How I got my Canadian PR visa

Hi! I'm writing this post to serve as reference for others who would like to follow what I did for our Canadian Permanent Residence (PR) application. These are my first-hand experiences and personal suggestions and you are more than welcome to ask clarifications and/or deviate from the steps I undertook should you feel that it does not apply to you. This does not mean that if you follow all the steps I iterated here, will warrant you a positive result. The final decision will still be based on individual circumstances, plus a lot of faith.

So these are the steps that we took which I will also provide some detail.

1. I checked my eligibility. I used the Come to Canada tool to determine if I was eligible before spending any resources. A language test result is required, so I just made an honest self-assessment of my language skill and used that in the meantime. A credential evaluation is also required. I used the free WES online tool and used the result. I also spent some time identifying my NOC for my work experience. At first, I used my current job title as basis in the selection. This later proved to be the wrong way of doing it, as the correct way is to match the lead statement and the main duties of the NOC rather than the title. Start by looking at the skill type, then by the major group and then the sub-groups. If your NOC falls within Skill 0, A and B in the NOC Matrix, then your work experience is eligible.

2. I ordered a credential evaluation through WES. First I created an account with them. Then, I downloaded the Academic Records Request Form from their website and filled and signed all the required fields. I also photocopied my diploma and together with the form, I sent it to my university's school registrar. I informed them ahead that I was sending them the form and asked that they include in the envelope, the photocopy of my diploma before sealing it.

3. I took my IELTS General Testing exam through IDP. I did not take any preparatory courses for economic reasons and for the fact that there are a lot of free resources in the IDP website, and in the internet. I took some free lessons online to familiarize myself with the flow of the test, the format, and what the answer sheet look like and how to fill it.

4. I created my Express Entry profile in myCIC. I used a Government of Canada credential (GCKey) for my login details. I reviewed the information in my profile that were carried over from the Come to Canada tool. I used my myCIC profile to check my Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, EE profile number and other information.

5. I did not have a valid job offer from a Canadian company, so I registered with Job Bank in order to activate my profile. I used my EE profile number and the Job Seeker validation code from message in my myCIC profile.

6. My CRS was only 328 points, and the minimum CRS points that were invited was 450 points. There were several options to increase my score. One was to look for an employer who will give me a valid job offer. I did send resumes and cover letters to a couple of companies, but I did not get an offer from any of them. The next logical option was to apply for provincial nomination. I sent my Expression of Interest (EOI) to Prince Edwards Island (PEI) but did not get anything back from them. Then came the New Brunswick (NB) Information Sessions. I attended one of the sessions and found out in the session that attending the session was one requirement in the province's provincial nomination program under their NB Express Entry Labour Market Stream (NBEELMS).

7. I sent my application to the NBPNP and after having been nominated and accepted the nomination, my CRS score was then 938 points. The following day, a draw of the Invitation To Apply (ITA) for PR in CIC happened and I received my ITA on that same day. The rest is history.

There is already a blog for the NBPNP application and the PR application in CIC. I used the blog by PJ as my guide. She has done a pretty good job at covering everything and providing detail every step of the way. Here is the link to her blog.

Should you have any other questions not answered on this blog or on the blog I referenced, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at od.barr@gmail.com. I will try and respond to them in a timely manner.

House and Lot for Assume

Fleur de Ville Subdivision

Our property is at Fleur de Ville (FDV) Subdivision. It is in Mactan, where most of the developments in Lapu-Lapu City is currently concentrated, a gated subdivision with 24 hours security and CCTV, just 350 meters from the main road of ML Quezon National Highway. The standard features are:

Lot area: 40 sq. meters Car port/Parking and Service area

Floor area: 68 sq. meters (2-storey) 2 bedrooms, 1 toilet and bath

Tiled Flooring, Concrete roads, curbs and gutters

Underground drainage system

Backup Water Cistern Tank

Basketball Court, Multi-purpose Hall and Playground

PLDT Telephone and Internet-ready

Very close to key establishments (see below)

Current estimated market value: P1.7M

Monthly Amortizations as of June 24 2016

Full payment of Equity

We have spent over P600k and counting in amortizations, equity and other house-related expenses but we are willing to let it go for P500k plus buyer assumes the loan balance from Pag-ibig payable in 26 years at P7,967.74 per month. The loan balance as of July 2016 is P947,514.82 and monthly amortization is due every 23rd of the month.

Our property is in the center of this picture, Block 9 Lot 44.
It is the 3rd unit from a corner lot on the left and it does not face another unit across.

The facade of the property.

Price already includes washing machine, microwave oven, refrigerator, sofa, TV with Cignal, Cabinet, a Queen-size bed, Aircon and other small fixtures.

Taken from the main entrance showing the sala and dining and kitchen area. The T&B is the door behind the refrigerator.

Taken from the dining area, showing the sala and the main entrance.

Taken from the main entrance showing the staircase going to the bedrooms.

Photo of one of the bedrooms. This is the room towards the back of the house. The other room which is in the front part of the house, is a bit bigger than this room.

 We did not make any major modifications on the house. This gives the buyer more freedom to make modifications according to his/her liking. Some of the modifications I have seen from other units include hanging cabinets and counter-tops in the Kitchen area, built-in shoe rack above the staircase, mini-office, pull-out cabinets,

A reading nook - a suggested modification for the space underneath the stairs.

or a reading nook underneath the staircase, built-in cabinets in the bedrooms and canopy approved by the Home Owner's Association for the car port/parking area. Unlike other housing developments, the FDV homeowners have agreed to keep the frontage of all the units uniform to preserve the aesthetics of the subdivision.

Going to different places and establishments from FDV is just minutes away.

1 minute to Basic Fitness Gym
3 minutes to St. Joseph School of Mactan and Public Elementary and High Schools
5 minutes to Mactan Shrine, Sto. Nino Church, Barangay Hall and Health Center
5 minutes to Mactan Newtown, which currently has ATMs, 7-eleven store, McDonald's, call centers, Alfresco Dining/Food Hawker Center. The La Salle School, an Events resort (formerly Portofino), a mall and the replica of Magellan's ship is currently in the works.
6 minutes to Saac Market for your fresh seafood cravings. They also have meats, 360 Pharmacy, MLhuillier, Frile's Bakeshop among others.
8 minutes to Shangri-la and many other resorts, both high and not-so-high end
13 minutes to Cebu Yacht Club where there is a dining spot
13 minutes to Marina Mall and a new mall across it opening in 2017. The area has Starbucks, Da Vinci, Harbour City, Yakiniku, SM Savemore, Levi's Outlet, Rico's Lechon to name a few.
14 minutes to Mactan Doctor's Hospital
15 minutes to Shangs Island Town Center in So-ong which has establishments of BBQ Chicken & Beer, Civet Coffee and Alejo's Lechon to name a few.
16 minutes to Mactan International Airport
17 minutes to Gaisano Grand Mall
18 minutes to Pueblo Verde (Outlet Stores, Banks, SM Hypermarket, Robinson's Supermarket, MEZ2

Going in and out of the city is also very convenient in this location than in other subdivisions. Parkmall in Mandaue is just 1 PUJ ride away.

Places of interest that you will nearby are Bigfoot Studios, Tiki Lounge Bar, Tonyo's Bar Restaurant, Rock & Roll Bar, Club VIP, Thirdy's Mart, El Sueno Restaurant, Calda Pizza, Zabadani Cafe, Shrimp n' Silog, Yumi Spa, Thai Boran Spa, Mr. Liempo, Balamban Liempo, Fabrique Laundry Shop, Luisito Pharmacy, Conde Barber Shop, Carms Salon.

If you have some DIY projects, there are also several Hardware stores nearby.

From the pictures you will see that we can do a better job at cleaning it, which I will do this weekend. The kitchen could use a new sink and the T&B some fresh new paint, but other than that, no major works are necessary for this house.

Even though we love this house and see the potential profitability of it, it is with a sad note that we have no choice but to leave the house to its next rightful owner. We will be going away permanently, and have no one to look after it.

Payment terms that I suggest would be 1 DP, and 2 Installments. That's the max that I can give now given my situation.

If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested in, or for questions, please message me on Facebook, leave a comment on this post, or text/call me at 09288429698. We can discuss on the payment terms and I will work closely with you to transition the property to you.