Applicant from PhD program after 5 Nov, 2011 connect here to get status

[N_O]

Do not make it more complicated than it is. If your letter contains the essential information (i.e. hours spent, duties matching the NOC code, period of employment) that will work. My letter for TA was only 2 lines, believe me, it was JUST 2 lines, and the duties were exactly copied and pasted from the NOC site. The officer accepted my TA experience. This is what I had for my TA:

"Mr *** 's duties as a teaching assistant (about 10.5 hrs/week) involves conducting laboratory sessions, grading laboratory reports, and assistng in the administration of examinations." He has worked as a TA since Jan. 2010.

WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WRITE A LONG STORY FOR THOSE OFFICERS.

I was rejected because of my RA part. Let's wee what I had written for that part:

"As a research assistant he works at ***** centre in the department of **** for 36.25 hrs/week"

Did you have any reply for you inquiry about the second reference letter?

 

[aidina]

Did you have any reply for you inquiry about the second reference letter?

No, they do not care. Immigration Canada is not a responsive system. What can we do? Nothing, except trying again. I will re-apply next week Monday, if I can get my IELTS report form.

 

[N_O]

No, they do not care. Immigration Canada is not a responsive system. What can we do? Nothing, except trying again. I will re-apply next week Monday, if I can get my IELTS report form.

Order your CAIPS, it is the best way to know what has happened. I got it in 11 days after the rejection, I think it was quick because the case is closed.

Good luck!

 

[anjuku]

Order your CAIPS, it is the best way to know what has happened. I got it in 11 days after the rejection, I think it was quick because the case is closed.

Good luck!

yes, do order your CAIPS aidina...because if they accepted your TA then why didn't they accept your RA(from the second letter?)..maybe they didn't include the letter to your file or something???......who knows!..

 

[sia_kb8]

Hi all:

I've been reading this forum for a while and have read the past 100 pages. Thanks everyone for their contributions. Despite that, I am really confused! I don't know if I have to apply now or apply after the new rules come into effect. I read on the other thread that application under the new rules will not be assessed until the backlog is cleared in 2015. Is this true for PhD stream people?

Should I apply before or after the May 4th deadline?

My situation: IELTS: Listening 6.5; Reading 8; Writing 7.5; Speaking 8.

2.5 years into my PhD. (I don't have a MSc degree). I have relatives in Canada and I can claim points for them. I don't know if I get the other 5 points for adaptability because I am in the process of completing my PhD degree and my BSc is not from Canada. Age 25.

Very confused. I don't know if get rejected if I apply or wait.

 

[aidina]

yes, do order your CAIPS aidina...because if they accepted your TA then why didn't they accept your RA(from the second letter?)..maybe they didn't include the letter to your file or something???......who knows!..

My TA duties on the 1st letter were okay as well. I think he just considered the first one and totally ignored the 2nd one. However, I will apply for CAIPS tonight. I will keep you updated.

 

[The_Prince]

Guys, with regard to that annoying issue of non-matching or brief RA reference letters, I have prepared a supplementary reference letter to elaborate more on my duties as a Research Assistant as I think that the one I have attached before with my application was too brief regarding the duties part. Please tell me what do u think of the letter below.

Re: Supplementary Letter of Reference for Mr. xxxxxxxx

With regard to the original letter of reference provided before for Mr. xxxxxxxxxx, this supplementary letter is to just provide more details about his duties as a Research Assistant.

As a PhD student at the department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of xxxxxxxx, Mr. xxxxxxxxxx has been working as a Research Assistant at the xxxxxxxx Centre, directed by me starting from 1 Sep. 2010 till now.

Mr. xxxxxxx duties are to conduct manufacturing and industrial engineering oriented research through doing literature surveys, developing mathematical models and algorithms, and conducting verification experiments. Mr. xxxxxxxx also assists in compiling and analyzing research results, conducts presentations, and participates as a coauthor in the resulting conference and journal publications.

 

[ahmadimo]

Hi admadimo, you are right that, currently, 7.5 in listening, and 6.5 in all would be enough to max out first language points (16), ad this is the equivalent of CLB 8. But the requirement will change under the new rules. It is now at least 8 in reading, and 7 in the rest to max out first language points (24).

Hi asbereth, thanks for your reply. Is this also going to affect to those who have already obtained PER or is it affecting new applications?

Thanks

 

[hamed_hamed_hamed]

Guys, with regard to that annoying issue of non-matching or brief RA reference letters, I have prepared a supplementary reference letter to elaborate more on my duties as a Research Assistant as I think that the one I have attached before with my application was too brief regarding the duties part. Please tell me what do u think of the letter below.

Re: Supplementary Letter of Reference for Mr. xxxxxxxx

With regard to the original letter of reference provided before for Mr. xxxxxxxxxx, this supplementary letter is to just provide more details about his duties as a Research Assistant.

As a PhD student at the department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of xxxxxxxx, Mr. xxxxxxxxxx has been working as a Research Assistant at the xxxxxxxx Centre, directed by me starting from 1 Sep. 2010 till now.

Mr. xxxxxxx duties are to conduct manufacturing and industrial engineering oriented research through doing literature surveys, developing mathematical models and algorithms, and conducting verification experiments. Mr. xxxxxxxx also assists in compiling and analyzing research results, conducts presentations, and participates as a coauthor in the resulting conference and journal publications.

Not enough yet. Some letters like this got rejected. More details on what you're doing...

 

[salam20]

The question is whether or not applying for CEC in September would be faster than applying under PhD stream right now. If I was him, I would now apply under FSW PhD stream (you would get an extra 5 points for adaptability, so only 1,950 continuous hours are required from the past 10 years), then, if no medical yet by September, apply again under CEC. But then again, I am paranoid, so not sure if this would be the best path.

CEC is super fast these days (and has always been) compared to FSW. Two of my friends applied under CEC last year after me (I gave them the template of my letters for RA/TA work experience, and they used it, even the wording was similar), and both have already LANDED! It does look like that CEC can be faster than FSW by 4 to 5 months (one of my friends applied on March 2012, and landed by November; the other one applied on May, and got his PR a month ago).

Now, if you have Canadian experience, all you need is just 1 year of work experience, and there is no need to have obtained a Canadian degree (RA/TA, unfortunately, is NO LONGER accepted for CEC)! So by September, you can claim up to 30 hours a week for your work as a researcher (you CANNOT claim more than 30 hours a week for CEC), and if you have 1,560 hours, then you're eligible.

there is language requirements, plus work ref. letter is still required and rejections for the same reason.

 

[salam20]

Not enough yet. Some letters like this got rejected. More details on what you're doing...

Would you provide a sample of a good letter? what it shall include?

 

[asbereth]

Hi asbereth, thanks for your reply. Is this also going to affect to those who have already obtained PER or is it affecting new applications?

I think it's fine. You'll just be evaluated by the rules in effect at the date of submission. Since you submitted your application before May 4, then they would use the current rules for selection factor rather than the new ones.

there is language requirements, plus work ref. letter is still required and rejections for the same reason.

Yes, reference letters are required, even for CEC. And there is also the language requirement. But in my opinion, the benefits of applying through CEC are as follows
1. You won't have to worry about the number of points. All you need is pass the bare minimum IELTS for skill level A (CLB 7 or 8 or something), and have 1,560 continuous work experience within the last three years (maximum 30 hours per week you can claim), and you're good to go as far as eligibility is concerned.
2. You don't have to show proof of funds. This is a big thing, since some people did get rejected for not complying with POF rules. These people now won't have to worry about the 6 month bank statement non-sense.
3. Much much faster processing times compared to FSW.
4. The new rule makes it much easier to qualify since now you don't even need to have obtained a Canadian degree.
5. No cap.

The only problem for us PhD students is the fact that, now, no work experience gained while studying full-time (this includes CO-OP) would count towards work experience calculation for CEC. The moral of the story, if you are currently eligible for both FSW and CEC, then you should apply through CEC!

In some cases like unb_wood, I would still suggest that he apply under FSW right now, since he is not yet qualified for CEC, and if no medical yet by the time he's qualified (which would be in September or October), then he should just apply under CEC in parallel.

I heard that PNP is quite fast and straight forward, did you check that out?

In Ontario, the straight-forward part would be true (no number of points and no language requirements), but it's not at all fast. My friend did his medical May last year, and hasn't heard since. Another person I know applied in November, and hasn't even gotten nomination yet. I would actually advise against applying under PNP based on these anecdotes, but other people may have different stories?

 

[The_Prince]

Not enough yet. Some letters like this got rejected. More details on what you're doing...

Really !
my original one is even much brief than that, I really don't know what else to include. In that way I have nothing to add more than extra technical details that probably the officer is not gonna understand !

 

[asbereth]

Really !
my original one is even much brief than that, I really don't know what else to include. In that way I have nothing to add more than extra technical details that probably the officer is not gonna understand !

I don't actually see any problems with your letter. Personally, I would write it the following way, provided, of course, that you really did conduct all of the tasks you specified

Since Sep 2010, Mr. Prince has assisted me in conducting research in industrial engineering [THIS IS THE LEAD STATEMENT]. His main duties include:
- conducts literature reviews, surveys and verification experiments for mathematical models and algorithms he develops
- develops mathematical models and algorithms for (SUCH AND SUCH)
- assists me in compiling and analyzing research results for use in peer-reviewed journal articles
- presents and participates in academic conferences

 

[hooman2012]

Any news from Ottawa ? I am still waiting.