Study Visa Refusal | Sept 2021 Intake | want to change the course | 216(1) IRPR Section | 8 year experience

[fatehparminder]

Hi,

I hope you all will be doing great. I applied for the study visa for the fall, 2021 intake. I got the refusal on 14 July 2021. I have applied for the GCMS Notes, didn't get yet.

Study Permit Details

• College: Sault College (Publicly funded)
• Program: Cyber Security - Canadian Context (2 years)
• Program Type: Post Graduation Diploma - 2 years
• Intake: September 2021

Note: After the refusal, I got to know that SOP was not added to my application file.

My Profile

• IELTS:
  • Listening: 7
  • Reading: 7
  • Speaking: 6.5
  • Writing: 6.5
  • Overall: 7
• Education
  • MCA (2013, Regular, 63%)
  • BCA (2011, Regular, 62%)
  • 12th (2007, 55%, Arts (Political Science, Economics, Physical Education))
  • 10th (2005, 60%)
• Experience
  • 8 years experience
  • Working as a Senior Software Engineer (Web application developer) Since 2013 (without any gap)
• DOB
  • 1989

Refusal Note:

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, as stipulated in subsection 216(1) of the IRPR, based on the purpose of your visit.
• Your proposed studies are not reasonable in light of: your qualifications, previous studies, mark sheets, academic record, level of establishment and/or your future prospects and plans.

The reason behind the refusal what I feel now
I had only two options at that time; either Project Mgmt for 1 year or Cyber Security for 2 years. I opt for Cyber Security because of 3 years work permit after completing 2 years study program. After the refusal, I came to know that my program was irrelevant because it was more specifically for the guys related to the networking in other words for network engineers.

Now I want to re-apply with the Project Management program, and I can strongly prove why I want to go for this course.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! Will changing the course reduce my chances to get approval for the study visa?


Thank you

 

[Naturgrl]

You have poor grades in your MCA and BCA but now want to take a PM course. Why spend thousands on a PM course when it can be taken in your home country? PM is a global program. How does it help your career? You are a software engineer so how does it advance your career when a PM course can be taken online and part-time.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

You need to do Masters

 

[fatehparminder]

You have poor grades in your MCA and BCA but now want to take a PM course. Why spend thousands on a PM course when it can be taken in your home country? PM is a global program. How does it help your career? You are a software engineer so how does it advance your career when a PM course can be taken online and part-time.

I think grades matter for getting an offer letter from the institution. And PM definitely helps SSE to elevate the designation. For instance, Team Leader will be my next designation. PM is designed for those who want to become Either TL or PM. Each and every course can be done in India, we have got many institutions in India. If that would be the case then I don't think any student gets a study visa.

There are some PM programs, specially designed for IT engineers. We can create a strong SOP for the PM course. I am just wondering about changing the course. Will changing the course reduce my chances of visa approval.

 

[Naturgrl]

I think grades matter for getting an offer letter from the institution. And PM definitely helps SSE to elevate the designation. For instance, Team Leader will be my next designation. PM is designed for those who want to become Either TL or PM. Each and every course can be done in India, we have got many institutions in India. If that would be the case then I don't think any student gets a study visa.

There are some PM programs, specially designed for IT engineers. We can create a strong SOP for the PM course. I am just wondering about changing the course. Will changing the course reduce my chances of visa approval.

Colleges will give you admissions because you are paying high fees as an international student. The VO states your grades are poor for getting a study permit, not admissions. Do a masters and you have a better chance.

 

[fatehparminder]

Colleges will give you admissions because you are paying high fees as an international student. The VO states your grades are poor for getting a study permit, not admissions. Do a masters and you have a better chance.

I have applied for GCMS notes. If the reason for the refusal would be my grades then I will not re-apply. As you are a VIP member, please let me know if you have seen such cases where candidates changed the course/program after the refusal, and they got their study visas. This is the only thing that makes me apprehensive.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

I have applied for GCMS notes. If the reason for the refusal would be my grades then I will not re-apply. As you are a VIP member, please let me know if you have seen such cases where candidates changed the course/program after the refusal, and they got their study visas. This is the only thing that makes me apprehensive.

Of course, changing your program is not great and not advised if you have already selected a good program. However, your program choice is poor in your case, but the PM course you are suggesting is as bad if not worse. There is also a sense that you are trying to convince us or yourself that it isn't the course but rather the SOP which is the main factor in your refusal. The problem is while SOP is an important part, it won't do a thing if the rest of your application is garbage.

To an outsider, there are some key red flags:

• Poor grades
• Poor choice of program. Why do a PGDM when you have 8 years of experience? These courses are aimed at recent graduates
• The title of the program literally says Canadian Context so you might as well say that you plan on staying in Canada afterward
• Low ranking college

I've seen hundreds of applicants come and go on this forum and it is not to say that poor applications aren't approved because sometimes they are. Study permit applications are a game of probability in a way; you can have a poor application and get still approved as well as have a great application and still be refused. Most people try and maximize that probability through factors that they can control such as program choice, institution credibility, SOP, finances, and more. If I had to give you a chance though, I would give you a 0-20% chance meaning there's a chance, however not a strong one. So it is up to you if you want to take that chance. Who knows, you might get approved or you might not. Just remember each refusal makes it more difficult the next time you apply

 

[fatehparminder]

Of course, changing your program is not great, and not advised if you have already selected a good program. However, your program choice is poor in your case, but the PM course you are suggesting is as bad if not worse. There is also a sense that you are trying to convince us or yourself that it isn't the course but rather the SOP which is the main factor in your refusal. The problem is while SOP is an important part, it won't do a thing if the rest of your application is garbage.

To an outsider, there are some key red flags:

• Poor grades
• Poor choice of program. Why do a PGDM when you have 8 years of experience? These courses are aimed at recent graduates
• The title of the program literally says Canadian Context so you might as well say that you plan on staying in Canada afterward
• Low ranking college

I've seen hundreds of applicants come and go on this forum and it is not to say that poor applications aren't approved because sometimes they are. If I had to give you a chance though, I would give you a 0-20% chance meaning there's a chance, however not a strong one. So it is up to you if you want to take that chance. Who knows, you might get approved or you might not. Just remember each refusal makes it more difficult the next time you apply

I don't have any other option than to change the program. The older program is irrelevant because of its Canadian context. I am left with the only SOP that can help me to get my visa. I will give it one more try. What changes you would suggest for re-applying?

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Since I'm in a good mood, I'll give you some free advice as to what I would do if I was in your situation.

Option A: Apply for the University of Winnipeg PGDM (PACE). Still a PGDM but doing it at a well-known university will increase your chances as opposed to these joker colleges
Option B: Apply for the Centennial/Humber/Seneca 1 year grad certificate program, then use that as a springboard to get into the University of Victoria or University of Guelph's 1 year Master of Cybersecurity program. You can use this line of reasoning in your SOP as well.
Option C: Never thought I'd say that but in your case, it is not a bad option. Apply for Northeastern Toronto's MS Cybersecurity program. Your grades aren't too great and Northeastern doesn't have the best reputation in Toronto but it is a Master's program (on paper) so it is a marriage of convenience.

Good luck.

 

[fatehparminder]

Since I'm in a good mood, I'll give you some free advice as to what I would do if I was in your situation.

Option A: Apply for the University of Winnipeg PGDM (PACE). Still a PGDM but doing it at a well-known university will increase your chances as opposed to these joker colleges
Option B: Apply for the Centennial/Humber/Seneca 1 year grad certificate program, then use that as a springboard to get into the University of Victoria or University of Guelph's 1 year Master of Cybersecurity program. You can use this line of reasoning in your SOP as well.
Option C: Never thought I'd say that but in your case, it is not a bad option. Apply for Northeastern Toronto's MS Cybersecurity program. Your grades aren't too great and Northeastern doesn't have the best reputation in Toronto but it is a Master's program (on paper) so it is a marriage of convenience.

Good luck.

Thank you for the advice

 

[fatehparminder]

If anyone changed the program/course after the refusal and re-applied then PLEASE share your experience. I am still looking for my answer.

 

[fatehparminder]

Since I'm in a good mood, I'll give you some free advice as to what I would do if I was in your situation.

Option A: Apply for the University of Winnipeg PGDM (PACE). Still a PGDM but doing it at a well-known university will increase your chances as opposed to these joker colleges
Option B: Apply for the Centennial/Humber/Seneca 1 year grad certificate program, then use that as a springboard to get into the University of Victoria or University of Guelph's 1 year Master of Cybersecurity program. You can use this line of reasoning in your SOP as well.
Option C: Never thought I'd say that but in your case, it is not a bad option. Apply for Northeastern Toronto's MS Cybersecurity program. Your grades aren't too great and Northeastern doesn't have the best reputation in Toronto but it is a Master's program (on paper) so it is a marriage of convenience.

Good luck.

Hi buddy, I applied for the PM program (May 2022 intake) at Seneca and the University of Winnipeg. I got the offer from Seneca but the University of Winnipeg will communicate the decision by 15th Sept. Seneca's program is more specific to my profile, it is Project Management - Information Technology. Should I wait for the decision from Winnipeg? how about Seneca college?

 

[adcastro]

@

Hi buddy, I applied for the PM program (May 2022 intake) at Seneca and the University of Winnipeg. I got the offer from Seneca but the University of Winnipeg will communicate the decision by 15th Sept. Seneca's program is more specific to my profile, it is Project Management - Information Technology. Should I wait for the decision from Winnipeg? how about Seneca college?

@fatehparminder how's your study permit application going?