My advice to new international students in Canada

I recently posted my last reply on the nairaland thread; http://www.nairaland.com/1681115/travelling-canada-part/262#23425118
for new international students who just got their visa to study in Canada.

I have copied and posted it below.

Hello everyone, Its been a while. I hope admission seekers have been getting all the help they need with the good people on this forum. 

Its actually tough keeping up with this growing thread so I will not be following closely anymore due to my busy schedule.

But before I leave I will give a piece of advice to the new comers. 

I see alot of people in the past very happy about getting a study visa. I am happy for you as well but don't let your guard down. It doesn't end there.

Please get ready to work hard to be successful in Canada. 

Take your academics seriously and don't forget all the hassles you or your family had to go through for you to be where you are i.e Canada. Study is the main reason why you are in Canada. 
Once you start having issues with academics and wasting precious time on your study permit you can easily run into immigration issues. Take your books seriously.

One of the issues most of us had after graduation was a lack of Canadian work experience in the field of study. I had to go through a great deal of networking and eventually moved to a different province for work.

You have to be creative when looking for work. Don't forget you won't only be competing with other international students for a job but Canadians as well. Brace yourself.

Please strive as much as you can to gain Canadian work experience in your field before you graduate especially as you approach 3rd year of study. 

Apply to jobs in other provinces in the summer months if you have to. Sometimes you are most likely to find work in remote areas where people don't want to go, but these areas sometimes provide the experience you need. 

Make great Canadian friends and they will show you the ropes. 

Lastly, learn the culture quickly and also get ready to share your particular culture from Nigeria. They will ask you alot about Nigeria, your great country. Try as much as you can to be balanced in your explanation. 

All the best to everyone seeking to study in Canada and those who are already here. 

It was nice replying a few people here. Thanks for having me JUSTWISE.

Always be truthful to the consulate officer in your visa applications.

I know its been a while but thats just because I have been busy.

So I got an email from a prospective Canadian admission seeker about being a 100% honest with the Canadian Consulate in Nigeria.

The individual's concern was simply whether being honest with the consulate officer could boost or kill your chances of a visa.

Below is the individual's email to me and my reply right after.

Individual's email to me

Yes. First i hav an MSc from *****, and am going for a diploma course in canada. So i think it might be a red flag...

Ok.  But i dont intend telling them i have a masters from *****. My passport was renewed in ***** in 2012, so it does not show a *****student visa on it. So i am thinking of not declaring that i hv an msc from *****

My reply to the Individual

As long as theres no gaps in time in terms of what you were doing over the years.

Also keep in mind that if they findout you went to school in the *****they will assume you have a hidden motive. You might have a hard time trying to regain their trust.

There is nothing wrong with going for a diploma after masters just say why and you will be fine.

Perhaps a new found interest in a new area?

Will give you a short story.

I attended uniport and completed my first year.

I wasn't feeling the school especially with inconsistencies in the system. Bribing lecturers was rampant, strike, cultism etc.

I knew it was time to leave but my grades were nth but crap. I had found Canada.

I can try to apply and transfer to a university in Canada but I won't be accepted due to my grades.

This was 3yrs after secondary school.

Do I tell the consulate officer that uniport never existed? 

I kept pondering for months. Back then it was a face to face interview. 

I scrapped the idea of transferring to a uni in Canada with my uniport grades and decided to go for an A levels program in Canada.

What I was doing was basically completing 1st year uni in Nigeria and going back to secondary school in Canada with my waec.

I still have to face the consulate officer.

The previous question still stands ; uniport or no uniport? 

At the end I got a letter from my HOD that stated that I am a student of uniport and was studying a certain program. I proceeded with my waec result.

I got to the consulate officer and the only thing she kept talking about was why why why are you leaving university for an equivalent of ss3 in Canada.

I was shooked but gave her the reasons listed above; inconsistencies with the system and finished by saying I am choosing a different part of study and like to do it in a country where the educational standard is one of the best in the world.

The rest was history and she thanked me for being honest.

I had nothing to hide that was indeed my intent.

That was quite the opposite of a short story.

Keeping it plain and simple will bring out honesty in your application.  Like I said before if they find out you went to school in the ***** it will be tough to take you serious in the future. 

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The blurred lines above is to protect the individual especially since theres an application in progress.  And yes the individual acknowledged my advice and plans to be honest with the consulate officer. 

Uniport stands for University of Port Harcourt just incase you were wondering. 

The truth truely sets you free when you choose to walk in it. It will make you fearless. Please be honest in your applications. Thats the bottom line of this write up.

I have a few more email responses I will be sharing in the future. Stay tuned and keep your emails coming.