Eligible to Ineligible and back

Things got busy at work and I found less and less time to apply. But during the last month too, I was able to get some references from my previous company.

Just a backgrounder, I was seconded and absorbed by my current company. However, my former company closed so I have no idea how to get reference letters. This is one of the dilemma I have been searching on. Various sources cited to just contact former colleagues and managers. I plan to do that but just not yet, as my former manager is also my boss here in my current job, as we were seconded together.

Anyway, when digging through some files, our HR found my old files from my previous employer which were mistakenly kept. I asked her if I can keep it as a “souvenir” since the former company is no longer existing. Imagine my joy when she gave all the documents to me. The documents contain promotions, merit increases, evaluations – documents normally kept as part of the 201 file. Yey! I less worry. I was thinking I can attach this when I finally get to apply.

I was looking at the documents and I noticed that I had some of my promotions, dates inputted wrong. So I tracked the positions I have held, and on July 14, I finally had the time to update my work history and change my NOC code in my EE profile.

But lo and behold, when I clicked update and submitted, my profile turned ineligible. You could not imagine how my heart stopped. I told hubby about this and he couldn’t believe it either. We even had an argument because of this.

I quickly googled on what could have happened and checked how I could rectify it. I learned that with this scenario, there is no other way but to create another profile, as once you are ineligible your profile can only be viewed, but no longer updated.

I quickly gathered my documents and went about filling up the forms again for a new EE profile. When I was filling up my spouse’s information, I stopped, put the baby to sleep, and asked my husband to sit beside me while I fill it up.

I cannot explain how my heart was beating, and how I was praying so hard, when I was putting baby to sleep. All thoughts were running in my head! And I was praying so hard to make me eligible again. This is our ticket for our baby’s future, and the family’s future as well. We cannot afford not to be in the pool.

After a few minutes, I went back to my application. I filled in hubby’s details.  Before I clicked send, hubby and I prayed again to give us the opportunity.

When I clicked send, I waited for a few minutes, and then the email arrived. I was eligible again! I have the same score but still...Whew! You cannot imagine the relief I felt.

I have a new express entry number, and our profile is now valid until July 14, 2019. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, I really don’t know. But the new profile has now given us 3 more additional months in the pool.

It has also renewed my resolved. I think this experience reminded me not to be complacent. But to just trust and move on forward. Not to stop but continue on. Just to trust and everything would fall into place. 

Our express entry and CRS scores

 I woke up at around 5 am today and immediately checked my cellphone for any message from WES. And there it is. An email from WES saying that they have completed their evaluation and that I should log on to my account to view it.

I immediately went to my WES account and was able to download a copy of my evaluation. The report said that my institution is recognized and I have a Canadian equivalency of 4 years. Yey!

So now it's time to complete our express entry.

Believe me, I had butterflies in my stomach as I was filling out the forms. We were very careful with all the details because an error can lead to not being accepted in our application later on, or being barred from the pool for 5 years.

There were a lot of information that we need to be ready with. Fortunately the website had instructions and clarifications.

Finally, we were done and our Comprehensive Ranking System points were generated. We were also given a job seeker validation code. So we went to Job Bank and created a profile as well.

Our CRS was just 359 points, way below to be able to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The lowest scores of those being invited were at around 440 and up. 😕

But then I remembered a recent news about Ontario inviting those with scores for as low as 351. This was just in March 2018. There is renewed hope. We prayed after getting our score and we believe that as long as we trust in the Lord, He will continue to direct our path. Right now, all we need is faith and trust in Him, and to continue working towards our goal.

Today is the day! Sort of

 I have been waiting for April 27 for a few days now. Today my ECA results would be released! This also means I can get to file for my Express Entry!

However, we are 12 hours ahead of Canada, depending on the province. So that means,WES would probably release my results tonight.

Anyway, I have been tensed these past few weeks. I think it is also the reason why my skin has been breaking up. 😕

I told myself I would fill out the EE form on April 28.  But impatient me, I have actually filled out the Come to Canada tool, and already have my GC key. I also have created a profile in the CIC website. But stopped short of choosing whether it is for EE, visit or study.

Signing up for an account at the CIC website is actually lengthy. There are a lot of security questions that I filled up. If you are planning to sign up, make sure that username, passwords and all the security questions are hard to guess, but easy to remember for the applicant.

So this is me, excited and anxious about tonight or tomorrow. I know that as soon as I receive an email from WES, then I would start on the EE journey and waiting game.

We just need to pray and trust this plan to the Lord. I know that He will lead the way.

Our IELTS experience

One week before April 7, IDP emailed both me and my husband about our schedule. They emailed us first thing Monday and informed us that our speaking test would happen on Wednesday, April 4 at Marco Polo Ortigas. He is scheduled to have it at 8:50 while I would have it at 10:50.

Both of us were so tense that we were not able to sleep. We woke up at 4 am and decided to get ready. We left the house at 6 am to ensure that we would be in Ortigas before 8am.

To be honest, we were not able to really practice as both of us were so busy with work even though we allotted one month for review. Upon arriving home, time was usually spent with our baby E. I guess this is one of the reasons why we are so tense.

During the speaking test, we were asked about a specific topic and we are allowed to talk about it. The interviewer would give follow-up questions to ensure that the candidate would continue to talk about it. There were also some topics that we need to discuss under a specific time limit.

I think I finished by a little after 11am. Hubby waited for me so we were out of the venue by lunch.

Saturday, April 7, is our chosen exam date. The venue assigned to us was at AIM Center in Makati. Instruction was to be at the venue no later than 8:00 am for the 9:00 am start.

We arrived at Greenbelt at around 6:30, and since we were less tense now compared to the speaking test, we were even able to enjoy our breakfast at Mcdonald's 😁

The Registration
We were at the venue at 7:30 and they were still setting up. There were actually a lot of us already at the venue that early. I guess all of us were afraid to be late.

We were amongst the first to register and go inside the testing room. We brought the same ID we used to register, the same as the speaking test. Bringing a different ID would mean no test. In the venue, our name was assigned to a seat and table. Hubby was actually far from me so I have no idea how they arranged our name. I am not sure if it was alphabetical since my passport used my maiden name so it was still different from hubby's. Once inside, we waited for an hour for all the seats to be filled in.  Belatedly I realized that we should have allowed the others to get into the room first. You see, once you get inside the testing room, you are no longer allowed to step outside.

The actual test
The test started at exactly 9 am, and finished at 12 noon. We started with the listening test with an allotted time of 40 minutes. They provided headphones and I really needed to listen very carefully. Some of the statements were actually confusing. Also, all statements were said only once. We answered on the test booklet, then we were given 10 minutes to transfer everything to the answer sheet.

Then the reading test was actually for an hour. This time we were given some paragraphs on a certain topic, then some questions after. Again, we have to read very carefully. We have to really understand what the topic was. I actually finished early, then had time to re-read the tests. I changed some of my answers during this time. So when I submitted the test, I almost did not know if I answered correctly. 😔

Lastly, the writing test which would last for an hour. There were actually just 2 topics to be answered for an hour. The first topic should be answered in 150 words while the second one should be with 250 words. This was challenging because it has been so long since I wrote anything that long! I mean, most of us use the computer to type now. So it is easy to change items or thoughts in the middle. But the test required that we use a pencil! So longhand, it is.

After the test, it was announced that the results would be released on April 20. Two weeks of waiting! Results can be picked up at the IDP office. Since we also nominated our cellphone numbers, the results would also be texted to us.

I can hardly wait. I felt pretty confident. But I am really hoping to get high scores.

The Results
Come April 20, at 3 am, I have been checking their websites but no results were given. Finally, at 9am, the text came.

My score: Listening 7.5, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 for an overall band score of 7.0.

The website also gave a preview of the test scores and explained what each score meant. It also gave pointers for improvement.

To be honest I felt disappointed because I really wanted higher scores. I have been reading that higher scores would give higher points in the Comprehensive Ranking System. Still, I am thankful that scores were enough for me to enter the express entry ( I think).

So I suggest that anyone who would be taking the IELTS to practice, practice, practice. Unlike my husband and I. We actually were not able to do any review because we were swamped with work leading to the exam. So we are still thankful that we were able to get good enough marks.  (I actually downloaded practice booklets from here but was really unable to practice). 

One requirement done. Now we just need to wait for the results of my ECA so we can start our express entry profile.

Timelines and tracking numbers

 

This morning I brought my copy of my diploma, its English translation, and certificate of translation. I made sure that all of these had the WES reference number at the back. I also had the reference number and address printed directly on the back of the envelope. I plan to have it sent to WES today, March 12.

Good thing there is an LBC branch near our office. I went there during lunch break and paid Php1,460 for the courier to Canada. LBC told me that it would reach the destination in 3 to 5 working days, starting the count from tomorrow. In my estimate, it would reach WES by March 19.

It was fast enough. But before WES can even start the assessment, they have to wait for the Transcript of Records from my school. They told me 18 days. I checked their website for the status but it is updated for applications until March 7 only. I applied on March 7 so I don't think it was included in the list. In my estimate, my TOR would reach WES on the week of April 16 since it is the Holy Week on the last week of March.  Plus another 15 to 20 working days for the assessment. Tagal…

For IELTS, our schedule for the test is on April 7. Again, plus 13 days. Then results would come out by end of April. For both initial requirements, it would be safe to say that I would get it by first week of May. That's the only time we would be able to create our EE profile.

Additional note:

Sigh. I tried to check the tracking number that LBC gave and it is not showing. Now I have to email their customer service… ☹

Update:
LBC replied to my email and said that my package has been forwarded to their tie-up and would reach its destination on or before March 19. 😊

I would keep on praying and move on.

Sabi nga nila, panggulo lang 😊