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Message: [QUOTE="Ruby, post: 3, member: 2"] Alright, who here has actually done Express Entry from Africa? I keep seeing all these "gurus" online talking about Canada PR, but what I really want to know is - what did YOUR journey look like? Not the highlight reel. The real story with all the ups and downs. [B]Why Your Story Matters[/B] Here's the thing about Express Entry - everyone's journey is different, but patterns exist. When you share your experience, you're helping someone who's exactly where you were six months ago, a year ago, maybe two years ago. You're answering questions they didn't even know they needed to ask. And honestly? Sometimes just knowing that someone else from Nigeria or Ghana or Kenya made it through gives people the confidence to start their own process. [B]What is Express Entry, Really?[/B] For those just learning about this, let me break it down quickly. Express Entry isn't actually a visa program - it's a system Canada uses to manage applications for three immigration programs: [LIST] [*]Federal Skilled Worker Program [*]Federal Skilled Trades Program [*]Canadian Experience Class [/LIST] You create a profile, get scored on something called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and wait in the pool with thousands of other applicants. Every few weeks, Canada does a "draw" and invites the top-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence. If you get invited (that's called an ITA - Invitation to Apply), you have 60 days to submit your full application. Sounds simple, right? But the reality is more nuanced. [B]What I Want You to Share[/B] If you've gone through this process - whether you're already in Canada, waiting for your visa, or even if you tried and didn't succeed - please share your story here. Here's what would be super helpful: [B]Your Starting Point:[/B] [LIST] [*]What year did you start researching Express Entry? [*]What was happening in your life? (Working? Studying? Raising kids?) [*]What made you decide on Canada specifically? [*]Did you know anyone there already? [/LIST] [B]Your Credentials:[/B] [LIST] [*]What level of education? (Bachelor's? Master's? PhD?) [*]How many years of work experience did you have? [*]What NOC code was your work experience under? (This is huge - some NOCs are more competitive than others) [*]What was your English test score? (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF for French) [/LIST] [B]The Money Part:[/B] [LIST] [*]Be honest - how much did the whole process cost you? (Tests, ECA, applications, medicals, police certificates, everything) [*]Did you use an immigration consultant or lawyer? Worth it or not? [*]How did you save up for it? [/LIST] [B]Your CRS Journey:[/B] [LIST] [*]What was your initial CRS score when you entered the pool? [*]Did you do anything to improve it? (Master's degree, second language, provincial nomination?) [*]What was your final score when you got your ITA? [*]How long were you in the pool before getting invited? [/LIST] [B]The Application Process:[/B] [LIST] [*]Did you apply alone or with family? [*]Any challenges getting your documents together? [*]How long from ITA to submission? [*]How long from submission to approval? [*]Any requests for additional documents? What did they ask for? [/LIST] [B]Provincial Nomination (If Applicable):[/B] [LIST] [*]Did you get a provincial nomination? Which province? [*]How did you get it? (Some provinces you apply to, others nominate directly from the pool) [*]How long did that process take? [/LIST] [B]The Hard Parts:[/B] [LIST] [*]What was the most stressful part of the process? [*]Did you ever feel like giving up? [*]What surprised you (good or bad)? [*]What do you wish someone had told you before you started? [/LIST] [B]After Approval:[/B] [LIST] [*]How long after approval did you actually move to Canada? [*]Where did you settle and why? [*]Was job hunting hard? [*]Is your life there what you expected? [/LIST] [B]If You Didn't Get Through:[/B] [LIST] [*]What held you back? (Low CRS? Couldn't improve score? Money issues?) [*]Would you try again? [*]What would you do differently? [/LIST] [B]Let Me Start With What I Know[/B] The average CRS score for recent draws has been hovering around 525-545 for general draws. But here's what people don't always tell you - there are program-specific draws (like French language draws or trade occupation draws) where scores can be much lower, sometimes in the 400s. A provincial nomination gives you 600 additional CRS points, which basically guarantees you'll get invited in the next draw. But getting that provincial nomination is its own journey - some provinces have easier processes than others. Also, if you have a sibling in Canada who's a citizen or PR, that's 15 extra points. If your spouse has good English scores and work experience, their points help you too. Some people actually have better chances if their spouse is the principal applicant instead of them. [B]The Community Benefit[/B] Imagine if we had 50 real stories here. Someone could read through and find someone with a similar background - same education level, same NOC, same family situation - and see what that person's timeline looked like. That's more valuable than any consultant's marketing material. Plus, we can spot trends together. Like maybe we notice that people who applied through OINP (Ontario) waited longer than people who went through SINP (Saskatchewan). Or that certain NOC codes are getting more ITAs lately. That's the kind of intelligence that helps everyone plan better. [B]No Judgment Zone[/B] Whether it took you 6 months or 3 years, whether you scored 450 or 510, whether you're living your best life in Toronto or struggling to find work in your field - share it. We learn from all of it. And if you tried and couldn't make it work, that's valuable too. Sometimes knowing the obstacles helps others prepare better, or helps them realize maybe they should try a different country instead. [B]For Those Still Deciding[/B] If you're reading this and thinking about starting your Express Entry journey, here are some things to check first: [LIST=1] [*]Calculate your CRS score honestly. There are calculators online. If you're scoring below 450 without a provincial nomination or job offer, think about how you could improve that score before entering the pool. [*]Get your ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) done early. It takes weeks or months, depending on the organisation, and you need it for your profile. [*]Take your English test seriously. Going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 can add significant points to your score. Invest time in preparation. [*]Research provincial nomination programs. Some are aligned with Express Entry, some are separate. Some require job offers, some don't. Each province has different criteria. [*]Make sure you have at least $15,000 CAD (about 14 million naira) saved up. That's roughly the settlement funds requirement for a single applicant, plus you need money for the whole application process itself. [/LIST] [B]Let's Build This Resource Together[/B] I'll keep this thread open and active. Share your stories, ask questions, encourage each other. The more we contribute, the clearer the picture becomes for everyone. And hey, even if you're still in the process - maybe you just entered the pool last month - share that too. People want to know about current experiences, not just stories from 2020. Who's going first? Drop your story below. Let's do this. [/QUOTE]

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