concrete - your mailbox is full! message inside...

[bobshynoswife]

Reply to your PM:

First of all, they DO NOT look at your credit history. You just cannot be an undischarged bankrupt at the time of sponsorship. Heck, I even owed $2000 to Canada Revenue Agency and I was approved with no problem!

There is no appeal to the Sponsor part. They just send back your application and keep the $75 fee. You just have to fix whatever problem there is and then re-apply.

As for Nigerian Police Certificates, I know what you mean, but there is a way to get a good one. Is your husband in Lagos? He has to go to the main police department on VI. It takes a couple of hours and doesn't cost very much. If he's out of Lagos he may have to do it by mail. I'll see if I can find you the link later to the exact address.

He also needs a medical done by a Designated Medical Professional. Again, I'll see if I can find you the link. There are 2 in Lagos and the total cost was around $200 cdn, if I recall correctly.

Keep your chin up! Good thoughts are good for the baby!

Just curious, where do you live? I'm in Alberta.

Laura

 

[concrete]

I just deleted a message to clear up my mail box. LOL. thanks

My hubby's in Abuja. I'd assume he can go to the national police HQ or whatever it's called but if that's not good enough, he'd easily make the trip to Lagos

Thank God they don't look at credit history, LOL. That will save me a lot of hassle, time and money. The money can be best served for my baby and saving in order to get me off the assistance asap

As for reapplying for sponsorhip and medical info, both sound simple enough.

I can't thank you enough for the info

 

[concrete]

I'm in Ottawa/Mississauga. Spent the last few years in Mississauga but due to financial constraints, moved in with mom in Ottawa and will remain there b/c will need the help for when the baby comes

 

[bobshynoswife]

Looks like he will have to go to Lagos:

Nigeria

Do I need to provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence?
Yes. However, the certificate will be released directly to the Canadian visa office upon request.

How and where do I obtain one?

Local Requests
Applicants should apply in person with their valid passport, two passport photographs and the applicable fees. Residents of Nigeria should apply to:

Central Criminal Registry
Force C.I.D. Annex
Alagbon Close Ikoyi
Lagos, Nigeria

Non-Resident Requests
Applicants should apply at the nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate with a copy of their passport and a set of fingerprints taken and certified by a recognized police authority or the Nigerian embassy or consulate, and an international money order payable to the Nigerian Police Force, CID.

Note: The police will likely not send the check directly to Canada. They will probably give it back to him, as they did for my husband and many others. Not sure why they have that on the website, as the officer had never heard of doing it that way, and it isn't a problem to put the actual certificate in your application.

Here's the link for DMPs in Nigeria
http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medicalinfo.aspx?CountryID=1977&CountryName=Nigeria

Two in Lagos, one in Abuja. It might be worth a phone call because if the one in Lagos is cheaper, he could do that while he's there for the police certificate. They all charge different prices. Lagos might be cheaper because there is competition, whereas Abuja has just the lone doctor.

Ottawa? Darn. Wish you were in Alberta! Not too many Nigerians here and wish we would have more of a community.

 

[concrete]

thanks for the info. going to lagos for the police certificate is no biggie. and yea, since he'll already be there, we'll just do the medical there as well

EVERYTHING is more expensive in abuja. i'm not so sure competition has anything to do with it, lol

ottawa is pretty dry. i miss mississauga but it's still better than alberta, i'm sure lol your husband is gonna experience some REAL culture shock there, that's for sure.

btw, are you a canadian/white or nigerian-canadian citizen? just curious

 

[bobshynoswife]

I'm a white Canadian. I was going on a cruise with my best friend in Europe and had 2 days in London during which she was going to be with her sister. So I went on a London dating site to see if I could find someone to hang out with for a day or two and show me the city. He replied. I'd never dated anyone who wasn't white, but within a few weeks of email, we turned to phone and skype and by the time I met him 3 months later we were both hooked!

He moved home to Nigeria in April so we could get married and he could spend a few months with his parents before moving to Canada.

His brother lives in Abuja, and I know how expensive it is! Even Lagos is expensive, and knowing what people earn there, it's a wonder they can survive, let alone be happy people.

He's Yoruba, and I've learned about the culture and food, and am now working on the language as we are going to raise our children bi-lingual.

What about you?

 

[concrete]

i'm fully nigerian but was born and raised outside the country. born in the UK and raised french-canadian. we are from the same state.

went to nigeria on a 1-year intership program which is mandatory for all nigerian-educated citizens, but optional for those who studied abroad. that said, those who studied abroad and hope to work in a high-ranking job there in the future are encouraged to complete the program as well. I have political/NGO ambitions in the future so I thought I'd give it a try.

a little less than a year later, and i'm pregnant and married LOL. but it was the best decision i've made. i just hope they buy that we are genuinely happy and that the marriage is for real b/c it is, as rushed and crazy as it sounds. it was love and first sight. i dumped my would-be fiance for him and he dumped his longtime girl of 5 years (and intended wife) for me we'll both be pretty annoyed if they question our love, lol

 

[bobshynoswife]

That's a great story. I was a total cynic before meeting Shina, but now I am one of those crazy people who believes in soulmates. Are you hoping to someday move to Nigeria? I've only spent 2 weeks there, in Lagos, but I really loved it. I heard horror stories before going, but it's not like that at all. Such wonderful, friendly people. I just wish the gov't would do their part.

If you're interested in Nigerian Politics, you should check out my friend Kay's facebook page. He's the founder of the Nigerian Liberty Forum, and is a political activist living in London. His facebook is more of a news outlet, and he works closely with Sahara Reporters which get a lot of the inside scoop. You can find him under Kay Ogundamisi. I enjoy a lot of the discussion.

 

[concrete]

i've definately heard of sahara reports and will look into his profile

good to hear you're now a believer like myself. i'll always shuttle between canada, uk and nigeria. not sure i'm ready to commit 100% to the nation just yet. maybe when our baby girl's a little older and definately in the distant future