Get Informed Session: #6- Profile Background
'I am a graduate, I did not find any form of economic activity that will earn me significant income, so I am tired of the stress of Nigeria, I need to get out. I will go and apply for a study permit to Canada'
The above scenario is the case of many applicants, the VO will see right through this and is very likely to refuse the applicant's study permit application. The Deputy Canadian High Commission in Lagos amongst many of the other diplomatic missions it has in Nigeria is also there to gather intel or information about the socio-economic situation of the country, analyze and interpret the data. The information gathered from the analysis will be used to determine which Nigerian applicant can be issued a visa or which one is of high risk and should be refused.
So an applicant who graduated from the University and is not gainfully employed should not expect to get approval. Recently, the embassy has started to put in refusal letters 'I am not confident that the applicant will return to his/her home country because of the limited employment prospects in his/her home country'... The meaning of this is that showing strong ties to your country is no longer sufficient for the embassy, you need to show that there are ample employment prospects for you as an applicant on completion of your studies in Nigeria. Now the economic situation in Nigeria is not your fault, you have no control over it, yet the VO will penalize you for it. So unless your father is Dangote or a Senator, or some rich billionaire who may be able to set you up on a business of your own, the chances of getting a study permit as an ordinary citizen is very low.
If you are single, and you are not working or you are underemployed or being paid less than N300k per month as your salary, your chances of convincing the visa officer of your financial capacity and intention to return to your home country will be very low.
If you are married with a family, and you are earning less than N600k-1MM per month, you will also struggle to convince the VO of your capacity to fund your studies and also intention to return to your home country. Another important factor to consider in this area is where you are working. Say if you are a graduate associate at KPMG, MTN, GTBank/Zenith/, PWC, Nigerian Breweries, and you have worked in such places for the past 2-4 years, then you are in a better position to demonstrate to the VO that you have gained work experience, and there is a value you bring to the Nigerian labour market that will still be relevant and sort after upon your return. But you have no work experience, or you are working with Emeka & Ihedioha brothers Nigeria limited (Basically a company that those not have an international reputation yet), or you are doing what is popularly referred to as handwork, fashion, hairdressing, selling hair accessories or any form of informal business that is not registered and not bringing in cool money, you are unlikely to get your permit approved.
So if you are a graduate and you know you come from a humble background, this is my sincere suggestion, try and get a good job in Nigeria with a reputable company, work for 2-4 years, perhaps travel on holiday to Dubai, UK or US during that time, then now apply for Canadian study permit, you will most likely get it... It will show in your application that though you are from a humble background, you have been able to make something for your self in Nigeria, hence job prospects for you are very plausible, hence you may be considered for visa approval, but in the absence of this, and a rich senator father or businessman, you are unlikely to get the permit.
I know it sounded as if I was repeating myself, but I just want to be clear about the whole thing.
I wish you all the best.
Omofar