- Jun 5, 2011
- 1
- Category........
- Visa Office......
- Hyderabad
- Job Offer........
- Pre-Assessed..
- App. Filed.......
- 24-07-2014
- IELTS Request
- 8 overall (R9 L8.5 S7.5 W7)
- File Transfer...
- 25-07-2014
- Med's Request
- Upfront
- Med's Done....
- 19-06-2014
- Passport Req..
- With application
- VISA ISSUED...
- 21-08-2014
- LANDED..........
- Yet to decide
Hello everyone,
Finally, I received an email earlier today from the CIC stating my application has been approved. Applied on 24-July, General , VFS Hyd.
Program Details: BIT diploma from Red River College Winnipeg.
I think I may have missed the bus (or is it flight?!!) for Sep 2014 intake but nonetheless it's a big relief and a huge vindication for my belief in myself considering that many people (especially consultants) discouraged me from applying due to the below reasons:
1. Long gap after previously acquired degree: To be precise, 14 years.
2. Course mismatch: I am a B.Com graduate now interested in pursuing an education and career in Computers/Information Technology.
3. Average grades all through my post secondary education: 59% in XII and 54% in graduation.
Here's my story: I started exploring higher education options in Canada approximately a year ago. Initially, I contacted almost all the so-called reputed consultancies in Hyderabad, India. Well, I had some really interesting telephonic "encounters" with these "consultants":
Valmiki Education - the girl who answered the call confidently informed me that "married persons are not eligible for student visa." When I told her that there is nothing on the CIC website that says so, she tried to get off the phone giving some lame excuse. But I persisted and told her I am right in front of a computer and asked her to guide me to the webpage/website. Finally she hung up saying the webpage might have been changed!
IDP Hyderabad: Yes, the same guys who administer the IELTS exam. I was informed by this well-informed lady on the phone that more than 7 years education gap means I'm no longer considered a student. If anyone from IDP consultancy is reading this, please do everyone on this forum a favor and provide the link to this very interesting information! Now comes the best part: I did not even approach this consultancy. They CALLED ME UP soon after the IELTS results were out, and promptly informed me that I cannot be a student!
Of course, there were many others, and the list could go on. Here, I need to mention that only one consultancy was ready to take up my "case": Albright Consulting. However, I backed off after they started "selling" me business programs which I was not interested in at all. My primary focus was only IT/Computers. Ultimately, I decided to apply on my own.
I think the factors that went in my favor (though I may be completely wrong here as no one other the V.O. can say why an application is approved or denied):
1. Work experience. Though I had this "long gap", I was continually employed for the last 14 years save for a 5-month break which I had to take to be able to switch careers from BPO to IT.
2. Course mismatch was offset by the fact that I am currently working for a reputed IT company as a Consultant and applied for a IT program.
3. Bank loan against property in my name.
4. Good IELTS score.
My 2 cents of advice to all, especially those who believe the consultants are taking them for a ride: All the information you need is out there on the Internet - on the CIC websites, on forums such as canadavisa.com, etc. Please, there is no excuse for anyone to say I was misled or misguided or conned by some rogue consultancy. Do take their input if you have to but try to cross-check with other sources as well.
All the best to everyone!
Sikander
Finally, I received an email earlier today from the CIC stating my application has been approved. Applied on 24-July, General , VFS Hyd.
Program Details: BIT diploma from Red River College Winnipeg.
I think I may have missed the bus (or is it flight?!!) for Sep 2014 intake but nonetheless it's a big relief and a huge vindication for my belief in myself considering that many people (especially consultants) discouraged me from applying due to the below reasons:
1. Long gap after previously acquired degree: To be precise, 14 years.
2. Course mismatch: I am a B.Com graduate now interested in pursuing an education and career in Computers/Information Technology.
3. Average grades all through my post secondary education: 59% in XII and 54% in graduation.
Here's my story: I started exploring higher education options in Canada approximately a year ago. Initially, I contacted almost all the so-called reputed consultancies in Hyderabad, India. Well, I had some really interesting telephonic "encounters" with these "consultants":
Valmiki Education - the girl who answered the call confidently informed me that "married persons are not eligible for student visa." When I told her that there is nothing on the CIC website that says so, she tried to get off the phone giving some lame excuse. But I persisted and told her I am right in front of a computer and asked her to guide me to the webpage/website. Finally she hung up saying the webpage might have been changed!
IDP Hyderabad: Yes, the same guys who administer the IELTS exam. I was informed by this well-informed lady on the phone that more than 7 years education gap means I'm no longer considered a student. If anyone from IDP consultancy is reading this, please do everyone on this forum a favor and provide the link to this very interesting information! Now comes the best part: I did not even approach this consultancy. They CALLED ME UP soon after the IELTS results were out, and promptly informed me that I cannot be a student!
Of course, there were many others, and the list could go on. Here, I need to mention that only one consultancy was ready to take up my "case": Albright Consulting. However, I backed off after they started "selling" me business programs which I was not interested in at all. My primary focus was only IT/Computers. Ultimately, I decided to apply on my own.
I think the factors that went in my favor (though I may be completely wrong here as no one other the V.O. can say why an application is approved or denied):
1. Work experience. Though I had this "long gap", I was continually employed for the last 14 years save for a 5-month break which I had to take to be able to switch careers from BPO to IT.
2. Course mismatch was offset by the fact that I am currently working for a reputed IT company as a Consultant and applied for a IT program.
3. Bank loan against property in my name.
4. Good IELTS score.
My 2 cents of advice to all, especially those who believe the consultants are taking them for a ride: All the information you need is out there on the Internet - on the CIC websites, on forums such as canadavisa.com, etc. Please, there is no excuse for anyone to say I was misled or misguided or conned by some rogue consultancy. Do take their input if you have to but try to cross-check with other sources as well.
All the best to everyone!
Sikander
