1st appointment with Visa counselor

I decided to take the services of the counselor at the Canadian Education Centre (CEC) in Bangalore. The charges are INR 2500 for 2-3 sessions.
I had taken some documents for the first appointment which were as according to the VFS's checklist and also what CEC's desk-lady had sent me. I got them verified and noted the instructions that the counselor mentioned. I also got some of my questions answered. I had filled the Personal Information Form, Questionnaire and the main application form roughly. She verified the same and suggested modifications/improvements.

Important Note: No original documents are to be submitted as whatever is submitted is not returned back in case of a visa reject.


Questions answered:

• On a student's visa, can I go to some other country like USA, or if required India and then go back to Canada to resume my studies? Student Visa/Permit are usually Multiple Entry Visas. This means that during the time frame of the validity of the visa, the visa-holder can go in and out of the country any number of times.
• Is a Temporary Resident Visa required for me? No

Important points noted during the session: (xerox of document wherever applicable)

• On applying for a 1 yr Student Permit, usually 3 months extra student visa is granted, making it a total of 12+3=15 months Students Permit.
• If Mutual Funds and Stocks are being added to the Liquid Funds, then their value with the Net Asset Value (NAV) /price-per-stock as on a specific date should be mentioned along with.
• For LIC Insurance Policy, the original policy (whose size is usually > than A4) has to be xeroxed
• For Mutual Funds, get the profile page of the person in case the mutual funds statement doesn't show the name on whom the funds are. {Case of online share trading accounts}
• For immovable property, sale deed and valuation report by Charted Accountant to be attached.
• #If possible, get the xerox of the security deposit draft. In case the draft was paid from a bank account, a printout of the debit is a plus.
• Its beneficial to make a 2 page Statement of Purpose(SoP) by the Applicant mentioning the background, the reasons for choosing the stream/specialization and college, future plans. This has to be in sync with the CV and the Visa Questionnaire.
• #If a complete profile of the applicant can be created, it shows that the applicant is strong. It can include all academic certificates, extra curricular certificates, score cards, mark-sheets (GMAT, TOEFL etc), appointment letter of company, salary revision letters, promotion letters, performance letters.
• (Very Imp Point) Immigrant status of applicant(s) in country where applying (point 6a of form IMM1294B of Student's application): Since I am in India and am submitting my application in India, so this has to be "Citizen" since I am an Indian
  

Following documents are required for the applicant, parents (if supporting) and sponsorer (if any)

1. #Pay slip for last 6 months
2. IT returns for last 3 years
3. Letter of employment from employer stating the date of joining
4. Bank-statments for last 2 years: In case some huge credits are there, it has to be explained with proofs. The term "huge" is a relative term w.r.t. the normal quantum of transactions and balance.
5. Letter from Bank manager stating bank account number, name of account-operator, date since holding the account and balance as on a specific date.
6. A statement showing clearly the different types of liquid separately for each person. The fixed assets can be clubbed together. (This statement works like an index and is very useful)
7. Statement of support mentioning the school's name and the program being attended.

Other documents required:

1. Letter of acceptance by college
2. #Receipt of security deposit
3. #^Loan sanction letter (if using loan)

Some contradictory/debatable points during the discussion

• Gold is not counted as a liquid asset: My CA who makes reports for Immigration told me that gold is counted but the counselor has opposite views
• Assured Value is taken for LIC Insurance Policy rather than Surrender Value

#Optional documents
^Case of loan: It is not necessary to include loan in the liquid assets. In case your assets' value is matching the figure of tuition+living expenses+to and fro travel expenses. Only the xerox of loan sanction letter is to be submitted.

A question asked to me by someone w.r.t. loans: "During the submission of Visa Documents , Can i mention that I have applied for Loan and the processing is underway or is it mandatory ( for a successful visa stamping ) that I should show them the Approval or Pre Approval?". The question is tricky!
Answer: Visa officials need to have a proof of your financial stability -proof of tuition fees and living expenses. If you have enough funds over and above the loan to satisfy the 90k$ i dont think it should have a problem. That time you dont even need to show that you are applying for loan. But consider this situation. you apply for loan.god forbid-the loan gets rejected, but you have a valid visa.then? So its not good to do that.I will say , in fact the application can be rejected! Its hard truth, though a speculated one.

Earlier discussion with Visa counselor available here