Canada Student Visa Application : Tips for successful application

 

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION:

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IN CHOOSING THE PROVINCE...

 1. If you are a SINGLE applicant, check the PR pathways available for your prospect province/s and decide what's highly doable. Here are some for your ref:

• CEC - Needs 1 year Canadian work experience under NOC 0/A/B jobs. Part-time work during your studies are not counted. So choose a program which will qualify you for at least 2 years of PGWP.

• OINP (Ontario) - Stream comes and goes so after graduation, make sure to prepare the requirements (eligible job offer, support from employer etc)
• SINP (Saskatchewan)
• AIPP (Atlantic Provinces)
• And so on. There are 12 provinces in Canada, each with its own Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

 2. For skilled workers: Check for the province where your skills (from work experience & educ background) are in-demand. This will help you land a job faster.

 3. For those with OWP: Same as #2 and where employment opportunity is the highest especially if your OWP has work experience under NOC 0/A/B. This will help speed up your PR application via CEC with OWP as the main PR applicant, SP as the dependent.

IN CHOOSING THE PROGRAM & SCHOOL...

 1. Think first about your FUTURE PLANS. Yes, given na PR is our end goal. But first, you have to prove sa VO na your studies in Canada and the cost of it makes sense.

• Magtatayo/magma-manage ng own or family business? Kamusta ang kitaan sa business na ito in the recent 2 years? Gawan nyo ng short business plan & rev model to be presented sa SOP.
• Maga-apply for higher job post? Magkano yung target (and additional salary vs. current) annual salary ng position na ito and marami bang employment opportunities? Gawan nyo ng job listing from Jobstreet, Glassdoor etc and gawing attachment when you lodge your application. Make sure to include the links and may salary to prove your salary claim. Better if you can list 10+ listings. Mine had 20+.
  
  As a helpful guide, compute for your ROI na mababawi mo yung lahat ng ginastos within 3 years after completing your studies. Formula is Total Cost is equal or less than Additional Income multiplied by 36 mos.
• Change career? This one is tricky. Use the "Search" tool in this group to read for related success stories. The key is how you will present it sa VO that the shift makes sense. It could be out of passion, profitable talent to hone etc.

 2. Select a program that matches your target PR pathway & Future Plans. You should have answered:

• Length of studies (1 yr, 2 yrs or more)
• What field? Business Ad, Healthcare, Eng'g etc.
• Qualification (Post-Sec, Postgrad, MA)

 3. Find a school that matches your budget and other preferences.

• Can you afford a Master's Degree? If not, most public colleges offer business programs. Ganun din sa ibang line of studies. Mine is only 25k CAD, total na yun for 2 years (Postgrad - International Business).
• Check the class schedule. With my school, I only have classes 3x a week. So I have 4 full days to fit in a part-time job.
• Contact a school coordinator. Halos lahat libre ang LOA processing basta walang charges from the school itself. Meron ding schools na waived ang IELTS for Filipinos. They can also give suggestions based on your work & educ background if they have the chance. But wag nyong iasa yun sa kanila. Do your homework.

WHAT DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT?

 1. Create a GCKEY account. This is where you will lodge your visa application. Libre lang 'to and you can do it as early as now. You will be asked a series of questions and based on your answers, ipapakita sayo ng system what docs and IMM forms you need to submit.

 2. DO YOUR RESEARCH. I can't emphasize this enough. Every application is unique and ikaw lang ang nakakaalam if ano ang pwedeng maging grounds for refusal mo. The more you know, the better your chances in addressing those grounds on your SOP.

Also, find for successful applications na similar sa situation mo. Single app ka ba? May OWP? May kids? Some members may have listed down everything on their approval post. From there, compare, contrast and consolidate, and make the final version your bible.

OTHER TIPS:
1. Use the "Search" tool in this group to read for related success stories.
2. Find your "own people". Ka-school, ka-intake, kasabay mag-lodge, ka-city/province etc. This helped me connect with my schoolmates, batchmates and eventual housemates dito sa 
3. If you are SP+OWP na CLP, you can refer to my post on "How to strengthen your proof of Common-Law Partnership". Link in the comments section.
4. Lastly, wag mahiyang magtanong. But make sure na you do your research ha. Kasi minsan ilang beses nang nasagot yung same question 

Good luck with your application! 

Original post by Kaye Intal