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

[noc4012]

Thanks. I will try to add the word "assist" as well as more detailed information as possible. However, my letter has the "as my research assistant" which I think is an indicator that I have been assisting the professor.

I did not get any document request. I have not got the refusal email yet. However according to the GCMS, officer has assessed my file in April 15.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have publications with my supervisor.
I will talk to an immigration lawyer and prepare an email to send to CPP-O when I get the refusal letter.

Do NOT wait for refusal letter. Once they reject your application, it is over. You need to act quickly. They have the right to reject any document you send them after their decision. We recently learned that they must consider any document they receive BEFORE rejection.

My guess is that the officer is new and wrote those notes based on his/her knowledge. There is no reason to doubt that a senior officer would see that the officer made a mistake; but to be on the safe side, you need to act now before it's too late.

 

[asbereth]

Universities have standard text and will not custom-make letters each time CIC finds a tiny loophole in the existing text. As a matter of fact, HRSDC got their NOC descriptions from employers, not the other way around. They collected info on RA duties from universities. THEY did the copy-paste, not applicants. They're not idiots - they are mean spirited.

This was precisely the reason why I did not let my supervisor or even department head write my reference letter. I wrote my own letter, then had them verify if there was any detail that they did not agree with (and check the grammar obviously).

To make your letter as idiot-proof (or mean people-proof) as possible, maybe we should include BOTH the lead statement, and also NOC duties that are ALMOST copy-paste (almost because you somehow incorporate some details of your research in the duties as well). Maybe write something like the following for RA

Mr. XXX has been employed as a research and teaching assistant in the blah department at the University of BLAH.

As a research assistant, he assists Professor Einstein in Professor Einstein's research activities in general and special relativity blah blah. His main duties include:
- conduct experiments to verify time dilation blah blah blah
- surveys and reviews of literature in subject matter
- compile experimental results for data analysis
- assist Professor Einstein in analysing experimental results for use in peer-reviewed journal publications
- write and co-author peer-reviewed journal publications
- presented research results in academic conferences

During his employment here, Mr. XXX has published the following papers (either as second or first author):
-
-
-

and given the following talks:
-
-
-

At this point, if this letter is still rejected, then make Professor Einstein swear under the penalty of perjury that you are really his student, and your job is to assist him (or you know what, why wait until you're rejected, include the notarized letter that makes your prof swear with your application as well; I'm not sure now how CIC can still say you don't have any evidence of providing any assistance to professors any more).

 

[noc4012]

This was precisely the reason why I did not let my supervisor or even department head write my reference letter. I wrote my own letter, then had them verify if there was any detail that they did not agree with (and check the grammar obviously).

To make your letter as idiot-proof (or mean people-proof) as possible, maybe we should include BOTH the lead statement, and also NOC duties that are ALMOST copy-paste (almost because you somehow incorporate some details of your research in the duties as well). Maybe write something like the following for RA

Hi asbereth,

I wrote my own letter but the department refused the idea that a student write such a letter; they approved every line in my letter but still wrote it as they wanted to, and said HRSDC got the duties from them not the other way around. They also refused to add the lead statement and insisted on using the phrase "full-time student" employed as RA instead of "working as RA" for Prof X. They claimed all students who applied 2 and 3 years ago with this format got PR.

So I wrote a cover letter and attached my publications as proof that I did whatever NOC description states and regardless of the silly word game.

By the way, my friends in another department were told the head of department wants nothing to do with immigration and will not provide any letter needed by CIC for PR. No "student format" no "standard format" no nothing - no soup for you! So I should consider myself lucky for getting a not-so-great letter.

 

[asbereth]

Well, it need not be the head of the department to write you the letter. Letter from your supervisor will work too. Remember that the requirement is just a letter written and signed by "responsible officer/supervisor", so you don't actually need to go out your way to ask your department head or HR. I'm assuming professors have access to department letterhead, so your letter doesn't even need to go through your department head at all (well, obviously it still needs to be truthful).

Anyway, regarding lead statement, my own letter does not have lead statement, but as one of my main duties, I wrote "assist professor in blah blah blah", so that's probably why they were okay with it.

 

[chenying3612]

This was precisely the reason why I did not let my supervisor or even department head write my reference letter. I wrote my own letter, then had them verify if there was any detail that they did not agree with (and check the grammar obviously).

To make your letter as idiot-proof (or mean people-proof) as possible, maybe we should include BOTH the lead statement, and also NOC duties that are ALMOST copy-paste (almost because you somehow incorporate some details of your research in the duties as well). Maybe write something like the following for RA

At this point, if this letter is still rejected, then make Professor Einstein swear under the penalty of perjury that you are really his student, and your job is to assist him (or you know what, why wait until you're rejected, include the notarized letter that makes your prof swear with your application as well; I'm not sure now how CIC can still say you don't have any evidence of providing any assistance to professors any more).

swear under the penalty of perjury? Is it complex to do that?

 

[beh467]

Do NOT wait for refusal letter. Once they reject your application, it is over. You need to act quickly. They have the right to reject any document you send them after their decision. We recently learned that they must consider any document they receive BEFORE rejection.

My guess is that the officer is new and wrote those notes based on his/her knowledge. There is no reason to doubt that a senior officer would see that the officer made a mistake; but to be on the safe side, you need to act now before it's too late.

You mean sending a new reference letter to them before receiving the refusal letter?

 

[asbereth]

swear under the penalty of perjury? Is it complex to do that?

I was just being sarcastic there

 

[asbereth]

You mean sending a new reference letter to them before getting the refusal letter?

I think sending them a new reference letter would not help, though you can certainly try. What I think would be more productive is what aidina and hooman2012 did: to prepare a new application entirely. I hope your IELTS is not yet expired, and you can start thinking on getting your foreign credentials evaluated (a 3 to 4 week process, so better start early).

 

[beh467]

I think sending them a new reference letter would not help, though you can certainly try. What I think would be more productive is what aidina and hooman2012 did: to prepare a new application entirely. I hope your IELTS is not yet expired, and you can start thinking on getting your foreign credentials evaluated (a 3 to 4 week process, so better start early).

I agree. They will not consider a new reference letter after the assessment.
My IELTS is valid and I am trying to get my foreign credentials evaluated as soon as possible to submit a new application.

 

[asbereth]

I agree. They will not consider a new reference letter after the assessment.
My IELTS is valid and I am trying to get my foreign credentials evaluated as soon as possible to submit a new application.

Based on your GCMS, did you get any work experience at all? Did you claim any other work experience than RA/TA? Also, was it FA01772 the one who did your assessment? What did he say about other part of selection factor?

 

[sia_kb8]

Universities have standard text and will not custom-make letters each time CIC finds a tiny loophole in the existing text. As a matter of fact, HRSDC got their NOC descriptions from employers, not the other way around. They collected info on RA duties from universities. THEY did the copy-paste, not applicants. They're not idiots - they are mean spirited.

I am completely on your side and we are in the same boat. It's pretty ridiculous that we need to go these lengths to prove something as standard as being a RA. Obviously there's been orders from the top that PhD stream application should be processed highly "stringently". A prime example was last year's adaptability point. There's no question that there's some ill will from CIC's part. Our job in this situation is to give them letters that are un-reject-able. I know some secretaries and profs do not accommodate it, but we should write our own letters and include every single details possible.

I think there should be letter from the department head, attached to it a letter from supervisor, attached to it your publications with the supervisor. That's pretty solid, IMO.

 

[chakri264]

Hello everyone,

I have used my pharmacist work experience from India which is for 2 years of full-time to support my FSW-PhD stream application. I also included my RA experience for 1 year (2 years of part-time).
The concerning things are:
My work experience letter as pharmacist from India included all the points mentioned under NOC 3131 (pharmacist) but one point. Here are the duties mentioned in my experience letter:
"-Dispensing pharmaceutical drugs to customers and advising them on use of non-prescription medication (OTC medication).
-Advising health care professionals and patients regarding the uses, adverse effects, contra-indications and drug interactions of medication.
-Keeping a record of the customer’s medication profile including narcotics and controlled drugs.
-Dosage calculation and Patient counseling.
-Filling the right containers with suitable amounts of pharmaceutical products by calculating, and mixing with other ingredients.
-Maintaining records of pharmaceutical drugs and ordering stocks when needed.
-Ensuring the dosage in the prescription is safe for the patient use.
-Helping and co-coordinating with other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to carry out above mentioned duties."
Duties mentioned under NOC-3131(Pharmacists) are:
"-Check prescriptions for proper dosage
-Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
-Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
-Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
-Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
-Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
-Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
-May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff."

The only point that is not included in my expereince letter is highlighted.
My doubt is missing one duty will affect my application? If you guys have any idea please let me know.

The second thing that concerns me is, my RA experience letter does not use the word "assist professor" but something like "Helping and coordinating with other lab members in carrying out above mentioned duties".
Here is the content of my RA letter:
"This is to certify that XXXXXX has been a Research Assistant working towards Ph.D. degree under my supervision at XXXXXXX from XXXXX until present (20 hours per week). The annual total salary of XXXX is XXXXX(CAD). He is working to understand how the interaction of two stress hormones (chemicals released by brain when we are stressed) alter brain function. His work includes
• Conducting experiments (Brain imaging and electrophysiology on rat and human brain slices), scheduling experiments, and maintaining data records.
• Compiling research results and data analysis for the preparation of journal articles or papers.
• Helping and coordinating with other lab members to carryout above mentioned duties.
Mr. XXXXXX is making excellent progress in research assistantship. He is expected to complete all of the degree requirements for the Ph.D. program by XXXXX. If I can be of any further assistance please contact me through my email or phone number mentioned below."

I have read some posts in this forum saying that their application is rejected cause there is no phrase such as "assisting professors". Does my research assistant letter get affected, you think?

Thanks for reading my post patiently.

 

[The_Prince]

This was precisely the reason why I did not let my supervisor or even department head write my reference letter. I wrote my own letter, then had them verify if there was any detail that they did not agree with (and check the grammar obviously).

To make your letter as idiot-proof (or mean people-proof) as possible, maybe we should include BOTH the lead statement, and also NOC duties that are ALMOST copy-paste (almost because you somehow incorporate some details of your research in the duties as well). Maybe write something like the following for RA

At this point, if this letter is still rejected, then make Professor Einstein swear under the penalty of perjury that you are really his student, and your job is to assist him (or you know what, why wait until you're rejected, include the notarized letter that makes your prof swear with your application as well; I'm not sure now how CIC can still say you don't have any evidence of providing any assistance to professors any more).

LOOOOOOOL

 

[sarsanballa]

Hello everyone,

I have used my pharmacist work experience from India which is for 2 years of full-time to support my FSW-PhD stream application. I also included my RA experience for 1 year (2 years of part-time).
The concerning things are:
My work experience letter as pharmacist from India included all the points mentioned under NOC 3131 (pharmacist) but one point. Here are the duties mentioned in my experience letter:
"-Dispensing pharmaceutical drugs to customers and advising them on use of non-prescription medication (OTC medication).
-Advising health care professionals and patients regarding the uses, adverse effects, contra-indications and drug interactions of medication.
-Keeping a record of the customer's medication profile including narcotics and controlled drugs.
-Dosage calculation and Patient counseling.
-Filling the right containers with suitable amounts of pharmaceutical products by calculating, and mixing with other ingredients.
-Maintaining records of pharmaceutical drugs and ordering stocks when needed.
-Ensuring the dosage in the prescription is safe for the patient use.
-Helping and co-coordinating with other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to carry out above mentioned duties."
Duties mentioned under NOC-3131(Pharmacists) are:
"-Check prescriptions for proper dosage
-Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
-Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
-Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
-Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
-Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
-Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
-May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff."

The only point that is not included in my expereince letter is highlighted.
My doubt is missing one duty will affect my application? If you guys have any idea please let me know.

The second thing that concerns me is, my RA experience letter does not use the word "assist professor" but something like "Helping and coordinating with other lab members in carrying out above mentioned duties".
Here is the content of my RA letter:
"This is to certify that XXXXXX has been a Research Assistant working towards Ph.D. degree under my supervision at XXXXXXX from XXXXX until present (20 hours per week). The annual total salary of XXXX is XXXXX(CAD). He is working to understand how the interaction of two stress hormones (chemicals released by brain when we are stressed) alter brain function. His work includes
• Conducting experiments (Brain imaging and electrophysiology on rat and human brain slices), scheduling experiments, and maintaining data records.
• Compiling research results and data analysis for the preparation of journal articles or papers.
• Helping and coordinating with other lab members to carryout above mentioned duties.
Mr. XXXXXX is making excellent progress in research assistantship. He is expected to complete all of the degree requirements for the Ph.D. program by XXXXX. If I can be of any further assistance please contact me through my email or phone number mentioned below."

I have read some posts in this forum saying that their application is rejected cause there is no phrase such as "assisting professors". Does my research assistant letter get affected, you think?

Thanks for reading my post patiently.

"The only point that is not included in my expereince letter is highlighted.
My doubt is missing one duty will affect my application? If you guys have any idea please let me know."

It is possible that CIC case officers will find fault with it saying that you are missing one duty.


"I have read some posts in this forum saying that their application is rejected cause there is no phrase such as "assisting professors". Does my research assistant letter get affected, you think?"

Yes, it is HIGHLY possible that they don't accept your RA reference letter as there is no the magical phrase "assisting professors".

 

[The_Prince]

I think sending them a new reference letter would not help, though you can certainly try. What I think would be more productive is what aidina and hooman2012 did: to prepare a new application entirely. I hope your IELTS is not yet expired, and you can start thinking on getting your foreign credentials evaluated (a 3 to 4 week process, so better start early).

But the first applications for both guys are now back to life after they appealed through e-mail. It seems that supplementary reference letter is a working option. I have sent a supplementary reference letter by e-mail one month ago and again by express mail today. No reply so far for my e-mail.