Pakistani Studen - ECA Confusion

[MOA.2001]

Dear Members,

I hope all of you are in good health and doing good. I would appreciate if someone and especially someone from Pakistan who has gone through this process could help me with the ECA process.

I have done my IGCSE O Level and IGCSE A Level from University of Cambridge CIE.
Then I have graduated as an Industrial Engineer from NED University of Engineering & Technology.
And now I am currently studying a diploma in Supply Chain Management.

I want to get the ECA for the "undergraduate degree" and the "diploma".

I have studied the document requirements on all the websites (CES, IQAS, WES, etc.) but I am confused as I have attended an International high school so should I arrange transcripts of my A Level from University of Cambridge in UK to be sent to IQAS/WES in Canada?

As I only want to get the undergraduate degree and diploma attested, can you guys suggest a service which does not require high school credentials in order to evaluate post secondary qualification?

WES processing time is within 20 business days but they require high school certificates/transcripts in order to evaluate the higher education. It is a hassle for me because I have to arrange those certificates via British Council in Pakistan.

Thank you for giving your time and your help is truly appreciated.

Regards.

 

[Jojii]

I had the same dilemma.
WES is not such a good option for Pakistani applicants because of compulsory submission of secondary school documents.

I researched and found that IQAS was the best bet with regards to price / time / document requirements. However now IQAS is taking far too long to process applications. It will take you 2.5 to 3 months to get an ECA if you start now.

However if money is not an issue you may chose ICAS. ICAS has a rush service for 499 CAD for 5 days processing. And they also don't need secondary schooo certifications.

Also have you completed the diploma? You can't get an ECA equivalency for an incomplete degree.

 

[Jojii]

My mistake. ICAS doesn't offer rush services. I meant to say CES. they offer rush service for 499 CAD.

 

[MOA.2001]

Dear Jojii,

Thank you for your response.

My diploma is going to be completed in a couple of months time. As soon as it is completed I will send the transcripts for evaluation. In the meantime I am utilizing this time to research about the best service and preparation of documents which are required.

I wanted to clear one thing here, On IQAS website, it says that the processing time is 30 days but you are claiming it to be 2-3 months. Is it your personal experience as 2-3 months is a lot of time!

Regards.

 

[Jojii]

I can see that you are newbie member
I would suggest you to go through this forum in the free time as it will give you a lot of information about the application process. Almost any question you might have, there is a good chance that is would have been answered on this forum before.

IQAS says processing time 30 'working / business days', that means 6 weeks. In addition IQAS takes 2 weeks to send you a mail confirmation that your application has been received. In addition due to work load IQAS will take 2 weeks to send you the confirmation after the documents from the university has been received.
If you are doing the maths with me, that makes it 10 weeks. You may get is quicker depending on the workload at the time of your submission but I wouldn't count on it.

Like I said, if you can manage I would suggest to pay 500 CAD for rush service with CES. You could also just start the process of getting ECA for you Bachelors degree and add the diploma later on. It will cost a little bit more but you will get two benefits .
1. you can submit your EE profile and may be you will get ITA based on those lower CRS scores -
2. after you send in your diploma, it may be quicker to get the ECA as it will be an update and not a new application.

Once again, take my advice with a grain of salt as I have only started thinking about EE 2 months ago.

 

[Jojii]

Also FYI,
here are the time-lines for me and my spouse. As you can see my spouse's application was a straight forward case and yet it took 2 months to get her ECA. And back when I had applied the processing time written on the website was 10 days.
Lets keep in touch

Spouse:
Application delivered- 03MAR
Email received - 15MAR
Unviersity documents delivered - 18MAR
Email recived - 29MAR
Final Assessment received - 2MAY

Me
Application delivered- 20MAR
Email received - 30MAR
Unviersity documents delivered - 24APR
Email recived - 15MAY
Final Assessment received - 6June

 

[MOA.2001]

Thank you for your response, again.

Basically I did a google search and saw a lot of results from this forum so I did a bit of reading before posting this but in my case it is a little bit different due to attending International high school. I have researched about this process too.

For anyone who has done A Level and wish to use WES for ECA then he/she must provide A Level Certificate from University of Cambridge in a sealed envelope to WES directly. The method of getting this done within Pakistan is to contact "British Council Pakistan".

They have a page on their website with forms available for this purpose. You can request them to arrange the movement of certificates in sealed envelope from University of Cambridge to WES in Canada. All details are included there and for more information local help line of British Council can be used.

The cost is PKR 750 + 18.75 pounds sterling for one certificate.

Conclusion:
1. If we use this service from British Council then we could use WES for obtaining the ECA.
2. IQAS can be used without high school certificate (A Level or Intermediate HSSC)
3. If you have extra cash then CES rush service can be availed for CAD 500 (Within 5 days result promised)

I hope this is helpful for any other member who is going through the same trouble as I am. Thank you Jojii for your input too and any corrections/modifications could be made based on the experience of other members.

 

[MOA.2001]

I would like to update here that WES processed my application for ECA without receiving secondary school documents (A Level Certificates). My bachelors in engineering degree from NED University was processed for ECA by WES without secondary school documents.
However I had already applied for A Level Certificates to be delivered directly from University of Cambridge to WES in Canada through British Council Pakistan. My A Level Certificates reached WES after I got the ECA report from them so any future members could save their money in this case.

 

[salman_ali94]

How to avail the rush service of CES? I emailed them and they said that one has to provide a reason for availing such service. Any ideas about what reason to give?

 

[richi93]

I can see that you are newbie member
I would suggest you to go through this forum in the free time as it will give you a lot of information about the application process. Almost any question you might have, there is a good chance that is would have been answered on this forum before.

IQAS says processing time 30 'working / business days', that means 6 weeks. In addition IQAS takes 2 weeks to send you a mail confirmation that your application has been received. In addition due to work load IQAS will take 2 weeks to send you the confirmation after the documents from the university has been received.
If you are doing the maths with me, that makes it 10 weeks. You may get is quicker depending on the workload at the time of your submission but I wouldn't count on it.

Like I said, if you can manage I would suggest to pay 500 CAD for rush service with CES. You could also just start the process of getting ECA for you Bachelors degree and add the diploma later on. It will cost a little bit more but you will get two benefits .
1. you can submit your EE profile and may be you will get ITA based on those lower CRS scores -
2. after you send in your diploma, it may be quicker to get the ECA as it will be an update and not a new application.

Once again, take my advice with a grain of salt as I have only started thinking about EE 2 months ago.

Can u guide me for the rush service process.. I think valid reason is to be given ?..what reason u suggest