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

[sarsanballa]

Hi,
I am applying under PhD program. I just finished second year. I did my Masters from India. According to the new rules do I have to give Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or I can just give my PhD transcript from Canada. Please help its urgent.
Thanks

U will need to get your Master's degree ONLY evaluted at one of the agencies designated by CIC. For specifics, please refer to the following link
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/EG7TOC.asp

quote "You will be awarded up to 25 points for your HIGHEST completed Canadian educational credential or for your HIGHEST equivalency to a completed Canadian educational credential."

 

[anjuku]

just a quick question...does anyone know how to update CIC with your new address?..is it through ecas?..do i have to send them a letter/e-mail as well?...thanks

 

[aidina]

just a quick question...does anyone know how to update CIC with your new address?..is it through ecas?..do i have to send them a letter/e-mail as well?...thanks

Through e-cas.

 

[anjuku]

Through e-cas.

thanks aidina

 

[informer2000]

Dear All,

My application was received about a year ago and I have requested the GCMS a week ago and currently waiting for it. I have been recently seeing more and more rejections due to problems with the reference/work experience letter. This is making me worried and I'm not quite sure what exactly are they looking for and what is the lead statement for research assistants. My letter included the following. Can someone please comment on whether this looks reasonable/acceptable? If not, what am I missing?

This is to confirm that XXXXXX has been working with me as a research assistant in the XXXXXX Laboratory at XXXXXX University, since XXXXXX 2009. XXXXXX is a Ph.D. student in the same university under my supervision. His work in my lab is part of his doctoral research. On average, XXXXXXX works about 35 hours per week conducting research. His annual salary is about $-----. His responsibilities and duties as a research assistant include:

• Conducting research in XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX. He designs new algorithms and implements software systems to demonstrate the practicality his research ideas.
• Conducting scientific experiments to validate his research ideas.
• Preparing scientific publications based on the outcome of his research.
• Administering my research equipment and software systems.

 

[S_Govind]

You are missing the lead statement . The lead statement for 4012 goes as follows 'post graduate research and teaching assistants assist university professors in research and teaching activities'. I would definitely include the word assist and bold face it in the letter. Further, you are also missing a substantial number of duties in your letter (e.g: conducting literature reviews, compiling and analyzing data from experiments, writing reports for publication in scholarly journals etc).

 

[yunshi]

2013: Adaptability from full-time study during PhD?

I understand this must have be discussed before, but I cannot find any info since May 4th (should there be a similar thread for PhD stream applicants after May 4?) from the search.

On CIC guide 7000, it says that "You completed at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least two years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada.", which would be fine for all PhD stream applicants. BUT it also says that "Full-time study means at least 15 hours of instruction per week, and you must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the school) during the period of full-time study in Canada."

So the question is how do I prove that I have "at least 15 hours of instruction per week", which apparently are not 15 credits/ units? And I believe most PhD students after their first year do not literally get instructed by someone 15 hours per week.

 

[aidina]

Dear All,

My application was received about a year ago and I have requested the GCMS a week ago and currently waiting for it. I have been recently seeing more and more rejections due to problems with the reference/work experience letter. This is making me worried and I'm not quite sure what exactly are they looking for and what is the lead statement for research assistants. My letter included the following. Can someone please comment on whether this looks reasonable/acceptable? If not, what am I missing?

This is to confirm that XXXXXX has been working with me as a research assistant in the XXXXXX Laboratory at XXXXXX University, since XXXXXX 2009. XXXXXX is a Ph.D. student in the same university under my supervision. His work in my lab is part of his doctoral research. On average, XXXXXXX works about 35 hours per week conducting research. His annual salary is about $-----. His responsibilities and duties as a research assistant include:

• Conducting research in XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX. He designs new algorithms and implements software systems to demonstrate the practicality his research ideas.
• Conducting scientific experiments to validate his research ideas.
• Preparing scientific publications based on the outcome of his research.
• Administering my research equipment and software systems.

Very quickly send them an updated letter which includes the lead statement, and more duties. This letter would probably get rejected. Do it tomorrow before they decide on your application. Send it through e-mail to reach them the same day.

 

[kuzey]

Prepare a new latter and update them as quick as possible.

Some suggestion:

- Make sure to include a sentence like : XXXX assisted me as a research assistant in the XXXX area and his main duties were as follow"
- It is better to exclude a sentence like "His work in my lab is part of his doctoral research" I remember that the officer reasoned a rejection by saying that "the letter has no indication that you assisted the professor and it was just toward completing the dissertation. I know this looks stupid but I think it would be better if you exclude the following sentence from your letter.
- Also try to add some more duties. Do not be afraid to copy paste from NOC website.

Good luck

Dear All,

My application was received about a year ago and I have requested the GCMS a week ago and currently waiting for it. I have been recently seeing more and more rejections due to problems with the reference/work experience letter. This is making me worried and I'm not quite sure what exactly are they looking for and what is the lead statement for research assistants. My letter included the following. Can someone please comment on whether this looks reasonable/acceptable? If not, what am I missing?

This is to confirm that XXXXXX has been working with me as a research assistant in the XXXXXX Laboratory at XXXXXX University, since XXXXXX 2009. XXXXXX is a Ph.D. student in the same university under my supervision. His work in my lab is part of his doctoral research. On average, XXXXXXX works about 35 hours per week conducting research. His annual salary is about $-----. His responsibilities and duties as a research assistant include:

• Conducting research in XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX. He designs new algorithms and implements software systems to demonstrate the practicality his research ideas.
• Conducting scientific experiments to validate his research ideas.
• Preparing scientific publications based on the outcome of his research.
• Administering my research equipment and software systems.

 

[chakri264]

Prepare a new latter and update them as quick as possible.

Some suggestion:

- Make sure to include a sentence like : XXXX assisted me as a research assistant in the XXXX area and his main duties were as follow"
- It is better to exclude a sentence like "His work in my lab is part of his doctoral research" I remember that the officer reasoned a rejection by saying that "the letter has no indication that you assisted the professor and it was just toward completing the dissertation. I know this looks stupid but I think it would be better if you exclude the following sentence from your letter.
- Also try to add some more duties. Do not be afraid to copy paste from NOC website.

Good luck

I agree with you kuzey. The sentence "the research work he does is a part of his PHD" should not be there as it is bypassing the lead statement. A research assistant has to assist professors in other research projects in addition to his/her own research. So better to act fast and send an updated letter by email soon before they take a decision.

 

[informer2000]

Thank you all for your quick and detailed replies. They are very helpful. I will ask my supervisor for an updated letter and send it to CIC by email and express mail as soon as possible. My application reached CIO on June 28th last year. I can only hope they haven't reached a decision by now.

 

[beh467]

This is my updated reference letter



To whom it may concern,
This reference letter is in support of xxxx xxxx’s application for Permanent Resident status of Canada through the Skilled Worker and Professionals Class. Mr. xxxx xxxx has been working as a full-time research assistant at the xxxx Department of University of xxxx since he joined us in September 2009 as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) student.

As a research assistant, he assists me in research activities in the area of xxxx.

His main duties include:

• Conducting literature and technical reviews
o Details here
• Performing laboratory and simulation experiments
o Details here
• Compiling and analyzing research results
o Details here
• Preparing scholarly publications and writing scientific journal papers. During his employment here, Mr. xxxx xxxx has published the following papers:


Since xxxx joined University of xxxx, he has been receiving xxxx for the first year, xxxx for the second year and xxxx for the third year for his research assistantship work. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is the main source from whom I receive my research funding. As a research assistant, xxxx has worked 40 hours a week in the xxxx Department, since September 2009. xxxx will receive the research assistantship stipend of xxxx for year 2013 until he finishes his Ph.D. program by xxxx.
Should you have any questions, or require further information, please contact me either via E-mail (xxxx) or by phone xxxx.

 

[asbereth]

informer2000 , I frankly think that you won't need to update them with anything, since your main duties, in my opinion, match the duties prescribed on the HRSDC website for NOC 4012. But I agree though that the lead statement is missing, and since you applied before May 4 2013, it's probably not a bad idea to send them updated letter anyway.

There have been cases where rejected applicant had matching main duties, but lacking lead statement, so better be safe than sorry (make sure your new letter won't contradict the original letter though). Look for accepted templates from other members, and I think you should be fine (I don't think they've assessed most June 2012 applicants, much less late June 2012 applicants). Good luck

I understand this must have be discussed before, but I cannot find any info since May 4th (should there be a similar thread for PhD stream applicants after May 4?) from the search.

On CIC guide 7000, it says that "You completed at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least two years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada.", which would be fine for all PhD stream applicants. BUT it also says that "Full-time study means at least 15 hours of instruction per week, and you must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the school) during the period of full-time study in Canada."

So the question is how do I prove that I have "at least 15 hours of instruction per week", which apparently are not 15 credits/ units? And I believe most PhD students after their first year do not literally get instructed by someone 15 hours per week.

Check your transcript. It should be mentioned whether or not you're a full-time student for a particular term. Besides, if you are currently under study permit, they won't let you work on campus if you are not a full-time student.

Your attestation letter (which should be issued by the graduate studies office, and stamped by university seal; attestation letter by department will NOT be accepted) should prove that you are currently in a good academic standing as per the school's definition (whatever that means). If you are willing to take the risk, you can add the phrase "full-time" somewhere within your attestation letter, but better not mess with their wording.

 

[aidina]

Thank you all for your quick and detailed replies. They are very helpful. I will ask my supervisor for an updated letter and send it to CIC by email and express mail as soon as possible. My application reached CIO on June 28th last year. I can only hope they haven't reached a decision by now.

They will assess your application about June 28th. Be quick. You need more duties (copy and paste a few from NOC), and the lead statement (He is assisting me, Dr. ****, as his supervisor, in ****).

 

[aidina]

This is my updated reference letter



To whom it may concern,
This reference letter is in support of xxxx xxxx's application for Permanent Resident status of Canada through the Skilled Worker and Professionals Class. Mr. xxxx xxxx has been working as a full-time research assistant at the xxxx Department of University of xxxx since he joined us in September 2009 as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) student.

As a research assistant, he assists me in research activities in the area of xxxx.

His main duties include:

• Conducting literature and technical reviews
o Details here
• Performing laboratory and simulation experiments
o Details here
• Compiling and analyzing research results
o Details here
• Preparing scholarly publications and writing scientific journal papers. During his employment here, Mr. xxxx xxxx has published the following papers:


Since xxxx joined University of xxxx, he has been receiving xxxx for the first year, xxxx for the second year and xxxx for the third year for his research assistantship work. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is the main source from whom I receive my research funding. As a research assistant, xxxx has worked 40 hours a week in the xxxx Department, since September 2009. xxxx will receive the research assistantship stipend of xxxx for year 2013 until he finishes his Ph.D. program by xxxx.
Should you have any questions, or require further information, please contact me either via E-mail (xxxx) or by phone xxxx.

That is it!