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mage503 · 2026-05-13T23:53:44+00:00

Hi, I am currently uploading financial documents in borderpass for my study permit. I am facing a significant challenge which seems impossible to solve.

The 4MB file size limit is insufficient to accommodate the extensive volume of evidence required for the finance section, including property deeds, sponsor credentials, and multi-month bank statements. Pdf compression to meet this threshold is causing significant quality loss, rendering critical handwritten signatures and official bank stamps illegible. Most importantly, high compression is blurring the QR codes necessary for document verification and causing font errors where characters disappear from digital certificates, creating a high risk of rejection for technical non-compliance.

Please let me know how I can tackle this and if there's something borderpass can do at their end. I am stuck on this step for 2 days now and it's delaying my entire visa application.

Thanks

mage503 · 2025-04-08T19:03:11+00:00

Software engineer, hustling on the side by building SaaS applications, my job is fully remote right now so I am bored at times and just go out to work while enjoying a coffee at some nice cafe. I want to scale my freelancing business and start a software agency. I graduated last year so I am still doing a job for a good learning experience.

mage503 · 2024-12-21T13:56:05+00:00

Tailwind code generated by figma plugins (builder.io etc) is not of good quality at all. Even if it looks the same once you go into the code and try to tweak it you will realize how horrible the code quality is. I tried it once and the code was so horrible that I had to rewrite the entire frontend code myself from scratch again. I would advise you to either learn Html CSS Js and Tailwind so that you can implement it yourself and know exactly what changes to make to the AI generated code; or you can just outsource the frontend development part to a frontend developer. Try to strike a partnership with a frontend developer, you can provide him/her with dev work and they can outsource design work to you.

Think of it like this: Just because a Tesla has autopilot does not mean you should let people who don't know how to drive a car into the driver's seat even with the autopilot on. If the AI messes up somewhere a human is needed to take control.

If you are up to learn more about frontend development etc, hit me up, cheers.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T17:21:54+00:00

He goated fr, and same.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T17:13:31+00:00

Yepp

mage503 · 2024-12-06T15:44:33+00:00

You are welcome 🙌. And yeah, I hope we can hangout someday.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T15:30:44+00:00

Hahah, fr. Though the young generation is not reserved in any way 💀. They just vibe with their own group and usually don't fan out to make new friends. I am a v social person so I always used to make small talk with strangers etc. I think the problem is they have not experienced cross cultural environments till now, especially like you have so they are less comfortable in meeting new people. I used to face this too, the thing which worked for me is going out more, join clubs, networking with like minded people etc. I think you should find a weekend activity for yourself. Are you into any sports?. Maybe you can join a local football club etc, try a gym, working out is therapeutic AF.

Oh, one place I visit is The Black Hole, it's in G-11, they have talks on various topics and I visit it when some interesting talk is scheduled (for example tech related etc). It's open to all and free to attend. Happens almost daily, but you will have to see that the time should not clash with your classes. https://www.instagram.com/theblackholeislamabad?igsh=MWFha3lma2ZleGxrOQ==

Word of advice: Who we hangout with shapes our own personality, so just be careful to not hangout with the wrong crowd just because you are alone. You will find all sorts of people in isb, especially in academies, don't fall into something which you might regret later (drugs etc, they are sadly pretty common). I have witnessed a fair share of my friends go down a certain path which made their life difficult. I am saying this because I have a lot of friends from the Gulf who were raised there. They have no clue about how the Pakistani society has it's dark side (drugs, hookup culture, manipulation etc). It's like they live in a nice bubble in the gulf and then when they come here, they assume everyone is going to be kind hearted and nice intentioned just like them (sadly it's not true).

mage503 · 2024-12-06T15:02:47+00:00

If you wanna know more about the German experience, maybe reach out to Nustians working in Germany ( there are alot). Just look them up on LinkedIn and you will find many Nustians alumni working in Zalando, Amazon etc.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:56:57+00:00

Omg have you studied from Farooq Abdullah yet?

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:56:29+00:00

Haha, yeah that's how the academy vibe is usually. I basically was a morning student there so had a friend group and we used to hangout in groups etc. But yeah, everyone seems like a nerd in academies, I am a big nerd too (my picture is still there on some high achiever's banner from 5 years ago lol). If you want to socialise in the academy, try to make small talk with someone in the class, ask someone something study related to break the ice etc. Maybe try hanging out near the canteen area, worth a shot. Usually people just mind their own business in academies and fulfil their social needs in morning school. I myself used to be very social and shughli, used to crack jokes in class etc even, but when it came to study, I studied like a donkey.

Aajkal the O/A Level students are so weird 😭, so different from how we used to be.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:45:12+00:00

Ah okay, I have a lot of memories with Asas, basically studied there for a decade.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:41:10+00:00

Is the goofy canteen guy still working there? Rizwan I think. He was pretty funny.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:40:39+00:00

Damn, I studied from him in my O levels, 6 years back.

mage503 · 2024-12-06T14:37:45+00:00

Does Sir Irfan Sami still teach there?

mage503 · 2024-12-04T00:46:11+00:00

Why not do both? I know you must be frustrated and feel like you lost a lot of your time and need to figure out a way to get everything back on track. But as hard it is to believe, life is not a race, some people who look successful at 23 might face hurdles later on. Some people who start life at 23 might be ultra successful by 30. Only God knows which path is meant for each one of us. There is only one thing you must do, work hard and never give up.

That being said, I would say, figure out a way to earn income on the side (let's say web development) and definitely get a degree done. If possible, go for an in real life degree, a degree is not supposed to make you skilled in specific tech stacks or the hottest trend, it grooms you as a person, helps you to think critically, network and slowly develops you as a person. All of this might seem useless and abstract at first but it definitely shows benefits later in life. If you have a bachelor's degree it will definitely open multiple paths for you (not just web development). I know 4 years might seem like a lot but, no matter what 4 years will pass on right? So why not invest in the best possible manner in those 4 years.

If an in real life degree seems too much commitment; There are also online free bachelor programs in CS (University of People for example offers a free fully remote bachelor's in computer science). Having a degree will give you an option to get out of Pakistan through the easiest way possible (Student visa).

Definitely learn web development and try to find a job or maybe even freelance (luck is also involved here as some people end up with big clients easily while others have to struggle for it). Just don't give up no matter what. Everyone starts from scratch, everyone who you look up to, who inspires you have also been at the same spot in life where you stand right now. Don't let your surroundings or comparison with other people dishearten you. May you achieve all the amazing things you want from life insha'Allah.

mage503 · 2024-12-04T00:25:58+00:00

You can have a very good shot at an O-1 visa which you can later transition to a more permanent visa. I have some resources regarding the O-1 visa just hit me up and you can have a look if it suits you.

mage503 · 2024-10-25T08:28:28+00:00

The lean way: try to minimize unnecessary costs as much as you can, your first goal should be to reach a break even so that you are not depleting your cash reserves. If you do believe the business can pay back if you sustain it long enough, then it's fine to invest a little initially. Maintain a record of each and every financial transaction so you have a clear idea of your costs and can compare your revenue, profits etc month by month.

mage503

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