The Visa Officer

High Commission of Canada

Sub: Application in response to visa refusal received on DD/MM/YYYY

Dear Sir/Madam,

I, Tarun Singh, hereby state that I had applied for a Graduate Certificate Program in Project Management at Conestoga College. I had also received the Letter of Acceptance from the College, with the program set to commence in May 2022. However, to my dismay, my visa application was rejected on the following grounds:

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, as stipulated in subsection 216(1) of the IRPR, based on the purpose of your visit.
• Your proposed studies are not reasonable in light of: your qualifications, previous studies, mark sheets, academic record, level of establishment and/or your future prospects and plans.

Through this application, I intend to put forth my reasons of visiting Canada, my plans for the future and I wish to establish that I have no plans to stay in Canada post the completion of the chosen program.

Purpose of Visit

My reason to visit Canada is to soak in its educational offerings and exposure and benefit from its rich cultural diversity. I am a Civil Engineer by profession and have been engaged in this industry for two and a half years now. I have had the chance to handle various projects and this experience has made me realize my potential in Project Management. But when it comes to applying for higher-level managerial positions, my profile is overlooked due to the absence of a degree that would back my knowledge of Project Management. Candidates who own good management degrees under their belt are given preference, and to be able to match industry standards, I realize that I need to back myself with an educational background that will strengthen my employment prospects in my home country and will help me move up the corporate ladder. It is the zeal to fill the gaps in my existing profile that makes me give it the form of a higher education program from Canada. The task of managing a project right from its inception to its completion, and ensuring that the project goals are brought to fruition within the given constraints is what I need to master.

The Graduate Certificate Program in Project Management aligns ideally with my learning requirements, offering just the kind of push I need to excel in my preferred field. The program has been tailored as per the recent industry trends and amalgamates theory and practice to ensure that the students acquire a comprehensive understanding of the very knack for successfully planning and executing projects. While there were similar programs available in my home country, those majorly focused on the theoretical aspect of learning, which is not what I require at this stage in my career. On the other hand, Canadian education emphasizes practical exposure and offers skill-building that matches the requirements of the industry. The program that I have chosen is encompassed by Conestoga College, an institution that is highly regarded for its quality of education, erudite faculty, small class sizes, and programs that cater to impart skills applicable in the real world. I am certain that international educational exposure will transform me into a learned professional in the times ahead and will prepare me for the competitive job environment in the field of Project Management in India. Through the program, I am eager to extract every bit of learning being imparted to me and grow holistically.

Academic and professional qualifications

On both academic and professional fronts, I have been presented with enough opportunities that have set the course for my growth and have propelled me to pursue higher education to elevate my profile. I am a Civil Engineering graduate and have work experience of two and a half years in the same field. I have worked at Aggarwal Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd as a Highway and Lab Engineer. I joined in August 2019 and was entrusted with the responsibility of managing a highway project that included planning the same, preparing the estimates, undertaking quality control, and ensuring that everything was going as planned. I also was accountable for managing and training a team of 15 people, and managing the schedule and budget of the project. In the construction industry, projects often fail to meet the deadlines and cost estimates, which is why sound planning, budgeting, and execution are important. As I worked to bring the project to fruition, I faced challenges in the efficient management of people and scheduling and budgeting of the project. This experience made me realize that my existing knowledge is not enough. That was when I felt the need for background knowledge of project planning and education, coupled with the management of people, technology, and resources.

Previous studies and Academic Record

I have completed my schooling from the Central Board of Secondary Education, and have pursued BTech from BBS Engineering College, Greater Noida which is affiliated with Abdul Kalam Technical University. I completed my matriculation in the year 2012 securing a CGPA of 7.7. I then opted for the science stream and completed my intermediate education in 2015, with an aggregate of 70 percent. I then opted for a BTech program in Civil Engineering and completed it in 2019, with an aggregate of  63.46 percent. All the supporting documents have been attached alongside this application for your kind perusal.

Relevance of proposed studies to previous background

Having acquired a sound academic and professional base of Civil Engineering, I do possess a strong bracket of technical skills. What I lack is the managerial adroitness to take up complex projects. The program that I have opted for ideally meets these learning requirements through subjects such as Project leadership and team management and Project planning schedule and budget. I am confident that the program will help me attain the required managerial exposure and will prepare me for future high-profile positions in the industry. All in all, considering my requirements and zeal to grow into bigger shoes and to bridge the gap between engineering and management, this program is an ideal progression. I have also completed a certification course in Engineering Project Management from BBU University, which will be instrumental in enhancing my understanding of the chosen course.

Level of Establishment

In India, we are well-established with sizable properties valued at INR 2,13,00,000 (CAD 3,52,831), movable assets amounting to INR 1,03,053 (CAD 1,717.55) and cash assets amounting to INR 70,28,753 (CAD 116,430). I assure you that we are financially secure and my parents are fully capable of comfortably sponsoring my education. My father will be sponsoring my education and has already paid the one-year tuition fee (CAD 17,336.62) to the college and has also submitted CAD 10,000 against the GIC in the CIBC Bank. I am fortunate to be a part of a close-knit, loving family consisting of my father, mother, and younger brother. My father is a Civil Engineer by profession, currently serving as the Joint General Manager at the Ministry of Railway, Government of India. My mother is a homemaker and my sister is currently pursuing Mechanical Engineering. I stay with my family in New Delhi, India. My parents have supported me in all my endeavors and have pushed me to do better in life. It is because of them that I have reached this far.

Future prospects

My reasons to pursue the graduate certificate program are related to my plans for the future, post returning to my home country. After completing the program, I wish to come back to India to kickstart a rewarding career in Project Management. I seek to join a reputed organization and secure a high-level managerial position, applying the newfound knowledge and skills towards the continuous growth of the firm I serve. I plan to plan and execute complex and large-scale projects that the firm deals with and be at the forefront of development. All in all, my aim is to acquire a strong professional experience, to be able to give form to my long-term vision of starting a venture. I possess a strong entrepreneurial mindset and I intend to be my own boss. Thus, after acquiring sufficient industrial exposure, I intend to incorporate it all towards making the business a huge success. I wish to make my family proud, thus serving as their pillar of support in the future. My parents are aging and within a couple of years, they will be needing the support of me and my sister. Being the elder son in the family, I cannot have my sister shoulder all the responsibilities. Thus, in addition to starting a business, being with my family is also a major reason for me to return to India and settling there itself. Thus, I assure you that my reasons for visiting Canada are purely academic.

Conclusion

I hereby declare that I am fully mindful of the Canadian Immigration Rules and will abide by those during the course of my stay in India. I have secured my finances to manage my educational journey and have also proven my proficiency in English by clearing the IELTS. I have secured an overall band of 7.9, with 7.5 in Listening, 8.5 in Reading, 9.0 in Writing, and 6.5 in Speaking. Please refer to the relevant documents enclosed as proof. I would now like to thank you for a patient and thorough perusal of my application.

Sincerely,

Tarun Singh