letter received - Feb 10th, 2020
Applications Submitted - May 22th
Biometrics Request - May 23rd
Upfront medicals at IOM Lagos - May 26th
Medicals passed - June 16
AIP - Aug 6th
Registered for online courses - Aug 15th
Biometrics completed - Aug 25th
Started classes online in Nigeria - Sept 9th
Ordered GCMS - Sept 9th
Delivered - Oct 9th
BVL - Nov 2nd
PPR - Nov 3rd
Passport sent thru VFS Lagos - Nov 4th
Passport delivered - Dec 16th
Counterfoil and LOI - Dec 18th
Applicant traveled Dec 21st (LOS - YYZ) arrived Dec 22nd.
Study permit & co-op work permit issued Dec 22nd

DETAILED TIMELINE **Warning Super long post ahead**

After arriving in Canada as a PR in Sept 2019, I remember promising my kid sister at the airport on my departure not to worry that she would join me in a year. It was my 2020 mission to secure a study permit for her. Thankfully it happened.

I applied for admissions to 3 schools in Ontario (UOttawa, Carleton, and Uwindsor), my mistake at this point was not confirming the tuition fees first before applying. Applied on Oct 7th, 2019 on OUAC to all 3 schools and paid 323.25 CAD. About 2 weeks later we got an admission letter from UOttawa, she didn't get the french Immersion program which means she would have to pay full tuition as an international student. Tuition was over 18k per term whaaaaaaaat!!!! Who's gonna pay that? Defintely not me Windsor sent admission and Tuition per term was equally high. Never heard from Carleton and didn't follow up either.

Mission two was to find a more affordable institution. Research started and landed on Memorial University. I connected with a friend schooling there and he assured me it was a good institution. I later found that the school was subsidized by their provincial govt hence the cheap tuition. About 12k per year which was fine by me. The admission requirements were IELTS, WAEC transcript, and identification docs. We sent an email stating she was a Nigerian student and the medium of instruction was English requesting to waive the English assessment requirement. We were offered two options, write the test now and get admission or push the test to your first year in school and do an English prerequisite course. We chose the former. So she registered for IELTS academic Nov 23rd, results came out 11 days later and uploaded to the MUN admissions portal. Went to WAEC office where my bro was nicely scammed 20k by touts outside the building , this was cos it was almost Christmas of 2019 and all the offices were about to be closed. We waited till 2020 and paid again to get the confirmation of results sent to MUN in January. Gained admission for B-comm a 5 yr program Feb 10th, 2020.

I wanted a University and not a college for two reasons. 1. She was a teenager, never had a post-secondary education at the time (she eventually got admitted to unilorin tho) 2. I wanted a professional course, she sole aim wasn't just to Japa. Also ensured to find a program with co-op so that she can get work experience while schooling.

She was still in that dead school (unilorin) even tho I'm an alumnae of that institution, the fact that they joined ASUU makes it dead to me. So we couldn't apply for her Visa as she needed to be home for biometrics.

Shortly after she returned home for inter-semester break we applied. The number one of frustration was getting my bank to do their freaaaaking job SMH . I wanted to pay tuition from my Nigerian bank and was to send the funds using Form A. Emailed my account officer severally, no response. I finally got in touch with a friend from the bank who told me in all honesty that form A may never work. So I had to pay the tuition from Canada. Also sent 2M to applicants bank as proof of living expenses.

We were to use two sponsors. A parent and sister.

POF documents included sponsor bank statement, fully paid proof of Tuition, applicant proof of living expenses, Sponsor biz account statement, Biz registration docs, Sponsor Money market fund statement, co-sponsor salary bank statement, co-sponsor PFA, and letter of sponsorship from both. All documents were merged for FINANCIAL DOC

Statement of purpose took almost 3 weeks to complete (2 pages). I got about 5 people to review with me via google docs **yeah, I'm extra like that** Note we never mentioned she was enrolled in a school in Naija. Please ensure you take your SOP very seriously. TBH If everything else about your application is perfect, if your SOP is crappy you may get a refusal. I wonder how people even consider submitting a visa application without SOP sef.

CLIENT INFO included - SOP, Birth cert, Int'l PP, WAEC result, applicant bank statement, IELTS results (not needed but since we had it, why not), NIN slip. All docs compressed and merged.

My number one fear was ties to Canada. In the family info, we had mentioned myself as a PR living in Canada, I was concerned about providing bank and biz docs for Nigeria whilst living in Canada. Also paid Tuition from there so my bank statement never reflected an outflow of Tuition payment. But none of that mattered I guess or maybe we got lucky. I didn't add my PR card as proof of relationship for this reason. I used my Passport instead. No further ADR was requested so I guess that was okay.

The application was submitted May 23rd and medicals done May 26th. Bio requested (next day after application was submitted) but due to lockdown could not go for Bio till Aug 25th, Biometrics was completed on profile same date.

Another wait started. I just had a strong conviction that she was gonna get approved so I encouraged online school against Sept. So we registered for the fall 2020 courses. Got AIP Aug 4th.

I requested GCMS even tho we had received AIP, I just needed assurance I guess GCMS was delivered Oct 9th (exactly a month later) No much details on the notes except "Elig Passed. Pending Biometics".

No further updates on the application whole of Sept and oct but online school was going just fine. In fact we registered for Jan 2021 winter courses without approval yet. Lo and Behold... Nov 2nd, got donotreply email... BVL . Nov 3rd got PPR. Finaallly!!! We sent passport the next day to VFS Lagos thru DHL. Included return label (which they never used, they claimed they couldn't find it)

Everything in Nigeria is somehow made to frustrate you for some reasons. Imagine how VFS Stressed us before we could get back the passport. It took over 6 weeks. Even tho we called and did several follow ups. To connect to that their useless phone line you may have to dial about 30 times. A lot of instances I had to wake up at midnight EST to connect to an agent. They didn't find the return label so we had to pay for UPS delivery which took another 3 days plus for them to confirm payment and an additional one week to send the passport after receiving payment. OMG!!! These guys have just one job and they never did it right.

We hoped she could come to Canada to do her exams due to power and internet situation in Nigeria but no thanks to VFS that never happened.

Eventually, she did the exams in Nigeria and managed all thru.

We had booked several flights and had to cancel hoping passport would come but it never did and we gave up traveling this yr. The passport was finally delivered Dec 16th . I saw how people had waited for several weeks for LOI so we took the bull by the horn and headed for Canada High commission Lagos, day after to request for LOI. Meanwhile, I had sent several emails 2 weeks even before passport came to no avail. LOI was sent same day we went to HC lagos, Dec 18th.

We booked one-way trip via Ethiopian airlines finally for Dec 21st *didn't have to cancel this time* Tho her school is in NL, she landed in Toronto. It was her first time traveling by air and also by herself. I told her to always ask questions if she ever got confused. Travel wasn't' so bad. The immigration checks was a breeze.

Docs asked the airport in Lagos were Passport, proof of tuition, admission letter. Immigration in Canada asked for Enrolment letter, Bank statement (POF), Passport and ArriveCAN code. Officer asked "your school is in NL, why are you here" she responded, "my sister lives here and has made provision for my Quarantine plans". He asked when she resumes for winter term and she responded. That was it.

I picked her up at the airport and finallyyyy, yeeeeeeyyyy I have a family in Canada Halleluyaaaaah!!!

Dreams really come true, if you want something. Go for it, fight for it. Don't give up for whatever reasons. It never occurred to me that this whole thing took over a year till now. Some people advised me to just give up and have her focus on her school in Nigeria. Others asked me to not pressure myself to bring a sibling less than one yr after my arrival and focus on settling but I just wanted a better opportunity for my sis. One I never had. The thought that I have to pay so much in tuition yearly whilst getting still getting my shiitss together in this country, freaks me out sometimes. But I know in 5-10 yrs time, (God's willing) I will look back and be glad I made that decision.

End of story
If you'd like to see a video version kindly check out my YouTube channel and Subscribe link in Signature.

whizqueen:
The gods will not be pleased with me if I don't post an update.
STUDY PERMIT APPROVAL TIMELINE AND APPLICATION DETAILS

TL SUMMARY
First-time applicant for Fall 2020, undergraduate (17 yr old at application date), the program is Bachelors of Comm, Institution is MUN.
School admission applied - Dec 20th, 2019
Admission letter received - Feb 10th, 2020
Applications Submitted - May 22th
Biometrics Request - May 23rd
Upfront medicals at IOM Lagos - May 26th
Medicals passed - June 16
AIP - Aug 6th
Registered for online courses - Aug 15th
Biometrics completed - Aug 25th
Started classes online in Nigeria - Sept 9th
Ordered GCMS - Sept 9th
Delivered - Oct 9th
BVL - Nov 2nd
PPR - Nov 3rd
Passport sent thru VFS Lagos - Nov 4th
Passport delivered - Dec 16th
Counterfoil and LOI - Dec 18th
Applicant traveled Dec 21st (LOS - YYZ) arrived Dec 22nd.
Study permit & co-op work permit issued Dec 22nd

DETAILED TIMELINE **Warning Super long post ahead**

After arriving in Canada as a PR in Sept 2019, I remember promising my kid sister at the airport on my departure not to worry that she would join me in a year. It was my 2020 mission to secure a study permit for her. Thankfully it happened.

I applied for admissions to 3 schools in Ontario (UOttawa, Carleton, and Uwindsor), my mistake at this point was not confirming the tuition fees first before applying. Applied on Oct 7th, 2019 on OUAC to all 3 schools and paid 323.25 CAD. About 2 weeks later we got an admission letter from UOttawa, she didn't get the french Immersion program which means she would have to pay full tuition as an international student. Tuition was over 18k per term whaaaaaaaat!!!! Who's gonna pay that? Defintely not me Windsor sent admission and Tuition per term was equally high. Never heard from Carleton and didn't follow up either.

Mission two was to find a more affordable institution. Research started and landed on Memorial University. I connected with a friend schooling there and he assured me it was a good institution. I later found that the school was subsidized by their provincial govt hence the cheap tuition. About 12k per year which was fine by me. The admission requirements were IELTS, WAEC transcript, and identification docs. We sent an email stating she was a Nigerian student and the medium of instruction was English requesting to waive the English assessment requirement. We were offered two options, write the test now and get admission or push the test to your first year in school and do an English prerequisite course. We chose the former. So she registered for IELTS academic Nov 23rd, results came out 11 days later and uploaded to the MUN admissions portal. Went to WAEC office where my bro was nicely scammed 20k by touts outside the building , this was cos it was almost Christmas of 2019 and all the offices were about to be closed. We waited till 2020 and paid again to get the confirmation of results sent to MUN in January. Gained admission for B-comm a 5 yr program Feb 10th, 2020.

I wanted a University and not a college for two reasons. 1. She was a teenager, never had a post-secondary education at the time (she eventually got admitted to unilorin tho) 2. I wanted a professional course, she sole aim wasn't just to Japa. Also ensured to find a program with co-op so that she can get work experience while schooling.

She was still in that dead school (unilorin) even tho I'm an alumnae of that institution, the fact that they joined ASUU makes it dead to me. So we couldn't apply for her Visa as she needed to be home for biometrics.

Shortly after she returned home for inter-semester break we applied. The number one of frustration was getting my bank to do their freaaaaking job SMH . I wanted to pay tuition from my Nigerian bank and was to send the funds using Form A. Emailed my account officer severally, no response. I finally got in touch with a friend from the bank who told me in all honesty that form A may never work. So I had to pay the tuition from Canada. Also sent 2M to applicants bank as proof of living expenses.

We were to use two sponsors. A parent and sister.

POF documents included sponsor bank statement, fully paid proof of Tuition, applicant proof of living expenses, Sponsor biz account statement, Biz registration docs, Sponsor Money market fund statement, co-sponsor salary bank statement, co-sponsor PFA, and letter of sponsorship from both. All documents were merged for FINANCIAL DOC

Statement of purpose took almost 3 weeks to complete (2 pages). I got about 5 people to review with me via google docs **yeah, I'm extra like that** Note we never mentioned she was enrolled in a school in Naija. Please ensure you take your SOP very seriously. TBH If everything else about your application is perfect, if your SOP is crappy you may get a refusal. I wonder how people even consider submitting a visa application without SOP sef.

CLIENT INFO included - SOP, Birth cert, Int'l PP, WAEC result, applicant bank statement, IELTS results (not needed but since we had it, why not), NIN slip. All docs compressed and merged.

My number one fear was ties to Canada. In the family info, we had mentioned myself as a PR living in Canada, I was concerned about providing bank and biz docs for Nigeria whilst living in Canada. Also paid Tuition from there so my bank statement never reflected an outflow of Tuition payment. But none of that mattered I guess or maybe we got lucky. I didn't add my PR card as proof of relationship for this reason. I used my Passport instead. No further ADR was requested so I guess that was okay.

The application was submitted May 23rd and medicals done May 26th. Bio requested (next day after application was submitted) but due to lockdown could not go for Bio till Aug 25th, Biometrics was completed on profile same date.

Another wait started. I just had a strong conviction that she was gonna get approved so I encouraged online school against Sept. So we registered for the fall 2020 courses. Got AIP Aug 4th.

I requested GCMS even tho we had received AIP, I just needed assurance I guess GCMS was delivered Oct 9th (exactly a month later) No much details on the notes except "Elig Passed. Pending Biometics".

No further updates on the application whole of Sept and oct but online school was going just fine. In fact we registered for Jan 2021 winter courses without approval yet. Lo and Behold... Nov 2nd, got donotreply email... BVL . Nov 3rd got PPR. Finaallly!!! We sent passport the next day to VFS Lagos thru DHL. Included return label (which they never used, they claimed they couldn't find it)

Everything in Nigeria is somehow made to frustrate you for some reasons. Imagine how VFS Stressed us before we could get back the passport. It took over 6 weeks. Even tho we called and did several follow ups. To connect to that their useless phone line you may have to dial about 30 times. A lot of instances I had to wake up at midnight EST to connect to an agent. They didn't find the return label so we had to pay for UPS delivery which took another 3 days plus for them to confirm payment and an additional one week to send the passport after receiving payment. OMG!!! These guys have just one job and they never did it right.

We hoped she could come to Canada to do her exams due to power and internet situation in Nigeria but no thanks to VFS that never happened.

Eventually, she did the exams in Nigeria and managed all thru.

We had booked several flights and had to cancel hoping passport would come but it never did and we gave up traveling this yr. The passport was finally delivered Dec 16th . I saw how people had waited for several weeks for LOI so we took the bull by the horn and headed for Canada High commission Lagos, day after to request for LOI. Meanwhile, I had sent several emails 2 weeks even before passport came to no avail. LOI was sent same day we went to HC lagos, Dec 18th.

We booked one-way trip via Ethiopian airlines finally for Dec 21st *didn't have to cancel this time* Tho her school is in NL, she landed in Toronto. It was her first time traveling by air and also by herself. I told her to always ask questions if she ever got confused. Travel wasn't' so bad. The immigration checks was a breeze.

Docs asked the airport in Lagos were Passport, proof of tuition, admission letter. Immigration in Canada asked for Enrolment letter, Bank statement (POF), Passport and ArriveCAN code. Officer asked "your school is in NL, why are you here" she responded, "my sister lives here and has made provision for my Quarantine plans". He asked when she resumes for winter term and she responded. That was it.

I picked her up at the airport and finallyyyy, yeeeeeeyyyy I have a family in Canada Halleluyaaaaah!!!

Dreams really come true, if you want something. Go for it, fight for it. Don't give up for whatever reasons. It never occurred to me that this whole thing took over a year till now. Some people advised me to just give up and have her focus on her school in Nigeria. Others asked me to not pressure myself to bring a sibling less than one yr after my arrival and focus on settling but I just wanted a better opportunity for my sis. One I never had. The thought that I have to pay so much in tuition yearly whilst getting still getting my shiitss together in this country, freaks me out sometimes. But I know in 5-10 yrs time, (God's willing) I will look back and be glad I made that decision.

End of story
If you'd like to see a video version kindly check out my YouTube channel and Subscribe link in Signature.

THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR SHARING!!

THIS NARRATIVE GOT ME COMPLETELY!!!! I couldn't stop smiling while reading it.

Big CONGRATULATIONS to your sister, and kudos to you too for being selfless and wanting the best for her!
I already see myself posting my Application Timeline and Travel Update soon.

IT WILL END IN PRAISES FOR US TOO

Omoo!! Congrats to you and your sis, this was really detailed and nice to read, thanks for sharing.

whizqueen:
The gods will not be pleased with me if I don't post an update.
STUDY PERMIT APPROVAL TIMELINE AND APPLICATION DETAILS

TL SUMMARY
First-time applicant for Fall 2020, undergraduate (17 yr old at application date), the program is Bachelors of Comm, Institution is MUN.
School admission applied - Dec 20th, 2019
Admission letter received - Feb 10th, 2020
Applications Submitted - May 22th
Biometrics Request - May 23rd
Upfront medicals at IOM Lagos - May 26th
Medicals passed - June 16
AIP - Aug 6th
Registered for online courses - Aug 15th
Biometrics completed - Aug 25th
Started classes online in Nigeria - Sept 9th
Ordered GCMS - Sept 9th
Delivered - Oct 9th
BVL - Nov 2nd
PPR - Nov 3rd
Passport sent thru VFS Lagos - Nov 4th
Passport delivered - Dec 16th
Counterfoil and LOI - Dec 18th
Applicant traveled Dec 21st (LOS - YYZ) arrived Dec 22nd.
Study permit & co-op work permit issued Dec 22nd

DETAILED TIMELINE **Warning Super long post ahead**

After arriving in Canada as a PR in Sept 2019, I remember promising my kid sister at the airport on my departure not to worry that she would join me in a year. It was my 2020 mission to secure a study permit for her. Thankfully it happened.

I applied for admissions to 3 schools in Ontario (UOttawa, Carleton, and Uwindsor), my mistake at this point was not confirming the tuition fees first before applying. Applied on Oct 7th, 2019 on OUAC to all 3 schools and paid 323.25 CAD. About 2 weeks later we got an admission letter from UOttawa, she didn't get the french Immersion program which means she would have to pay full tuition as an international student. Tuition was over 18k per term whaaaaaaaat!!!! Who's gonna pay that? Defintely not me Windsor sent admission and Tuition per term was equally high. Never heard from Carleton and didn't follow up either.

Mission two was to find a more affordable institution. Research started and landed on Memorial University. I connected with a friend schooling there and he assured me it was a good institution. I later found that the school was subsidized by their provincial govt hence the cheap tuition. About 12k per year which was fine by me. The admission requirements were IELTS, WAEC transcript, and identification docs. We sent an email stating she was a Nigerian student and the medium of instruction was English requesting to waive the English assessment requirement. We were offered two options, write the test now and get admission or push the test to your first year in school and do an English prerequisite course. We chose the former. So she registered for IELTS academic Nov 23rd, results came out 11 days later and uploaded to the MUN admissions portal. Went to WAEC office where my bro was nicely scammed 20k by touts outside the building , this was cos it was almost Christmas of 2019 and all the offices were about to be closed. We waited till 2020 and paid again to get the confirmation of results sent to MUN in January. Gained admission for B-comm a 5 yr program Feb 10th, 2020.

I wanted a University and not a college for two reasons. 1. She was a teenager, never had a post-secondary education at the time (she eventually got admitted to unilorin tho) 2. I wanted a professional course, she sole aim wasn't just to Japa. Also ensured to find a program with co-op so that she can get work experience while schooling.

She was still in that dead school (unilorin) even tho I'm an alumnae of that institution, the fact that they joined ASUU makes it dead to me. So we couldn't apply for her Visa as she needed to be home for biometrics.

Shortly after she returned home for inter-semester break we applied. The number one of frustration was getting my bank to do their freaaaaking job SMH . I wanted to pay tuition from my Nigerian bank and was to send the funds using Form A. Emailed my account officer severally, no response. I finally got in touch with a friend from the bank who told me in all honesty that form A may never work. So I had to pay the tuition from Canada. Also sent 2M to applicants bank as proof of living expenses.

We were to use two sponsors. A parent and sister.

POF documents included sponsor bank statement, fully paid proof of Tuition, applicant proof of living expenses, Sponsor biz account statement, Biz registration docs, Sponsor Money market fund statement, co-sponsor salary bank statement, co-sponsor PFA, and letter of sponsorship from both. All documents were merged for FINANCIAL DOC

Statement of purpose took almost 3 weeks to complete (2 pages). I got about 5 people to review with me via google docs **yeah, I'm extra like that** Note we never mentioned she was enrolled in a school in Naija. Please ensure you take your SOP very seriously. TBH If everything else about your application is perfect, if your SOP is crappy you may get a refusal. I wonder how people even consider submitting a visa application without SOP sef.

CLIENT INFO included - SOP, Birth cert, Int'l PP, WAEC result, applicant bank statement, IELTS results (not needed but since we had it, why not), NIN slip. All docs compressed and merged.

My number one fear was ties to Canada. In the family info, we had mentioned myself as a PR living in Canada, I was concerned about providing bank and biz docs for Nigeria whilst living in Canada. Also paid Tuition from there so my bank statement never reflected an outflow of Tuition payment. But none of that mattered I guess or maybe we got lucky. I didn't add my PR card as proof of relationship for this reason. I used my Passport instead. No further ADR was requested so I guess that was okay.

The application was submitted May 23rd and medicals done May 26th. Bio requested (next day after application was submitted) but due to lockdown could not go for Bio till Aug 25th, Biometrics was completed on profile same date.

Another wait started. I just had a strong conviction that she was gonna get approved so I encouraged online school against Sept. So we registered for the fall 2020 courses. Got AIP Aug 4th.

I requested GCMS even tho we had received AIP, I just needed assurance I guess GCMS was delivered Oct 9th (exactly a month later) No much details on the notes except "Elig Passed. Pending Biometics".

No further updates on the application whole of Sept and oct but online school was going just fine. In fact we registered for Jan 2021 winter courses without approval yet. Lo and Behold... Nov 2nd, got donotreply email... BVL . Nov 3rd got PPR. Finaallly!!! We sent passport the next day to VFS Lagos thru DHL. Included return label (which they never used, they claimed they couldn't find it)

Everything in Nigeria is somehow made to frustrate you for some reasons. Imagine how VFS Stressed us before we could get back the passport. It took over 6 weeks. Even tho we called and did several follow ups. To connect to that their useless phone line you may have to dial about 30 times. A lot of instances I had to wake up at midnight EST to connect to an agent. They didn't find the return label so we had to pay for UPS delivery which took another 3 days plus for them to confirm payment and an additional one week to send the passport after receiving payment. OMG!!! These guys have just one job and they never did it right.

We hoped she could come to Canada to do her exams due to power and internet situation in Nigeria but no thanks to VFS that never happened.

Eventually, she did the exams in Nigeria and managed all thru.

We had booked several flights and had to cancel hoping passport would come but it never did and we gave up traveling this yr. The passport was finally delivered Dec 16th . I saw how people had waited for several weeks for LOI so we took the bull by the horn and headed for Canada High commission Lagos, day after to request for LOI. Meanwhile, I had sent several emails 2 weeks even before passport came to no avail. LOI was sent same day we went to HC lagos, Dec 18th.

We booked one-way trip via Ethiopian airlines finally for Dec 21st *didn't have to cancel this time* Tho her school is in NL, she landed in Toronto. It was her first time traveling by air and also by herself. I told her to always ask questions if she ever got confused. Travel wasn't' so bad. The immigration checks was a breeze.

Docs asked the airport in Lagos were Passport, proof of tuition, admission letter. Immigration in Canada asked for Enrolment letter, Bank statement (POF), Passport and ArriveCAN code. Officer asked "your school is in NL, why are you here" she responded, "my sister lives here and has made provision for my Quarantine plans". He asked when she resumes for winter term and she responded. That was it.

I picked her up at the airport and finallyyyy, yeeeeeeyyyy I have a family in Canada Halleluyaaaaah!!!

Dreams really come true, if you want something. Go for it, fight for it. Don't give up for whatever reasons. It never occurred to me that this whole thing took over a year till now. Some people advised me to just give up and have her focus on her school in Nigeria. Others asked me to not pressure myself to bring a sibling less than one yr after my arrival and focus on settling but I just wanted a better opportunity for my sis. One I never had. The thought that I have to pay so much in tuition yearly whilst getting still getting my shiitss together in this country, freaks me out sometimes. But I know in 5-10 yrs time, (God's willing) I will look back and be glad I made that decision.

End of story
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