fogusbogus-blog

[fogusbogus-blog]

The Back door

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” - Matthew 7:7

Often times, we asked and the door was opened. However, we don’t have the wisdom to recognize the tricks of opportunity.

“Opportunity knocks once.” But not in my case. It keeps on presenting itself to me but all I’ve done is to waste those.

Just a recap of my previous post, I got nominated for 2nd time application thru MPNP, but my friend revoked the sponsorship. And below opportunities were wasted because of the 2nd application with MPNP:

1) 2015 - NS RLMS - Nova Scotia Regional Labour Market Stream

I did not take the risk to apply at the same time with MPNP. All my documents were ready at that time and I am eligible for the Provincial program. 

2) 2015 - FSW (Non Express Entry)

I did not intend to apply due to the pending 2nd re-application of MPNP. My NOC was listed as occupation in demand. All documents were also ready. I did not risk to apply too due to fear of trying or causing my MPNP application to be rejected.

3) 2015 - NB Info Session - July 2015

New Brunswick was unknown province of Canada to me at that time. NBPNP appears promising as you don’t need a sponsor/friend to be able to move to this province. The process and requirements slowly sinked in to me, submit EOI, attendance in the Information Session the province had conducted, NOC list, then later on you will be invited to apply to their province. 

Still wasted, as I came to know the info session in Manila was over.

4) 2016 - NB - June 2016 Info Session

I am successful to register early quarter of the year for Aug 2016 Info Session. The schedule was moved a month earlier, June 2016. IELTS re-take done, Info Session done. My IELTS score was low and brought me a score of 65/100. Still unlucky to receive instant ITA’s from this Info Session nor to submit EOI. Work around, my wife need to take IELTS, OR I need to re-take IELTS as quickly as possible and get high scores.

Neither me nor my wife took the exam on same year as our attention got diverted due to my company relocating me from SG to California. Making the story short, it did not manifest after 6 months of process. Back to square one, USA nor Canadian dream was over. This time, I wanted to give up.

Then came 2017, missed opportunities still lurking around. As Napoleon Hill said, “Opportunities is tricky. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.”

And that is exactly what my experiences were. So I go on, fierce and focus this time. I said to my self, “I will be one of the immigrant that will come to Canada this year of 2017.”

Feb 2017 - NB AIPP Info Session, missed again. Reason, lack of monitoring  NB website. I registered into Info Session by Canadian Embassy Manila last March 2017, but was just a pure Information Session. Stirs my frustration and fuels more of my desire.

We decided to pursue the June 2016 Info Session that I attended. IELTS re-take done, my wife IELTS done in Feb 2017. But truly, opportunity is tricky NB EOI for priority 2 closed at the time we’ve decided to push thru our NB ticket to Canadian dream. Depression gives in for a while, but I continue to pray and ask for another chance.

SINP was the answer last Feb 2017. But same story goes, wasted. Returned application after 1.5 months due to missing documents. I am truly ignorant and first time to login into their site and it was open at that time. Filled up information as the time ticks, pressured to submit the application without reading that there were documents required to upload. As a consequence, failed again.

Instead of giving up, the desire becomes more stronger. The goal is getting more clearer. I joined whatsapp group to get some useful information and to share my journey as well. 

My big break came June 2017, but challenges still present along the way. There was no straight path, but I accepted the risks wholeheartedly. And with guidance from Above I carry on.

June 28, 2017 - OINP announced that they will search below 400 CRS score. I am one of the lucky person who received NOI a day after. My CRS score is 321, NOC 2281. I did not waste a time, I’ve read their application guide.

I learnt from the guide that ECA need to be Bachelors degree. On same day I called the OINP office and confirmed the same. My ECA from WES is 3 yrs diploma. I was advised to either do a) re-assessment from different ECA body or b) challenge WES for the result of my ECA.

I did both, but till now option b has no response. Below were the obstacle course I’ve gone thru to get the option a done.

Obstacle 1) - TOR requirement from school for ECA re-assessment. I came from PUP, ECE 5 yr course. As per my previous experience TOR took 60 days. 

-PUP website says 30 days (it is a working days not calendar days) for original TOR. 15 days for Certified True Copy of TOR. Thus I go for CTC.

-Phoned the registrar to see if expedite is an option, and yes it was. The process cuts down to 7 working days.

-I also requested the registrar to scan a copy of the CTC of TOR to ICES.

Obstacle 2) - Choosing which other ECA body will be more faster and might give me a bachelors degree.

-I chose ICES because a rush service is availale as I am bounded by time.

NOI is valid for 6 months from the date you received it, however you need to act fast enough to secure a seat. If the OINP HCP EE stream closes, then your NOI is just another waste. No one know when will the stream will re-open, and you won’t know if the time it re-opens if your NOI is still valid.

Obstacle 3) - Registering NOI into OINP.

-Although NOI is valid for 6 months, registering as quickly as possible is advised to secure a file number in OINP portal. However, it is a game of trade, once registered, must submit a complete application within 2 weeks. Without my ECA re-assessed I am not ready to risk the 1500 cad application fee yet.

Obstacle 4) - ECA result delivery delayed due to bad weather condition

-I don’t know if my re-assessment will lead me to something good. I paid 400 + courier fee for the rush service. It was assessed quickly, I guess it took only 1 day to assess my ECA. I am supposed to receive it 24 July 2017, but due to bad weather condition it was delivered 27 July 2017.

Obstacle 5) -  OINP HCP EE stream closed on 25 July 2017.

-It sound wasted as the program closed, I did not register my NOI under my account.

-BUT, good thing I registered a dummy account last 13 July 2017. Taking note of 2 weeks from registration and without knowing if OINP officer will allow me to utilize my dummy account, I started uploading documents into the dummy account. As the OINP office opened, I called them, discussed the ECA on the way, they agreed to utilize my dummy account and change my dummy account’s full name and birth date. Applicant has no way of modifying full name and birth date.

-Trusting God, I submitted my OINP application without the ECA, I was given a go signal to submit and attached LOE that ECA is on its way, to follow. Also, submitted document for change of personal details (from dummy name to real name). If my ECA result is bachelors degree, then I made a very good decision. If turns out not, then 1500 cad application fee will go down the drain.

-After submission, I called ICES and discuss my current situation. The officer agreed to divulge the equivalency over the phone. Which “supposedly” not allowed to do so. ECA result, it was “Bachelors Degree, 4 yrs”

Here is my OINP & CIC Timeline:

OINP

26 Jul 2017- Submitted

28 Jul 2017- Assessment

20 Aug 2017- Awaiting Information

24 Aug 2017- DIP - Decision in Progress

28 Aug 2017- Nominated/Approved

02 Sep 2017- Received OINP certificate

CIC

06 Sep 2017 - ITA received

25 Sep 2017- AOR

26 Oct 2017- Medical passed

We are still waiting for PPR, praying everyday for every stage of our application.

By the way, our obstacle course does not end in OINP stage, it also goes with CIC stage. As we did our medicals, I was diagnosed with hypertension. Aside from creatinine test, I was referred to cardiologist. Stress test and 2D echo results were not satisfactory. It denotes some cardio problems, CT scan was done. Result was also not impressive due to one artery with moderate stenosis. Ended up a need to do angiogram + FFR test. FFR test result was good enough to get cleared from cardiologist, and angioplasty was not necessary.

I am sharing my experiences, to give glory to God and to inspire those who struggle kick off their Canadian dream. I would say, chase for your dream, always pray for wisdom and guidance from Above and He will make a way!

#BeStillandKnowthatIamGod

[fogusbogus-blog]

The Start

I started to take IELTS last 2012, initially planned to apply to Australia. However, my scores came short of .5 to meet band score  7 for each component. Writing was the only component that met the requirement.

As an alternative, I started checking on Canada. This was the start of our journey.

I found Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program appealing that time, however I needed some strong ties in form of friend the least. I searched and talked to every friends that I am aware that resides in Manitoba, and no luck at all. Either they were hesitant to sponsor for valid reasons, or they have families/friends already on queue.

Early 2013, I am lucky enough my friend said yes to be my sponsor. However, we waited for a few months for my friend to be an eligible sponsor. Second quarter of the same year I lodged the application. It was processed fast, September 2013 both sponsor and myself were interviewed by the officer. As a result, we didn’t demonstrate that we knew each other for long, in short refused application. I can re apply after 6 months.

Last month of the first quarter of 2014, I was able to resubmit my application. My sponsor is still same person. He nor his wife don’t have anyone yet on queue. This time it took quite a while, 19 months passed, and we were interviewed by MPNP officer. We nailed it this round.

I received LOA last week of November 2015. Then, a week after approval, my sponsor asked to loan him 10k cad. His reason, he wanted to buy a 200k cad house in Winnipeg. And in order for his mortgage application to get approved, he need to have a show off of 5% of the 200k cad in his savings.

To cut the story short, I did not lend him the 10kcad. As a result, he wrote an email to MPNP office and revoked his sponsorship. It caused me to became ineligible of the program although I was already nominated. The program requirement must have a strong connection ties in form of friend at least, and I lost it.

Moving on February 2016, I officially received correspondence from MPNP office regarding my ineligibility of the program.

I’m totally devastated of the outcome and how our friendship ended up. But I’m not giving up on my dream, I am picking up myself and I will get back up again.

Thank you for reading, till my next post!

#failures