Language Skills (CELPIP, IELTS and TEF) Reviewers

To measure your ability to speak in English or in French, you need to provide proof of your Language Skills.

Language Skills are one of the eligibility factors that you need, to earn points to be eligible to the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada.

In order to measure your ability in speaking English, you need to take one of this English test:

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program

or 

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

If you have knowledge on French language, you can also take the the test and provide the result as your proof.

TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

Reviewers for Language Skills (CELPIP, IELTS & TEF)
If you think that your language skills is not enough for the tests, you need to go for a reviewer.  If you fail, you need to take the test again until you get the points required by the FSW Program.

To make sure you have a good result, you can go to the Review Centers to review for you English or French Language and have to pay for the review fees.

On the other hand, you can also review at your own by purchasing the following review materials:

CELPIP Reviewer

CELPIP Preparation Course - CELPIP General with answers is a preparation coursebook, created to help you achieve a higher level of success on your exam. With many activities practicing all areas of the exam ,(writing, reading, listening and speaking) not only will you gain insight into the exam but your overall level of English will improve.  

Topics covered include money, transportation, the environment, working life, food, family and technology. Each unit focuses on a different Canadian city, giving you information and a bit of history while helping you prepare for the exam. 

With easy to understand brief grammar descriptions, loads of extra activities and helpful tips in the Appendix, this book is all you need! The answers also provide further information and more in-depth instruction and explanation.

IELTS Reviewer

IELTS Official Practice Materials 2 - 

The book contains:

• Practice tests for Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (both Academic and General Training); 
• Listening, Reading and Writing answer sheets; 
• Listening and Reading practice test answer keys and Listening tapescripts; 
• Sample candidate Writing responses and examiner comments; 
• Sample candidate Speaking tests and examiner comments. 
• The DVD contains a Listening test for candidates to practise and film footage of three students taking the Speaking test.

Cambridge IELTS Reviewer

Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS -  It contains all you need to succeed in the exam. Skill-building exercises cover all of the question types in the exam for both the General Training and Academic Modules. 

They have researched into real IELTS candidates' exam answers - and the mistakes they make, helps you avoid the same ones! Eight official practice tests and a focus on test-taking strategy help you maximise your score. 

The DVD-ROM includes videos of the Speaking test, and all the listening material, including the tests, as MP3 files. 

IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

TEF French Language Reviewer

For the French language reviewer, you can purchase this material.

TEF: Test D'Evaluation de Francais - The book helps you to be prepared to the exam measuring your level of knowledge in French.

Ultimate French Reviewer

The Ultimate French Review and Practice - This book gives you a good grasp of grammar so you can build your skills and confidence in communication. 

Each grammatical concept is explained and illustrated with engaging sentence examples; you'll also get extensive exercises offer practice at applying this knowledge in everyday conversation.

This book/CD-ROM package includes:

• More than 400 exercises, in addition to 200 exercises on the accompanying CD-ROM
• A Pre-Test that identifies your strengths and weaknesses and a Post-Test that helps you review your progress, both on the CD-ROM
• Bonus online content, including audio exercises as well as internet-based activities focused on key cultural website across the French-speaking world.

My Experience in Taking IELTS Exam in Singapore
I took my IELTS exam in Singapore, particularly at the British Council.

There are two posts that I made on How to take IELTS in Singapore and When To Take IELTS?. You can also check the IELTS test centers there.

How to Send Your Test Result to Canada?
Once you have completed the test, the test center will send you the results through mail.  This is in a form of a certificate with indicated band scores.  The copy that they are sending at you home is an original.

You will send this ORIGINAL copy with your Full application to Canada.

I hope that this post can help you with your application.  If you like this post or appreciate the author, please tick the LIKE button below.

DISCLOSURE: I am an affiliate with Amazon.com, the items that you will buy from that website when you click from the above links will give me a commission.  Thank you for the help and patronizing my affiliate products.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

Important: Please read the DISCLAIMER Page

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

FREE eBook on Eligibility Assessment for FSW Canada 2014

If you are starting or planning to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada, and don't know what to do initially?  You are at the right blog post.

Planning to migrate to Canada is tough, but actually doing it is really difficult (10 times).  This is true especially when you don't know what are the first baby steps.

How Did I Started My FSW Canada Application?
I was clueless, few years ago, on how to do my first moves.  Research through online forums and blogs are quite helpful but I have to consolidate all that information.

Forums are usually difficult to digest since all the information there are sometimes unorganized.

Some people will advise you to do this and that and will be different from others.  It's just so hard to know who's right and wrong.

When I applied using the DIM (Did It  Myself) for my FSW Canada, I stumbled a lot of hardships.

Lucky enough that I have the enthusiasm to finish the Full Application. If not, I would end up procrastinating.

This is not an ordinary application. For me, it is the most tiring and the difficulty level is too high.  I had applied so many applications involving documents all my life, back when I went to United Arab Emirates, Getting a Visa in China and applying for Permanent Resident in Singapore.

The FSW Program in Canada is the ultimate application process that I had...with a difficulty level of 9 is to 10 against others, which is below 7.

What Can I Offer to New Applicants for FSW Canada?
The hardships and the pain, I experienced them all.  That is why I want to help new applicants so as to ease their pain.

If you have time for this application, you don't need to ask for any service from the immigration agencies.  Buying time comes with a big price because "Time is GOLD".  I've done this route and I will tell my story about it in other posts.

So, I made a FREE eBook, titled as the Eligibility Reference Guide for FSW Canada 2014, intended for new applicants who wants to know if they are eligible to apply for the FSW Canada.

Take note, this is the crucial first steps that you should do before applying for the program.

This reference FREE eBook is:

•  FREE
• To verify your eligibility to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program in Canada.
• For the FSW applications only and cannot be used for the province of Quebec.
• Applicable for applicants outside Canada.
• May be applicable for applicants with prospected employers in Canada and under a PHD Category. (Please check for other requirements at the Canadian website)
• The Property of 
• BenAlagnam.com and 
• MeMovingToCanada 
• Can be shared to other applicants and friends as well.  They can also visit the websites anytime.
• Cannot be printed as other words had links to some important websites and documents online.

I hope that this can help you with your application.  If you like this post or appreciate the author, please tick the LIKE button below.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

Important: Please read the DISCLAIMER Page

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Disclaimer Page

I noticed that there were no views at my Disclaimer Page, which is located at the top of the navigation bar.  This is to remind you that it is the most important page that you should read first.

Reading my blog is the coolest of all because you can earn a lot of knowledge about the Federal Skilled Worker Program of Canada.  But, you must be reminded that I'm not a lawyer, a representative of the Canadian government or a consultant of any agencies for immigration.

My background is in Engineering, it happened that I was able to submit my application to Canada. We have undergone with our my Medical and is waiting for the BIG result, which is the Permanent Residence Visa.

This post is to remind you that everything I had or will answer here is based on my own experience and the knowledge that I gained from the information online.

You should verify three times before you decide to take my advice.  It's a common sense, everything you do in your decisions should be subjected to second opinions or more. This is the same thing as when you have a bad medical condition.

Helping other people is my hobby, this is what I do since the start of my blog in Singapore on 2010, which is BenAlagnam.com.  It is all about the life of an Overseas Filipino Worker, which happened to be me.

When I started to file my application to Canada, I realized that I need to record all the procedures that I experienced so people can learn from them also.   This is the best thing that I did because someone, like me, who has no idea about Do It Yourself  application can change the way he thinks about the FSW application procedure.

The goal of this blog is to educate more applicants about the FSW Program and until they will make it to Canada.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

Important: Please read the DISCLAIMER Page

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

What To Do With Not Applicable Forms?

There is a good question asked by an applicant at the ASK ME section, and I thought that it's essential to share this to you as well.  So I made a dedicated post for this.

Question from Tun: "In the Document Checklist form, it mentions that "If you are unable to provide any of the requested documentation, include with your application, a written explanation with full details as to why that documentation is unavailable.........."

For example, 

• Additional Dependants Declaration (IMM0008DEP) , 
• Use of a representative (IMM5476) , 
• Arrange Employment etc...

are not applicable to me. So do I need to write anything for these documents Or just leave it untick on the Checklist form?"

Thanks a lot for this valuable question Tun.

What to do with forms that are not applicable to the applicant?

This is quite simple but an important circumstance.  

DO NOT to submit the form, unless there's a signature needed on it or a blank tick box that needed you to tick, together with your application.

In the Document Checklist (IMM 5612), there are tick boxes at the third column of each and every required documents.  All you have to do is to Cross-out the box that is not applicable to you.

Example:

If you are single or have 5 or less dependents, you do not need to submit the form Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP) together with your application and put a Cross-out (X) at the box provided.  See the image below.

A Letter of Explanation if You Cannot Submit the Required Document

If you can not submit a required letter, it's either;

• you cannot produce such document
• it is only available at a later date
• It is only available upon request

You need to include with your application, a written explanation with full details as to why that documentation is unavailable.

For the first two reasons, you need to write a good reason for not having those documents.  It is a cases to case basis, so I cannot explain it further.

For those documents that are only available upon request, like the Singapore Police Clearance, you need to wait for the letter of request from the Embassy of Canada.

For the meantime, you may include in your application a letter explaining the circumstances.

In my own experience, I sent a letter to the Canadian Embassy stating that I cannot produce the Singapore Police Clearance because I need to have the request from embassy.  

Then I included in my explanation that I cannot produce yet my Philippine NBI clearance, for me and my spouse, since it is only valid for 1 year.  (If you want an example of the letter, email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com).

I hope that this can help you with your application.  If you like this post or appreciate the author, please tick the LIKE button below.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

Important: Please read the DISCLAIMER Page

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Accredited Assessors for Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) FSW Canada 2014

One of the requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program to immigrate to Canada is the Educational Credential Assessment or is shortly known as the ECA.

You need to send your credential to one of the accredited assessors in order for your foreign credentials assessed for the equivalent number of years of studies in Canada.

You can choose your preferred assessor according to your budget and convenience.

They may differ in the fees of their services but at the end of the day, you will get the equivalency report.  You can click each link below to know more about them and their in-house procedures .

List of Accredited Assessors for Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) 2014

Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies


International Credential Assessment Service of Canada



World Education Services


Medical Council of Canada (for professional body)

Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body)

My Experience in Getting my Credential Assessment at WES
For my ECA, I took the services of World Education Services.  First of all, I found their service fees the cheapest.

I am not in a hurry at that time so mailing documents to WES, for me, is not an issue for a regular or an express.

For my first impression of WES, their website is user friendly and easy to understand.

By the way, I made a blog post on this at this link Credential Assessment for Canadian FSW at WES.  In that post, you can read the detailed story of how I got my WES and how much are my expenses for the whole process.

What To Expect After You Get the Result of Your ECA?
After the assessment of your credentials, the assessor will send you an original copy of the assessment result.  This original copy should be included in your full application for FSW CANADA.

The equivalent number of years of studies written in the report will be your bases for the points in your education eligibility factor.


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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Two College Degrees: How to Compute the Number of Years

What if you had 2 degrees in college, how do you compute for the total number of years of your studies?

To explain it further, I will use my experience as an example that suits this problem perfectly.

It happened that I got two Engineering Degrees in College, I'll just name it as Eng-1 and Eng-2.   Each degree is normally a 5-year course.

How Long Did I Finish My Two Degrees?

For the Eng-1, I finished it for just 4.5 instead of 5 years, it's because I was so excited to finish that course.  I was so enthusiastic back then.  

The school that I enrolled into allows us to take advance courses during summer.  So, I went to school to take the summer courses that was supposed to be taken on the next semester.  My classmates that did not took this program were overtaken.  

After finishing the Eng-1, now I have a vacant of 0.5 years, right?  Then I decided to take Eng-2.

Eng-2 is a 5-year engineering degree also, but the minor subjects from my Eng-1 are all credited so I just needed to finish the major subjects to graduate/finish the degree.  And, it took me 1 year to finish it.

To summarize my educational background, I had tabulated it below:

Summary

Eng-1 - 4.5 years

Eng-2 - 1.0 years

             5.5 actual years in school

How Did I Fill-up the Form IMM008 (FSW Canada) for My Two Degrees?

At the Schedule A Background Declaration (IMM5669) item #7- Education form, I counted the number of years of studies based on my secondary and post-secondary education in Philippines.

We have 6 years of elementary/primary school, which starts from Grade 1 to Grade 6 and  4 years in Secondary/High School from First Year to Fourth Year.

I indicated 6 years on the University/College.  Even though I have 5.5 actual years in this level but Eng-1 is a 5-year course and took another year for Eng-2, a total of 6 years.

For the Trade school or other post secondary school section, I left it as "0" because I don't have one.  But if you do have, like 1 or 2-year courses, you can indicate it there.

I guess had explained it here clearly. If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

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For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Certificate of Employment or Letter of Reference for FSW Canada Concerns

One of the requirements for FSW Canada application is to provide a Certificate of Employment or also called as Letter of Reference from your employer.

You need to provide all COEs from your employers for the last 10 years or from your 18th birthday (whichever is applicable).

What are the Problems When Getting a Certificate Of Employment?
1. The previous company was closed - The company had been closed and no longer in operation.  There is no way you can get a COE.

Suggestion: You can provide an affidavit from a lawyer stating that your previous company has already been closed and there is no way for you to contact the administration or Human Resources personnel handling the manpower records.  The letter should be notarized.

2. The Human Resource personnel will not provide customized format for COEs - Every company has its own rules regarding the format of the certificate.  Some HR personnel are too busy to attend to your request.  They don't want to create a new format just for you.

Suggestion: Create your own format in a Microsoft Word or any word processor with all the truthful details that is required by the CIC.  Then hand it over to the HR personnel inside the thumb drive or any other devices. Ask her if she can provide the COE with your format.  Don't forget to smile.  That is why you need to be friendly with the HR's.

3. The Human Resource personnel do not issue COE's - I am not sure of the legalities for companies that do not issue COE's.  If they really can not provide in spite of your persistence, then this is what I suggest.

Suggestion: Before you joined the company, you signed a contract to them, right?  Every month, you have your payslip with you.  And in Singapore, you have the In Principle Approval before you join the company.

These will be your proof that you are working with this company and you can insert a written letter addressed to Canada that your company does not provide COE's to their employers. 

4. The employer will only provide a standard format - These are usually multinational companies that has a large number of employees.  They can only give you a standard format.

Suggestion: You can combine the standard format COE and Suggestion #3.  Send this together with your application.

Details: 

Document 1. Create a COE like format but without the letterhead and with the complete details of your Job Description.  Let your supervisor or manager or the person higher than you, sign the document. The important thing is to show your Job Description there.

Document 2. Get a standard COE from your employer/HR.

Document 3. Make a letter explaining the reason why you can not provide a COE with the complete details as required by Canada.

Attach documents 1, 2 &3 together and include in your full application. 

My Experience in Securing the COE's
Based on my experience, I have done item #2 and 4.  I have worked for three companies and I have difficulties approaching them one by one.   You need to be persistent with a down-to-earth attitude.  Make a request with a kind approach and this will soften the HR personnel's heart.

This is true specially with my first employer.  It is a multinational company with over 1,000 employees.  I went straight to the HR Manager.

"Hi Ma'am, how are you?"I approached her with a smile.

"Fine, and you?" she replied.

"I have a very important request to ask you.", speaking closely next to her.  My eyes looks so sad like the Puss in Boots in Shrek.

I explained to her that I am planning to immigrate to Canada because the situation in the Philippines is not good (on 2002).  This is my opportunity to be in a better place with a greener pasture.  Then added that it would be for my future family.

"In order for me to apply, I need to request from you for a COE, but Canada has a required format so I typed it first in the MSWord, is it alright if you transfer it with the company letterhead?", showing him the disk (sorry this is still the year 2002).

After a week, she handed me the COE with her signature and I asked for her business card, which I attached with the letter.

The lesson here is that you need to be soft when talking with the HR.  Explain to them clearly what is your situation now and why are you migrating.  They will understand because they are only Humans.

Do you want a sample of the COE?
If you want to have a sample of the COE, Register to MM2C Community to download the document. Click the photo below.

Register to MM2C Community

SAMPLE Certificate of Employment - This is only a sample, do not copy and paste it as is.  This is only for your reference.  You change the format as necessary, the most important thing is that the details of the COE's are present .

The details like salary, company, and work descriptions inside the COE letter are all fictitious.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Why You Need to Update Your Adobe Acrobat for FSW?

The FSW Canada application forms are in the Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF format. Once you click the link at the RESOURCES page of my blog, it redirects your browser to a PDF reader.

Some of the forms works well with my reader, but one file is having a problem opening.  It's particularly the IMM0008ENU.

 Have you got this type of screen when you opened one of the FSW application forms?

Problem opening a FSW application form IMM0008ENU.

This means that your browser is not updated.  You need to install the latest PDF Acrobat Reader to your computer system.

I tried to install it in my computer system but when I tried it in Google Chrome, it doesn't work but prompted me to the same display again.

It works when I tried it with the internet explorer.  I'm not sure why it doesn't work with Google Chrome.

For the PDF files that doesn't open with Chrome, I used the IE instead.  If you know the reason why it doesn't open to my Chrome, please leave a comment below. Thanks.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

How to Fill Up the Forms That Lacks Spacing

You've just started filling up the forms for the FSW Canadian Immigration application and found that the space provided in the PDF file is not enough.

Then how do you fit the word "Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering" in the box provided?

At the form Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]item #7, for example, you can see that the boxes are too small for the long words.

You can type the abbreviated words in it but it will be informal and inappropriate if you don't type it completely.  There are tons of Degree names in the world and it would be difficult to trace that abbreviation.

We can do something about this though.

How to Fill Up The Forms If There are No More Space?

Actually, the form stated that the information can be type-written or hand-written.  There are two options that I can suggest.

Option 1 - Type all the words first for the answer of the questions that fits to the boxes and print the whole form, and those that does not fit should be written by hand.

Writing by hand should be in a clear and PRINTED manner so that it can be read clearly by the officer.

Option 2 - Type all words that fits at the other question boxes and type inside the description tab as "Pls. See Attached Sheet".

At a separate sheet of paper, you can create the whole table and indicate your name, title of the document form, and insert all your details.

If you want to view and get a copy of the sample form, you can email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com so I can share it to you at my Google Drive.

SAMPLE ATTACHMENT(Lack Spacing - Schedule A Background/Declaration

(Please send me an email if you want a link to the document)

How to Fill Up The Forms With More Than 5 Entries?
Another problem is that the forms have limited number of rows, especially at the form (Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]item #8 "Personal History").

The only option that I can suggest to you is to type in all the entries that fits to the form.  After the last entry, you will type at the Activity section as "Additional Details at Attached Sheet". It should look like this...

Then you need to create an attachment with your additional details and insert that right next to the form's page.

I made sample attachment sheet for your reference.  Please do take note that all contents on that sample sheet are all fictitious.

SAMPLE ATTACHMENT (Lack Spacing - Personal History)

(Please send me an email if you want a link to the document)

How to get the Sample Attachments?
Those who are interested, you can email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com so I can share the documents to you.   These documents are intended to those who are interested only, that is why I did not included it here.

Leave a message to me and please indicate the document that you want.

So now, your problem is solved and you can already fit the long words perfectly to the form.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Things To Do While Waiting for the Educational Credential Assessment Result

My readers had asked me about what is the best thing to do while waiting for the result of their Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

First of all, an applicant should know how much points he or she have, even without the ECA.

To compute for the eligibility points, you can visit the eligibility section at the RESOURCES page. By doing so, you can see how much points you need to qualify for the FSW program.  This is a crucial step because if your points are below 67, you will not be eligible to apply.

If you insist and send your application with your low eligibility points, Canada will return your application and it's a waste of time, effort and money on your part.

What if your points depends on the result of your ECA?  

Let's say:  You have 45 points in other eligibility factors.  Then what you are hoping for is your ECA result,  to get either 22 or 19 points. (Check the eligibility factors)

• If you get the 22, then your total is 67 and you're eligible to apply.   
• If you get 19, a total of 64 points, then you can not apply for the program.

Assuming that your points are just enough if you get the minimum points for your ECA, which is 67, then you can proceed on preparing your documents in parallel while waiting for the ECA result.  Otherwise, you have to wait for the result or be optimistic about it.

These are the things that you need to prepare while waiting for the ECA result:

1. Your Relative's Documents - if you have a relative in Canada who is a Canadian or a Permanent Resident and is included in the list of relatives for eligibility points, then you can start calling and informing them about your plans in migrating to Canada.  Let them know that you need some important documents from them.  You can check the list of documents in the form IMM5612 at item#11.  Take note that you need to establish a connection between your relative, that is why you need to provide his/her birth certificate.  If it's your Aunt, you also have to provide the birth certificate of your parent related to her.
2. Certificates of Employment - request all your COE's  from your previous employers for the last 10 years or from your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.  The current employer will not be required by this time, ask for it if all your documents are ready for submission.
3. Passport Renewal - you need to consider renewing your passport if it will expire sooner than 1 year.  The reason is that Canada will reply for around 6-9 months after the submission of your application.  Once you are approved, your passport should still be valid or it may be too late for you for renewal.  Canada will require you to renew it and will take more time to stamp your visa.
4. Gather Certificates - prepare all the birth certificates, marriage certificates for you, spouse and children.

I think the four items above are enough to get you busy within the 20 days of waiting for your ECA result.

These documents takes time and money to process that is why you need to organize your resources well.  Ask your relatives and friends for their vacant time to help you.  

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

How To Get an NBI Clearance in Singapore?

If the Canadian Embassy requests a copy of your NBI clearance, usually they will ask for a time limit of 1 to 2 months for you to submit.

The process will be easy if you are in the Philippines and given that you have no previous criminal record or have the same name (namesake) with a criminal record.  If you do, the result will show in the computer as "WITH HIT".

Read more >> If you have a "WITH HIT"

Where Do I Get a Copy of the NBI Clearance in Singapore?
What if you are working in other country and it's not possible for you to process it? Is there any way to solve your problem?

You should go to a Philippine Embassy at the country where you stay and inquire on how to get an NBI clearance.

In Singapore, you need to set an appointment with the Philippine Embassy by sending them an email at consular.sgpe@gmail.com and it may look like this.

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To: consular.sgpe@gmail.com

Subject: NBI Fingerprinting Appointment

Dear Sir/Ma'am,

May I request for an appointment for the NBI fingerprinting on ______ ?

Sincerely yours,
Ben
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To have an up to date procedure on how to get a copy of the NBI clearance in Singapore, please visit the official website of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.

The consular office is open for the slots of NBI Fingerprinting from Monday to Friday at 4pm to 5pm only.
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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Why You Need To Check Your Spam Folder Regularly?

When you submitted you application, you probably have experienced the FSWA syndrome.  It stands for Federal Skilled Worker Applicant syndrome.

This is probably not an abnormal feeling because almost everyone of us who applied for the FSW Canada felt the same way as you.

At this stage, you feel uneasy and it keeps you thinking about the future outcome of your application and whether you missed something or not.

The checking of emails, forums and blogs almost everyday is now your routine.  I tell you now that this is normal.  This will fade away in due time.

What Happens After Sending Your Application?

Once you have sent your application to Nova Scotia, Canada, this is the period where you are now a certified FSW applicant and a life changer to your family and your life.

What happens next is the waiting period.  Once your application arrives in Nova Scotia, it will be reviewed by the officers there.  They will check each of the documents that you've sent for any missing parts or incorrect documentation and this will be the basis on your eligibility.

This is the crucial part wherein the decision of pursuing your application or not is in their hands, the better you arrange your documents, the faster they can sort and process your application.  

The officers are also humans so they have their own ups and downs.  Don't make their sorting and inspection difficult for them.

Canada Emails Are Spams?

As soon as they finalize their decision on your application, they are going to send you a request notice for a medical exam or some documents to update.  This will be sent physically through letters to your home mailing address and virtually to your email inbox.

Ideally speaking, the email of CIC should go to the email Inbox.  But, based on my experience, some goes to the SPAM folder.  

Yes, it's only in the spam and you can retrieve it anytime...right? 50% WRONG!

If you have a Yahoo email, you can set the spam folder to clean itself at a set time.  I did this with mine.  Luckily, I realized that this feature is not a good idea at all and so I changed it immediately.

I received an email from the Canadian Embassy, Manila and I found it's in my Spam folder.  Lucky that I had not deleted it together with those spam emails.

Lessons learned: 

• Do not set your spam to auto delete 
• Always Check each spam for any important emails from Canada

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

Can A Cancer Survivor Apply For The Federal Skilled Worker Canadian Immigration?

What would you do if you found out at your doctor's office that you have cancer?  Does this make your life miserable or do you still fight for your dreams?

Cancer is one of the worst news that you'll be afraid to hear.  This might be a life threatening illness or a curable one.  Other people seemed to stop pursuing their dreams or career because they found out to have cancer.  They will then think that there is no more purpose in their life and no need to move on with it.

As of the moment, I don't have some serious illness "knock on wood", but someday it might come and it's only because we are human.  There was one podcast that I bumped-in to, it's talking about positive thinking.
It says that once you have a problem, or illness for instance, don't think about that problem but how to solve that problem instead.

Like cancer, if you knew that you have cancer, think of a way on how to cure it.  Don't think of negative thoughts about it, although it will never be totally possible, but at least you have to minimize it.

Now.  Why is cancer connected on moving to canada?

The Experience with Cancer
On 2003, my sister had been diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.  There is a lump on her breast and found cancer cells in it after conducting a biopsy.  So, she undergone breast removal and chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy at that time is, I think, not that hi-tech.  She always stay in bed and her fingernails are all purplish in color.  It looks as if it was beaten by a hammer.

The body hair are all gone so she's always wearing a  scarf on her head or a hat.  She asked someone to custom make her bra padding to compensate the size with the other breast.

I can see the pain and anxiety in her eyes and the worst part is she is my sister and that makes my heart break.

After a series of chemotherapy and with the help of modern medicines, she recovered in good condition less one breast.  She can eat well and was asked by the doctor to visit the hospital at least once a year.

How she moved on?

Convincing Her to Apply for the FSW Even if She Had Cancer
On 2008, Canada had released a new set of Federal Skilled Worker occupation list for applicants that are eligible to apply for immigration.  Since I constantly read news about Canada, which  I do almost everyday, I bumped on this article.

With no second thoughts, I informed my sister that she should apply for the FSW Canada since her occupation was in the list. She was hesitant to apply at first because of her cancer history and also don't want to leave her properties.

Until I found a way to convince her to apply, which is telling her that this application is not for her but for the future of her children.  It might not be for our time but for their time.  I also enlighten her on what are the benefits of this program, the advantages and disadvantages.

We then found out that there were more pros than cons, like for instance the safety situation in Philippines or also the health care system.  It was worse back then during the time of the lady President, especially the corruption scandals and everything.

The reasons I laid on the table made her realize to make a move. But, the problem is she don't know how to make the first step.

How Did She Applied for Her FSW Application?
Since I experienced this Canadian immigration process since 2003, my research on the matter helped me build my knowledge about the procedures.

I gathered the requirements and forms and asked her to gather all their documents to be ready for the application.  The whole process was prepared by me acting on her behalf.

At the Schedule A Background Declaration / item #6 (k), we ticked the box YES and indicated at the section:

"If your answer to any of these questions is YES, provide details below." 

that she had cancer, but had undergone chemotherapy and has fully recovered with an annual visits with her oncologists.

Back then, we are only concern of submitting the forms and documents, not bothering about what Canada has to say about her cancer.

A month after that, we haven't receive any letter from Nova Scotia Canada if they had received her application.  I checked here email and found at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) acknowledgement letter that it was already received few days ago.

What To Do During the Medical Exam if You Had Cancer?
It was the best time of her life when we received a letter to update her documents and a medical request from the CIC after 6 months of waiting.  This only mean that her background and status including her breast cancer situation has been approved and is good to go by the immigration officer.

She went to the medical exam together with her family. She got a medical certificate from her oncologist as a clearance of her breast cancer and showed it then to the doctor.

By the way, she also had diabetes and high blood pressure but with medicines for her maintenance.  All of these are disclosed to the Canadian accredited doctor.  She undergone the whole standard process of the medical exam.

The Result of Her FSW Application
Then the waiting of FSW had come to a halt when she received the letter of a Passport Request.  At this stage, the sun had shine fully out in the sky with birds singing the lullabies...

They got their immigration visas and flew to Canada.  They are happily staying there, with a fine job, for almost 3 years now and longing for the Canadian Citizenship.

Unless the illness is not critical, which can spread a danger to the Canadian public, and there are proof that the serious illness does not require a great demand on health care in Canada, in my opinion, there is nothing to worry about it.

There's no way to stop us from pursuing our dreams even if we have the critical illness.  You can stop the application until Canada will send you a letter that says "YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY".

Update of my Sister's Cancer in Canada
Visit the MM2C Community to see the update of my sister's cancer and how she cope up with it in Canada.  Blog post will be available starting June 3, 2017.

Do you have questions regarding Cancer patients in Canada?
If you're interested more about having cancer inside or outside Canada, I can provide you an information about my sister's experience.  I'll give you insights on how cancer patients is treated in Canada.  Just go to the MM2C Forum above or this link.  You need to register to join.

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment below.

For questions not related to this post, leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.

50 Eligible Occupations for Federal Skilled Worker Canadian Immigration 2014

As of May 1, 2014, Canada released the new set of occupations that are eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker category for the Canadian immigration program.

Before applying for the FSW, you must check the list below to know which occupation that you have experienced for at least one year of continuous, full-time (or at least equal amount of part-time) with salary within the last 10 years.  

Click on each occupation below to know its corresponding job descriptions.  

Please remember that once you click a job number, it will direct you to the Canadian National Occupational Classification official website. 
  
What are the 50 Eligible Occupations for FSW Canadian Immigration 2014?
Source: www.cic.gc.ca

This affects you only if you applied on or after May 1, 2014. If we got your application before that date, we will process it using the rules that were in effect at that time.

You must have one year of continuous, full-time (or an equal amount of part-time) paid work experience, in at least one of these occupations within the last ten years:

• 0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
• 0015 Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c.
• 0111 Financial managers
• 0112 Human resources managers
• 0113 Purchasing managers
• 0121 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
• 0311 Managers in health care
• 0711 Construction managers
• 0712 Home building and renovation managers
• 0811 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
• 0911 Manufacturing managers
• 1111 Financial auditors and accountants
• 1112 Financial and investment analysts
• 1113 Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
• 1114 Other financial officers
• 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
• 1212 Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers
• 1224 Property administrators
• 2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
• 2131 Civil engineers
• 2132 Mechanical engineers
• 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
• 2145 Petroleum engineers
• 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
• 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
• 2173 Software engineers and designers
• 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
• 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
• 2234 Construction estimators
• 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• 2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
• 2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
• 2281 Computer network technicians
• 3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
• 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• 3111 Specialist physicians
• 3112 General practitioners and family physicians
• 3132 Dietitians and nutritionists
• 3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
• 3142 Physiotherapists
• 3143 Occupational Therapists
• 3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
• 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
• 3216 Medical Sonographers
• 3233 Licensed practical nurses
• 3234 Paramedical occupations
• 4011 University professors and lecturers
• 4151 Psychologists
• 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
• 5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters

These occupations are either:

• Skill Type 0 (management occupations) or
• Skill Level A (professional occupations) or
• Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades)

Source: www.cic.gc.ca

After You Know the Code, What's Next?
After you've checked your occupation and its corresponding job description, remember that you need to show a proof of this occupation.  You will later indicate this code at the application form.

You need to have a Certificate of Employment (COE) or Letter of Reference from your latest or the previous company as a proof of your experience.

Take note, you must get an original copy from your employer, better ask for 2 or more copies, have it photocopied.  Do not send the original with the forms yet, send the photocopy instead. The original may be requested later by the Visa Officer.

For all the contents of your Letter of Reference or COE.  Check the checklist below under "No. 12 - Work Experience ".

Checklist for Document Checklist (FSW Canada 2014) Source: www.cic.gc.ca 

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If you have any questions regarding this post, you can leave a comment at the ASK ME.

If you want to know more about my life in Singapore, visit my blog at BenAlagnam.com

How much you need to prepare for the applications, visit EXPENSES.

Check on what are the documents you need to prepare and more info on RESOURCES.