SDS - Age Factor

[meh.khurram]

Hi,
giving the student stream a shot, my wife is applying as a student via SDS stream
39 Years old Female
Msc in Biology (2009)
Switched to Culinary field since last 13 years
Applying for Culinary Diploma (2 years) from a Polytechnic College as universitites don't offer this course
Herself, me and 3 kids are supposed to move along her (she can't travel alone, so going there and apply
SDS CAD 10000 + GIC CAD 20000
Property worth around CAD 22000 is in her name
Tax returns of the year 2022-23 showing that her net worth is around CAD 200000 (not sure if we should do this or not as almost all the amount is already being used for GIC)
Not attaching a bank statement as we don't have amount in our accounts for more than 2 months

What else can I provide to strengthen our case?

Thankin advance for your guidance & time

 

[Naturgrl]

Hi,
giving the student stream a shot, my wife is applying as a student via SDS stream
39 Years old Female
Msc in Biology (2009)
Switched to Culinary field since last 13 years
Applying for Culinary Diploma (2 years) from a Polytechnic College as universitites don't offer this course
Herself, me and 3 kids are supposed to move along her (she can't travel alone, so going there and apply
SDS CAD 10000 + GIC CAD 20000
Property worth around CAD 22000 is in her name
Tax returns of the year 2022-23 showing that her net worth is around CAD 200000 (not sure if we should do this or not as almost all the amount is already being used for GIC)
Not attaching a bank statement as we don't have amount in our accounts for more than 2 months

What else can I provide to strengthen our case?

Thankin advance for your guidance & time

Her chances are low given she has a Masters and taking a post secondary program that requires high school. Why can’t she travel alone. What are her ties to return if you are all moving with her? Why is she taking a post secondary program in Canada with 13 years culinary experience…makes no sense? How much is the program in total because that is not a lot for funds for 5 people. How can she justify costs with a higher paying job as she is not expanding on education.

 

[meh.khurram]

Her chances are low given she has a Masters and taking a post secondary program that requires high school. Why can’t she travel alone. What are her ties to return if you are all moving with her? Why is she taking a post secondary program in Canada with 13 years culinary experience…makes no sense? How much is the program in total because that is not a lot for funds for 5 people. How can she justify costs with a higher paying job as she is not expanding on education.

The home country has no formal education or pathway for people related with culinary field, most learn from abroad or on job. The program in total is around CAD 32k, 10k will be paid in advance and 6k after the permit, remaining CAD 16000 to be paid in the 2nd year. I know the case is weak as we all have to move with her, due to domestic issues kids can't live away from their mother and I am moving just to support em financially, then again how to project this all onto the visa office positively? I know the case is weak but need to do my level best to convice the visa officer.

 

[Naturgrl]

The home country has no formal education or pathway for people related with culinary field, most learn from abroad or on job. The program in total is around CAD 32k, 10k will be paid in advance and 6k after the permit, remaining CAD 16000 to be paid in the 2nd year. I know the case is weak as we all have to move with her, due to domestic issues kids can't live away from their mother and I am moving just to support em financially, then again how to project this all onto the visa office positively? I know the case is weak but need to do my level best to convice the visa officer.

So add on $20k per year for living expenses for 5 people. Where would you be living, because you don’t even have money for 2 years of living expenses. One person, yes. How old are the children? If school age they need study permits. Do they need before and after school care? You need to justify costs to show career advancment but she has been in the field for 13 years so why take a program now? You have to explain it because it honestly doesn’t make sense. She should be expanding on her Masters and not career so a Phd or another Masters.

 

[meh.khurram]

So add on $20k per year for living expenses for 5 people. Where would you be living, because you don’t even have money for 2 years of living expenses. One person, yes. How old are the children? If school age they need study permits. Do they need before and after school care? You need to justify costs to show career advancment but she has been in the field for 13 years so why take a program now? You have to explain it because it honestly doesn’t make sense. She should be expanding on her Masters and not career so a Phd or another Masters.

I am already showing 20k in GIC for 1st year's expense, so what else can I do, show another year's expense + next years fee in her bank account at home? cause GIC from CBIC doesn't allow more than 20k. Btw Kids are school age, they won't be needing day care or anything.

She can opt for another masters but universities don't offer culinary courses at masters level, its usually resort/restauraunt management kind of degrees which are mostly administrative, she wants to be a chef at some level, not a manager.

 

[Naturgrl]

I am already showing 20k in GIC for 1st year's expense, so what else can I do, show another year's expense + next years fee in her bank account at home? cause GIC from CBIC doesn't allow more than 20k. Btw Kids are school age, they won't be needing day care or anything.

She can opt for another masters but universities don't offer culinary courses at masters level, its usually resort/restauraunt management kind of degrees which are mostly administrative, she wants to be a chef at some level, not a manager.

Where are you living? There is a housing crisis in Canada, and you would need a 2-3 bedroom home so how will you pay for rent if $2-3k per month. That doesn’t include utilities, transportation, phone, internet. You really want to show you can afford living expenses for a family of 5, and for non SDS it would be a minimum of $23k.

How old are kids?

 

[meh.khurram]

Where are you living? There is a housing crisis in Canada, and you would need a 2-3 bedroom home so how will you pay for rent if $2-3k per month. That doesn’t include utilities, transportation, phone, internet. You really want to show you can afford living expenses for a family of 5, and for non SDS it would be a minimum of $23k.

How old are kids?

I have checked the listings a 2 bed apartment costs around 1800-2000 including all amenities. I believe even if I were applying non SDS even then I would need to show expense for 1st year not the 2nd one. The bank has a limit of GIC so I can't take it beyond 20k. Shall I show the remaining amount in her bank account here? it would take me 3-4 months to build a bank statement while holding the amount.

The kids are 5, 8 and 12 years old.

 

[Naturgrl]

I have checked the listings a 2 bed apartment costs around 1800-2000 including all amenities. I believe even if I were applying non SDS even then I would need to show expense for 1st year not the 2nd one. The bank has a limit of GIC so I can't take it beyond 20k. Shall I show the remaining amount in her bank account here? it would take me 3-4 months to build a bank statement while holding the amount.

The kids are 5, 8 and 12 years old.

Where? You will not get an apartment until you are in Canada and may need to pay several months rent updront because you have no credit history, job. Many Canadians cannot find housing. Just looking at listings are not enough. So that is $24k not including food, transportation (how are you getting around), internet/phone/cell. Add another $6-8k. What about furniture/kitchen supplies/bedding etc?

Just trying to explain how expensive Canada is.

 

[meh.khurram]

Where? You will not get an apartment until you are in Canada and may need to pay several months rent updront because you have no credit history, job. Many Canadians cannot find housing. Just looking at listings are not enough. So that is $24k not including food, transportation (how are you getting around), internet/phone/cell. Add another $6-8k. What about furniture/kitchen supplies/bedding etc?

Just trying to explain how expensive Canada is.

I can totally understand and appreciate your effort!!! You have always been here to extend help and provide a much needed point of view, people don't even bother replying unless it benefits them, so yeah I truly understand where you are coming from and I adore your efforts!!!

But I am trying to meet the thresholds now, the reality would be a bit hard but I would be working full time and my wife would be trying to get a part time job, so I think we will be able to manage. I mean the 20k in GIC will be utilized for this as well.

The thing is how to convince the visa officer, for the financial stability and about ties back home, these are the one bothering me right now and TBH I am clueless.

 

[Naturgrl]

I can totally understand and appreciate your effort!!! You have always been here to extend help and provide a much needed point of view, people don't even bother replying unless it benefits them, so yeah I truly understand where you are coming from and I adore your efforts!!!

But I am trying to meet the thresholds now, the reality would be a bit hard but I would be working full time and my wife would be trying to get a part time job, so I think we will be able to manage. I mean the 20k in GIC will be utilized for this as well.

The thing is how to convince the visa officer, for the financial stability and about ties back home, these are the one bothering me right now and TBH I am clueless.

Her biggest issue is she is not expanding on her education and taking a program that requires only secondary education. She has to show a higher pay than now to justify spending $60-70k in Canada. She has 13 years experience and could have taken a diploma years ago. She needs to explain why she needs a culinary program in Canada, and not home country, Europe or US. She has to show ties to return so if family comes with her then no incentive to go back.

 

[meh.khurram]

Her biggest issue is she is not expanding on her education and taking a program that requires only secondary education. She has to show a higher pay than now to justify spending $60-70k in Canada. She has 13 years experience and could have taken a diploma years ago. She needs to explain why she needs a culinary program in Canada, and not home country, Europe or US. She has to show ties to return so if family comes with her then no incentive to go back.

Exactly!!! well we can put up a case that a certified chef earns much more than someone who just has been working in the kitchen, plus it will help her get a better job and a chance to work at the tier 1 resturaunts. She was unable to take this diploma cause she had obligation towards her kids, now since all are in school-going age, she can take the leap. The studies for this specific course are expensive, we have done a bit of research for Newzealand, Austrailia and UK. I can elaborate these points a bit more but its the family ties thing that I can't get a hold of. Her parents are in home country, she looks after them and that is pretty much it.

 

[Naturgrl]

Exactly!!! well we can put up a case that a certified chef earns much more than someone who just has been working in the kitchen, plus it will help her get a better job and a chance to work at the tier 1 resturaunts. She was unable to take this diploma cause she had obligation towards her kids, now since all are in school-going age, she can take the leap. The studies for this specific course are expensive, we have done a bit of research for Newzealand, Austrailia and UK. I can elaborate these points a bit more but its the family ties thing that I can't get a hold of. Her parents are in home country, she looks after them and that is pretty much it.

But you are taking a program that requires only secondary so that is an issue and she has a Masters. She is not becoming a certified chef. She is taking a culinary diploma at a college, not some culinary school. IRCC wants to see expansion on education, not a diploma. So she worked while raising kids? If so the angle of raising kids is not really relevant. She will have a better case by not applying with you and the kids. She has no ties to return and funds for one person.

 

[meh.khurram]

But you are taking a program that requires only secondary so that is an issue and she has a Masters. She is not becoming a certified chef. She is taking a culinary diploma at a college, not some culinary school. IRCC wants to see expansion on education, not a diploma. So she worked while raising kids? If so the angle of raising kids is not really relevant. She will have a better case by not applying with you and the kids. She has no ties to return and funds for one person.

Your points are pretty valid but I am out of options here. The only option I can come up with is that If she applies via SDS on her own, after approval can visa for res tof us can be applied as her dependents, before she makes a landing?

Otherwise if we go for formal education, a masters in resturaunt mangement would be the best shot but that doesn't allign with her previous degree.

 

[Naturgrl]

Your points are pretty valid but I am out of options here. The only option I can come up with is that If she applies via SDS on her own, after approval can visa for res tof us can be applied as her dependents, before she makes a landing?

Otherwise if we go for formal education, a masters in resturaunt mangement would be the best shot but that doesn't allign with her previous degree.

There is no such thing as masters in restaurant management unless taking MBA. You don’t have the funds for a MBA program. Her chances are higher if she applies alone since she can show funds for one person. Still program is not relevant to education and not post graduate. However there is no guarantee you and the kids will get approved for any visa. You don’t have the funds and she may be approved because her ties to return are you and the kids. So she has to decide whether to study in Canada alone, if approved. Overall her program choice is very week.

IRCC will see her profile as trying to immigrate so she needs very strong reasons to return home and justify the program with a Masters and working for 13 years. Immigration?PR is not a given so may work a few years and then have to return home.

 

[meh.khurram]

There is no such thing as masters in restaurant management unless taking MBA. You don’t have the funds for a MBA program. Her chances are higher if she applies alone since she can show funds for one person. Still program is not relevant to education and not post graduate. However there is no guarantee you and the kids will get approved for any visa. You don’t have the funds and she may be approved because her ties to return are you and the kids. So she has to decide whether to study in Canada alone, if approved. Overall her program choice is very week.

IRCC will see her profile as trying to immigrate so she needs very strong reasons to return home and justify the program with a Masters and working for 13 years. Immigration?PR is not a given so may work a few years and then have to return home.

If it is all coming down to funds, I can't show em in GIC due to its limitations, I can show em in bank statements, would that suffice? Currently I have 10k for 1st year education and 20k of GIC. I shall add another 23k + 20k in her account statement, would that be enough?

I am struggling with ties back home, that could be the most probable reason of visa decline, if not finances. She has property, valuables and parents back home. I can get a letter from her employer supporting her education and willing to employ her back, thats pretty much it.