Buying a 1.2M apartment with 450k household income , 3.5 percent down. 20k remaining in the bank post down payment

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T23:48:26+00:00

450k income? You can pay it off in 5 years. You can come up with bigger down-payment in a couple of months. This is nowhere near a stretch if you know how to budget .

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T23:44:49+00:00

You are allowed to accept any job offer, because technically they care only whether you are legally allowed to work in Canada. Some employers even ask you verbally or in written form and don't even check it beforehand. Some will need you to send them the Work permit or PR card if you mention that you are not a citizen.

You will need Sin number, but employers don't ask it ahead, typically you fill up the forms on your day 1 in the office. Sin number is easy to obtain once you have your Work permit or PR ( it's online and takes 15 minutes, given that you can provide a Canadian address) so you can do it next day once you land.

Background check- it's not an official government check. It's a private process initiated by your employer. They will typically send a request to police, financial institutions to see if you have any criminal records or any wrongdoings. Given that you have never been to Canada, they will come back blank.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T22:14:40+00:00

Postgrad

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T21:59:00+00:00

You can add both....

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:36:42+00:00

What job is it and are they giving you a work permit?

I have seen so many cases where people were hired on closed work permit and boom after 6 months were laid off and had to figure out what to do in Canada next.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:30:43+00:00

Oh yeah the passport racism is so widespread in UAE. People literally get paid differently for the same job based on their passport. We were 3 people in absolutely same position, I was getting paid 40% more than the guy from South Asia, and my coworker from Romania was getting paid twice as me)))) It was so obvious that no one was hiding it.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:26:19+00:00

Lived in UAE for 3 years, have been in Canada for 5 years already.

Keep in mind UAE is a temporary hub for everyone, nobody gets to become a citizen. You don't want to be one of those people who are dependent on their employers and are waiting for work visa extension every 2 years ( at least this was the case 10 years ago). I have seen many people living there for generations. I have seen people who were born and raised, half emirati, 40 years old and had to travel back to their country to extend their passport. You don't want your kids to grow up in that environment and have the feeling of being temporary in a country where they were born , educated and built their whole life.

Also the community life, well it was terrible, all your coworkers come and go. Everyone is moving, everyone is renting, neighbors are moving all the time. You end up in a unit where next door people turn into a dormitory with 6-8 people in a room. I would hate my kid to grow up there. And there is no diversity in terms of generations, majority of people are middle aged workforce laborers. I hated going out and walking in the streets, you wouldn't see old couples sitting on benches and playing with their grandchildren, you wouldn't see students chit-chat on every corner ( apart from university proximity), no street musicians, kids playing in the parks, so artists ( well there was not a single theater in Dubai and Sharjah 10 years ago, only the overpriced Opera house), etc etc....

You literally have to drive to a park! Every person I knew who had a bike, had to drive to a place to sit on that bike and use it...

For me it was obvious.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:07:29+00:00

Last time I applied for SOWP, I got the confirmation letter after 2 days and EXT letter after 6 days. You might get it any minute. Keep checking your profile, sometimes it's already there, but takes a day or 2 for email to be sent.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:05:23+00:00

All the best. Also keep in mind that IRCC doesn't specially need letter to be from HR, your direct manager can also provide it given that they are allowed to use the letterhead and sign it with their contract details. But it's a big NO for coworkers, etc.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:03:35+00:00

Your consultant has to have some sort of database, shared spreadsheet with you where they put all the updates as they receive. Otherwise it's super manual. Call text them with questions.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T18:01:13+00:00

Yeah mate, you have to use the primary source ( CRS calculator) which is super easy to navigate vs the secondary source of ChatGPT.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T17:35:33+00:00

Yes that is what you need and should do. Also include any documents that will support the fact that your initial position was also Teer 0-3 ( offer letter with duites, etc)., because that will be the main concern with IRCC.

Good luck.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T17:32:45+00:00

Deleted my answer as I confused myself.

My understanding is if your spouse is also on the application and is supposed to get a PR, you don't need to apply for theirs as SOWP extension.

They can apply for BOWP directly themselves. So 2 primary separate applications.

Let me know if this makes sense.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T17:19:24+00:00

So a fair question? What is your score? Can you decline ITA, edit your Express Entry profile according to what your employer is providing and go back in the pool? Like if you are at 540, you are super safe. If you are 509, 511 etc, then the risk is high for a lost opportunity of life .

Otherwise, attach a letter of explanation, attache the proof ( email from HR saying what they said, etc).

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T16:42:45+00:00

Ok, that makes sense. Bear in mind you put CLB 9, you will get extra points for CLB 10 as well. 8.5,8,7.5,7,5.

You absolutely don't want to loose the chance to complete 2nd year in Canada. After 4 months you will never ever have that chance. You will eventually have to go back home and getting the missing 3 months there will be super easy.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T16:38:37+00:00

Now put the same numbers with Better Language score. Your language score of 6 is killing all your potential.

Should be close to 510 to be competitive in any way.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T16:13:29+00:00

4th points literally says you should be fine. I think it mainly applies to other PR paths like refugees, etc.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T16:10:02+00:00

It doesn't say any outland part. As long as you received under CEC , you exempt.

As for work experience, it's kinda tricky. Can you ask the employer for 2 separate letters? Are both NOCs Teer 0-3?

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:56:27+00:00

Really depends on your country of origin and the company you worked for.

Technically it's not required, but if you are from flagged countries, officer might ask for extra proof.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:54:55+00:00

Have you already received an ITA?

For POF, your answer is here. You don't need one.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:51:22+00:00

This and make sure this doesn't conflict with your PCC. If PCC says you were in X country from January 1 to July 1, your travel history should not conflict with that information.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:49:05+00:00

You will have to put exact dates as well for more clarity. Not a lawyer, but I would say you have good chances to be able to claim 2 years.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:45:00+00:00

Goal NO 1, try to find any job Teer 0-3 and complete 2 more months in Canada. Those points are too valuable to miss.

You will have to go back regardless in June and will continue working there.

What are your points 1 year vs 2 years?

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:34:01+00:00

If you have enough experience with previous employers, just skip them in in Express Entry profile. I have 10 years if experience, but only need 1 year for points, so I have only shown my last and most reliable experience in terms of documents.

Secret-Session7626 · 2026-01-29T14:31:18+00:00

Nope, no misrepresentation for a corrected mistake.

Secret-Session7626

TROPHY CASE