Hi all,
I just want to share with you the lessons I have learned from the whole process of applying for permanent residence through the Express Entry (FSW) stream.
First, here is my info/timeline:
ITA: January 11, 2017
AOR: April 5, 2017
Meds passed: June 22, 2017
PPR: July 17, 2017
Personal attributes:
CRS Score: 460
IELTS: 8.0/8.5/8.5/8.5
Education: Bachelors degree, PhD degree (from the USA)
Work experience: 5.5 years as graduate research/teaching assistant, 5 years as postdoctoral fellow, all in the USA (NOC code 2121)
Current employment: Research Fellow at the University of Toronto, St. George
Family in Canada: Sister (naturalized citizen); parents (permanent residents at time of AOR, became naturalized citizens two weeks ago)
I submitted my complete application packet on April 5, 2017, three months after ITA, as I had to move from the US to Canada to start my fellowship at the University of Toronto. The fellowship is LMIA exempt, and I have now a work permit valid until February 2018. However, in the LOE from my current supervisor, he stated (generously and kindly) that the position is renewable yearly.
Now the issues that worried me during the 3 months, 2 weeks of waiting:
1. When I submitted my application, I failed to include a translation of my bachelor's degree diploma (originally in Latin). I only uploaded the Latin diploma and my college transcripts. I did not wish to claim education points for it, since I have a PhD and uploaded the corresponding diploma (English) and transcripts. However, 2 weeks after submitting my application, I worried, especially reading through the threads here, that my application might get rejected for being incomplete due to the absence of English translation for my bachelor's degree diploma. I also forgot to send copies of my old passport bio and stamped pages. I raised a CSE and sent the unsolicited translation and passport pages and a nice letter of explanation. After 5 weeks, I heard back from CIC telling me that they have included them in my file. I was a bit relieved.
Lesson: They do consider unsolicited submissions as long as you provide an honest letter explaining yourself nicely, appealing to their better natures. Be kind and humble in your CSE!
2. I left the USA in February 2017, but the FBI certificate I submitted was issued to me in December 2016. Meaning, my police certificate was issued while I was still living in the US, but less than 6 months old at the time of AOR. It seems like they really follow the 6 months rule, so the police check need not always be issued after one has left a country. If you think about it, it is not that easy to get PCC's from most countries where one has resided, so some VO's might be inclined to be more forgiving and rational about it. Perhaps the fact that I had been background checked before to get issued a Canada work permit made them decide to give it a pass. However, in the CSE I raised, I also included a copy of the request form for the FBI and my fingerprint card to prove that I was working on getting a 'better' PCC, and indicated in my LOE that I would submit it as soon as I received it. I got my new FBI PCC yesterday, AFTER my PPR.
Lesson: The VOs are more rational and kind than we might think. Applications are judged as whole, and at times, little mistakes may be overlooked depending on the total disposition of an individual's application. Thus, I suggest to those who are waiting to simply relax and let the whole process take its course. VO's are human, and are capable of acting humanely. They have been doing this for a long time, and can sense applications accomplished in earnest and are likely to be more lenient to them when minute details are missing. So, submit your application as completely and as correctly as you can, then forget about it and live your life. You will get your PPR and PR if it's truly meant for you.
The major lesson I learned is that respect and kindness begets both. In your LOE's always express your gratitude for being considered/invited to apply, and emphasize your strong desire to become a Canadian and contribute meaningfully to Canadian society. Always punctuate your LOEs with positivity, appealing to the better natures of the Visa Officer. Tell them that you really want it, and are absolutely willing to do anything you can - including those you might have forgotten to do/include in your applications - to become a permanent resident and citizen of Canada.
Good luck everyone, and may the God(s) you worship bless you with their favor.
I just want to share with you the lessons I have learned from the whole process of applying for permanent residence through the Express Entry (FSW) stream.
First, here is my info/timeline:
ITA: January 11, 2017
AOR: April 5, 2017
Meds passed: June 22, 2017
PPR: July 17, 2017
Personal attributes:
CRS Score: 460
IELTS: 8.0/8.5/8.5/8.5
Education: Bachelors degree, PhD degree (from the USA)
Work experience: 5.5 years as graduate research/teaching assistant, 5 years as postdoctoral fellow, all in the USA (NOC code 2121)
Current employment: Research Fellow at the University of Toronto, St. George
Family in Canada: Sister (naturalized citizen); parents (permanent residents at time of AOR, became naturalized citizens two weeks ago)
I submitted my complete application packet on April 5, 2017, three months after ITA, as I had to move from the US to Canada to start my fellowship at the University of Toronto. The fellowship is LMIA exempt, and I have now a work permit valid until February 2018. However, in the LOE from my current supervisor, he stated (generously and kindly) that the position is renewable yearly.
Now the issues that worried me during the 3 months, 2 weeks of waiting:
1. When I submitted my application, I failed to include a translation of my bachelor's degree diploma (originally in Latin). I only uploaded the Latin diploma and my college transcripts. I did not wish to claim education points for it, since I have a PhD and uploaded the corresponding diploma (English) and transcripts. However, 2 weeks after submitting my application, I worried, especially reading through the threads here, that my application might get rejected for being incomplete due to the absence of English translation for my bachelor's degree diploma. I also forgot to send copies of my old passport bio and stamped pages. I raised a CSE and sent the unsolicited translation and passport pages and a nice letter of explanation. After 5 weeks, I heard back from CIC telling me that they have included them in my file. I was a bit relieved.
Lesson: They do consider unsolicited submissions as long as you provide an honest letter explaining yourself nicely, appealing to their better natures. Be kind and humble in your CSE!
2. I left the USA in February 2017, but the FBI certificate I submitted was issued to me in December 2016. Meaning, my police certificate was issued while I was still living in the US, but less than 6 months old at the time of AOR. It seems like they really follow the 6 months rule, so the police check need not always be issued after one has left a country. If you think about it, it is not that easy to get PCC's from most countries where one has resided, so some VO's might be inclined to be more forgiving and rational about it. Perhaps the fact that I had been background checked before to get issued a Canada work permit made them decide to give it a pass. However, in the CSE I raised, I also included a copy of the request form for the FBI and my fingerprint card to prove that I was working on getting a 'better' PCC, and indicated in my LOE that I would submit it as soon as I received it. I got my new FBI PCC yesterday, AFTER my PPR.
Lesson: The VOs are more rational and kind than we might think. Applications are judged as whole, and at times, little mistakes may be overlooked depending on the total disposition of an individual's application. Thus, I suggest to those who are waiting to simply relax and let the whole process take its course. VO's are human, and are capable of acting humanely. They have been doing this for a long time, and can sense applications accomplished in earnest and are likely to be more lenient to them when minute details are missing. So, submit your application as completely and as correctly as you can, then forget about it and live your life. You will get your PPR and PR if it's truly meant for you.
The major lesson I learned is that respect and kindness begets both. In your LOE's always express your gratitude for being considered/invited to apply, and emphasize your strong desire to become a Canadian and contribute meaningfully to Canadian society. Always punctuate your LOEs with positivity, appealing to the better natures of the Visa Officer. Tell them that you really want it, and are absolutely willing to do anything you can - including those you might have forgotten to do/include in your applications - to become a permanent resident and citizen of Canada.
Good luck everyone, and may the God(s) you worship bless you with their favor.
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