Moving to Canada Process

Tech Guru wroteDear Hybrid ,

Thank You - Very Helpful hints indeed. I will register for the IELTS soon at the British Council. Any help hints on how you prepared for it will be appreciated it. I did Email you my Number to add to to the Whatsapp Group (very help full in sharing hints and thoughts).

Is the British Council IELTTs book is enough ; or shall I go with some additional samples too on Cambridge IELTS. Is 1 month good for preparation.

About the experience , you fill the forms on the Express Entry Profile Stage or when ?

Before I open an Express Entry Profile I need to:

Have the IELTS Scores
Have My Degrees Assessed by WES
Have My Experience Filled (?)
Any Other Steps (?)


You did the whole process alone right without a Lawyer or a Consultation office.

Thank You

IELTS tests are good, but I relied more on ieltsliz.com, great info there. 1 month is good, depends on your english, but if you're average, then I suggest you study daily for 1~2 hours. There is a way to write an essay for example, and you need to use synonyms a lot. Also, try to finish essay 1 in 20 mins and essay 2 in 40 mins or less. Reading in general IELTS should be easy, you need 8 on listening which is equal to 5 or less wrong answers out of 40. As for speaking, they don't care if you're a slow talker or don't have an accent, just use some advanced english words or phrases. Also practice WELL for the 2nd speaking question, ieltsliz provides good insight on that.

I submitted my 2nd stage application on December 2015 (After receiving the ITA)
The first part was probably in October 2015 or November

I don't remember all the required documents, it's written there in the application. Should be straightforward.

Yes, all alone, no lawyer or anything else. just if you get stuck on some paper or have doubts, search canadavisa forum and ask around.

Thank you Hybrid for the all information. But I would like to point out that the required for reading is 8.0 score. I got a 7.0 and lost 3 points in the CRS score. Also, even though they "doubled" intake since the previous month, it doesn't really count as doubling yet since the previous month were exceptionally low, and you'd have to be a bilingual PHD to get in. Last draw was above the regular average of 1500 by being 1800. It is looking much better for the future. I am concerned however that the more they take in, the more people will apply, and so the competition may still be tough.

In any case, I am studying french, hoping to take the TEF and get an additional 12 points which could kick my score up to 450 where I would feel safe (now at 438) I might repeat the IELTS in may (a year after I originally took it) to refresh its life on one hand and to try and improve my reading score on the other and get that missing 3 points, but it will depend on how I do in the french.

Honestly, I feel that for a Lebanese(given that we don't have holiday visa programs and no way to get Canadian experience which grants more points) You NEED to either have a masters or have a good french score, it doesn't seem like there is another option.

EDIT: By the way, I found this site that has been very well reviewed called CurrencyFair The idea is to pay them with your internet card from your lebanese bank account, and they can wire the money to a Canadian bank account for much less fees than a regular bank wire transfer and (again I think) faster processing time. Anyone has any idea about those services?

Congrats to those who got accepted !
Thanks for those who shared their experience. People are afraid of the bureaucratic tasks and feel that it is hard to escape but we should show that it is not hard.

Please keep us updated. I didn't apply because of health issues requiring that I stay for doctor visits and take medications (and maybe get refused if they ask health files?), and I still need to have some work experience and a masters.
But I might one day and my friends are getting more and more interested in traveling with everything that is happening in this miserable country (tax hikes etc.)

Red7 wrote

rolf wrote Be positive.

Good luck!

However it is possible that we will still be governed by the same oligarchs and we should be ready to move on to a better country.

I hate seeing these faces plastered all over the country, they are a reminder of how rotten the fish is from the head. Every day that I don't have to see them is a blessing, even if I have to pay 40% taxes for that.

So I understand you, don't worry.

Setting yourself a goal and doing that. Seeing all the nice things about it (whatever it is). This is being positive.
I have had it pretty easy, it makes me ashamed of admitting how easy I have had it, just through luck. Nobody is judging you.
However the same principle applies to those who are fortunate and those who are less fortunate.
In the end we are all fortunate and/or skilled in particular areas.

I have to say, lately, I am rarely applying what I just preached.
That's the idea, though. I believe it can help you reach your goal.
Whether your goal will make you happy (and how happy) that's another topic too.

Just looking around and seeing the nice things to do, to see, or just nice things is also "being positive".

It's (relatively) easy for me to lecture you, I know, sometimes it is hard to "be positive".