Our Canadian Immigrant Visa on Hand

After months of waiting, at last our Canadian Immigrant Visa is already on hand! We started with our Canadian dream on July 2016 where Fritz started to researched and study on the possible ways we can immigrate to Canada. It took real hard work. We read forums, blogs and most specially the Government of Canada website. Basically we don’t need Visa Consultants anymore since almost everything is already available online.

The first big step that we took was when Fritz took the IELTS exam on November 19, 2016. It was followed by the evaluation of his educational credentials thru WES on December 2016. On January 2017 I sit on IELTS exam also. Then on Feb 19, 2017 Fritz and I attended an information session conducted by the Province of New Brunswick in Manila. On April 2017 Fritz attended the Information Session in Manila conducted by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines.

Come May 2017, we hoped and pray that we will be one of the lucky dreamers for the AIPP. Unfortunately, only those from Food and Beverage industry had the opportunity. But our spirits were lifted when the Provinces of Nova Scotia announces that they will be opening their NSNP Express Entry Category B. For almost 5 months we were trying our luck with NSNP but to no avail.

Fritz attended another Information Session conducted by New Brunswick on August 19, 2018. We thought that they will be giving Invitation to Apply (ITA) during the session. But they only said to watch out for their upcoming opening. September 8, 2017, NBPNP temporarily opens for accepting expression of interest to those applicants who have attended information session for the past 2 years. The most awaited ITA from NB arrived unexpectedly on October 13, 2017.

This is where the real battle about to begin.

We submitted our full application to NBPNP on October 18, 2018 and received our AOR on October 27, 2018. After 38 days we received our nomination. On December 6, 2017, Fritz received the CIC ITA. On December 11, 2018 we submitted our CIC full application.

The most awaited email, the passport request (PPR) received unexpectedly on May 1, 2018. Then we submitted the following day our passports and other requirements. We are so anxious to received back our passports with visa stamped on it. But it took 2 days before VFS Manila received our passports. It was delivered to VFS only on Friday, May 4, 2018. Then on Monday, May 7, 2018, our passports were forwarded to Manila Visa Office.

Final Decision: Approved!

We were on vacation at Passig Islet Resort in Sta Cruz, Davao Del Sur so we were not able to check our CIC account. But as Fritz check it on the morning of May 8, 2018, the account was updated. The Final Decision is already approved and the document status was already available. Then in the afternoon we received a SMS message informing the passports were received by VFS and will be dispatched to the courier.

May 10, 2018, we were still out of town when the 2GO Express delivery man called us informing that he is outside our apartment but no one available to receive the pouch. Fritz cannot wait any longer to have our Canadian Immigrant Visa on Hand. We went home that afternoon.

We cannot describe our feelings as we received our passports. As family we gather and kneel to say our prayers of thanksgiving for His help. We are truly grateful for the blessings that we received from our Father in Heaven. For the things we learned along the way. But on the other hand there’s a feeling of anxiety that we will be leaving soon.

This is not the end but the beginning of our Canadian Dream journey.