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.