Hello everyone..
Coming back to the forum after a long time as I was waiting for my interview to happen. Perhaps it was not my day and may be destiny wants something better for me & my family
The Visa officer was an Indian guy and seem to be quite experienced. I closed the sliding door and sat in front of him. He asked me to get up and close the door again. This made me feel that he could be a tough guy.
First of all, he asked for all the passports and I handed over the same.
He pointed couple of Iranian visas in my passport and asked why I went to Iran. I explained that my company had invested in some projects there and I had to visit for that purpose. But he was more concerned and asked me if I would go again? I said I don't know, may be not.
I am getting a feel that from this point, a bad tone was set for the whole of the interview.
He asked me to explain my jobs and job duties starting from the present one. I listed the JDs as per my actual job profile (for present and past jobs).
He kept typing whatever I was saying and was also repeating the same for me.
He then read the lead statement slowly with the stress on below words in bold :
Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information such as
economic forecasts,
trading volumes and the
movement of capital,
financial backgrounds of companies,
historical performances and
future trends of stocks,
bonds and other investment instruments to provide financial and investment or financing advice for their company or their company's clients. Their studies and evaluations cover areas such as
takeover bids, private placements,
mergers or acquisitions.
VO: Do you think that you are doing any of the above duties?
Me: Yes, I am doing activities like financial forecasts, financial planning, cash flow planning and analysis, assessing financial background of the clients, risk management etc. but I am not into bonds/stocks, takeover/ merger kind of things as my employer's business area is different.
VO: Forget about financial analysis, are you involved anywhere in takeover bids, mergers and acquisitions ?
Me: No, because our company has never adopted a strategy to acquire or merge with any other company
VO : That's it. This kind of financial planning is done by a HOUSEWIFE too.(It was mentioned several times again in further discussions too)
Me: Sir, I am talking about my actual professional duties what I am doing for more than 10 years now.
VO : This NOC is for highly skilled people who decide at the top level on mergers, acquisitions, takeovers.
Me : Does it mean I have to be a VP or CEO to be able to apply under 1112
VO: That also doesn't mean that clerical people can apply under this NOC.
Me: I am in a middle management position and handling financial portfolio for my organisation.
VO : But you are not able to convince me that you are doing any of the duties mentioned in the lead statement of 1112. You have to meet both the lead statement as well as the main duties listed in the NOC.
I stressed to discuss the financial duties what I am doing but his focus was totally on investment analyst duties and the point that I do not meet lead statement criteria. As per him, this NOC is for guys like investment bankers and not just financial managers. So, it's a wrong NOC for me. I even asked so what is the correct NOC you would suggest but he said he cannot suggest on this.
I also tried to discuss that why my application was not refused at the CIO level only if it was the case. He said that initial acceptance doesn't mean that we have accepted your job duties. I maintained my stand throughout the interview that I am not an investment analyst but a financial analyst. But unfortunately, we couldn't come on a common ground.
I am not frustrated at all but I have only one grudge that why my duties were accepted by CIO and PER was issued if the VO is of the view that I am not doing even 1 duty from this NOC ? Another 7 months lost in this process (after I applied last year too) and I was waiting to hear this. Only GOD knows that why its good for me
Anyways, I am trying to get over this experience and focus now on other alternates in my career. If an MBA guy of more than 10 years experience and earning well here can be considered as doing the same financial duties of a housewife, then perhaps Canada is not meant for me.
I wish everyone all the best for their further process as I might not return back here frequently to share your joy with you. But I would always be available for any kind of help any of you guys want from me. (PM me for that)
Regards
