Hello all,

First of all thanks for all your input on the forum. I've learned quite a lot after regularly visiting the board here. I'm a prospective graduate student for September 2008 and has completed my application process and am waiting for the university responses. My highest hopes are on U of Winsor (was quite dismayed after reading about the queasy reputation of the same :(, but I'm hoping Biology is different. My questions to you are:

1. Can you please name a good consultant for study permits based/who'll take up a case in Kerala, India? The places I approached are all specializing on Immigration, and they hardly have any experience on study permits. They have expressed their willingness to take me on, but I'm not convinced. The reason I'm bent on a consultant is because I want to do it right the first time. My brief profile: I'm 33, did my MSc in Biotechnology 12 years ago, worked as an RA for one year, then switched to the servile BPO / ITES and has been working as a manager ever since (9 years). It's quick money alright, but turned out to be quite unsatisfying. So, don't want to stay in the management field anymore and want to go back to my original field. I had good academics and recently got a good TOEFL iBT (117 / 120), but still the gap is quite long. So, it would be quite a thing convincing the visa officer about the \"going back to academics\" part.

2. I also heard from a consultant that these days Canadian study permits are very very hard to get. Is there any truth to it?

3. Would it be better to apply for my husband and son (9 years old) with my application, take my son along or take both of them later?

4. In Ontario public schools, does the dependent of a study permit holder pay international fees or resident fees? Checked the ON school board, but it's not clearly mentioned.

5. Will it favor my application if I mention that my family-based green card application for US is being processed (will take at least 7-8 years, actually) to show intent of not staying in Canada illegally?

Thanks again for patiently reading through, sorry for the long post :) I appreciate all your feedback. God bless all.

I am of the opinion that you should pursue this matter diligently all by yourself and benefit the most by the work that you will be undertaking. You will also find it a very simple exercise and there are a lot of people on this web site that will guide you whenever you run into doubts.

First select a University that suits your requirements, such as Windsor University.
They all have their strip tease shows, just like what we saw, last week, in the streets of Kolkata. Life goes on.

http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=20266

TOEFL a second time after twelve years will be a good exercise to start the year with. It will provide you with an incentive.
The seats are becoming scarcer as there is a lot of demand from all corners of the world. There was a period when they had to double up the entrants one year as they closed grade 13 and both the years 12 & 13 s graduated that year. (I think it was five years ago) after that things have slowed down considerably, but they have increased the fees for the courses for the foreign students.

Don't quote me, but try and include both of them in your application and they can work and study here too. So apply for a student visa for the son. You have to be the one to analyze the total picture and come to a conclusion in this matter.

Education upto and including grade 12 or upto an age of 17 (Eight more years to think about the same) are FREE, in the public school system. Since you are from Kerala and I can safely say that your religious beliefs might differ from the public schools', might want to enter your son into the religion based schools. Correct me in this if you want to and even there the education is FREE. What prompted me to say this was your "God Bless all".

Good luck to you with your Green Card process. Canadian Government has no links with their Immigration system and it is a sacred grounds and I don't think anyone wants to trod.

There is a tonne of money being injected into the field of biology and try and obtain an entry into an institution that will pay handsomely for research at that location. I know of students in BC at the Masters and Doctor's level earning a grand sum for research grants. You need to explore that with some inside help.

Good Luck.

Freddie.

Thanks, Freddie, for your detailed post. I was wondering where all the helping hands have gone

First of all, what did you mean by \"They all have their strip tease shows, just like what we saw, last week, in the streets of Kolkata.\" I had seen a news item on an MOU being signed between U of W and BESU, but didn't hear anything about this.

By the way, I took TOEFL in September 2007, so the score is valid still.

I'm not a Catholic and my son isn't baptized either, so I really don't mind sending him to a public school.

Did check out the UBC, but none of the professors replied favorably. The only universities I've applied to are those where at least one professor showed interest to take me (must've mailed hundreds!) Still the chances are pretty bleak. If those don't work out, I also intend to try for the postgraduate certificate courses, because I heard that when you actually meet professors and talk with them, they're much more willing to accept you.

I hate spending money on consultants too, but I also respect the years of experience the good ones have gained. While I may be oblivious to the nuances involved, they may be able to spot the problems in a jiffy.

""(was quite dismayed after reading about the queasy reputation of the same , but I'm hoping Biology is different.)""
I searched for the queasy reputation and I came upon a strip tease scandal there near by, and when I went to the site it was not there. It has been withdrawn by the webmaster. There ends the matter. You can search for it yourself.

Nice to know that you have gotten into a mood to do better and put TOEFL behind you.

Thanks for the God Bless, the last time I heard it was at a Red Skelton TV show

Here is some Good News for the New settlers:
http://www.visabureau.com/canada/news/11-03-2008/people-taking-advantage-of-canada-immigration-given-funds-to-settle-.aspx
https://assessments.visabureau.com/canada/assessment/general/default.aspx

If you think that PG certificate will help you settle down comfortably here, then take it to the next level and see what the job prospects are today and see the projections for them if any?

Here is an interesting item that you can follow to gain access into Canada:
http://www.visabureau.com/canada/study-in-canada.aspx

http://www.visabureau.com/canada/points-test.aspx

If you are under the impression that they will be there for you at some point in time when you need them in any of the other matters, you have a thing coming to you. They are just ROBOTS that fill the application forms and then they will switch off the lights, roll up the side walks and go to sleep till the next one appears on the scene with an outstretched hand in which they see a cheque, preferably a blank one.
They will spot your problem alright.
I have respect for none of them, but you are entitled to your own opinion, let us leave it at that.

See if Windsor University helps you make it your home and provide you with a mortar board. Make sure that you get an years' extension on a work permit while you are doing the studies. That will help you get an years' experience under your belt. Then go for the PR while you are at it.

Freddie.