Canada: Proof of funds for student

[Mike V 56]

Our son in the Philippines (Philippine citizen, never been out of PH) plans to attend Algonquin College's 8 month "personal support worker" (caregiver) course starting next January in Ottawa.  One of the requirements listed by Canadian immigration for students is:

 

• bring proof that you have enough money to support yourself 

 

He has virtually nothing himself.  Funding will come from:

 

• Room & board will be provided by wife's cousin already living in Ottawa
• Wife & I are accumulating enough for his tuition (approx. US $6200) in her savings account
• His younger brother (in Minneapolis with us) will buy his plane ticket
• I had to charge his application fee on my Visa card
• He will need a laptop at school, which I will probably purchase/ship via Amazon
• I will cover any quarantine hotel costs, either with Hilton points or by credit card

 

What's the best way to document his funding when he has next to nothing in his pocket or bank account?

 

He'll be very disappointed if this doesn't work out.  He would have been with us here already, except that he "aged out" in March, 2017, when my wife was diverted to two months of TB testing.

[SalishSea 16,772]

31 minutes ago, Mike V said:

Our son in the Philippines (Philippine citizen, never been out of PH) plans to attend Algonquin College's 8 month "personal support worker" (caregiver) course starting next January in Ottawa.  One of the requirements listed by Canadian immigration for students is:

 

• bring proof that you have enough money to support yourself 

 

He has virtually nothing himself.  Funding will come from:

 

• Room & board will be provided by wife's cousin already living in Ottawa
• Wife & I are accumulating enough for his tuition (approx. US $6200) in her savings account
• His younger brother (in Minneapolis with us) will buy his plane ticket
• I had to charge his application fee on my Visa card
• He will need a laptop at school, which I will probably purchase/ship via Amazon
• I will cover any quarantine hotel costs, either with Hilton points or by credit card

 

What's the best way to document his funding when he has next to nothing in his pocket or bank account?

 

He'll be very disappointed if this doesn't work out.  He would have been with us here already, except that he "aged out" in March, 2017, when my wife was diverted to two months of TB testing.

Seems like a lot of money to spend on a "caregiver course" leading to a minimum-wage job.  And how will it lead to him being able to live and work in the US?

 

 

[Crazy Cat 39,257]

19 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Seems like a lot of money to spend on a "caregiver course" leading to a minimum-wage job.  And how will it lead to him being able to live and work in the US?

 

 

I am also a little perplexed.  Wouldn't this kind of course be a lot less expensive in the Philippines?  

[Crazy Cat 39,257]

1 hour ago, Mike V said:

Our son in the Philippines (Philippine citizen, never been out of PH) plans to attend Algonquin College's 8 month "personal support worker" (caregiver) course starting next January in Ottawa.  One of the requirements listed by Canadian immigration for students is:

 

• bring proof that you have enough money to support yourself 

 

He has virtually nothing himself.  Funding will come from:

 

• Room & board will be provided by wife's cousin already living in Ottawa
• Wife & I are accumulating enough for his tuition (approx. US $6200) in her savings account
• His younger brother (in Minneapolis with us) will buy his plane ticket
• I had to charge his application fee on my Visa card
• He will need a laptop at school, which I will probably purchase/ship via Amazon
• I will cover any quarantine hotel costs, either with Hilton points or by credit card

 

What's the best way to document his funding when he has next to nothing in his pocket or bank account?

 

He'll be very disappointed if this doesn't work out.  He would have been with us here already, except that he "aged out" in March, 2017, when my wife was diverted to two months of TB testing.

I am curious.  What is his goal and purpose for taking this course?

[Mike V 56]

Does anyone actually have suggestions in answer to my question?

[Ontarkie 13,917]

The only thing I can think of is do a list like you showed above. 

A letter from the cousin showing how he will be staying with them. 

Bank statements from your wife showing she can pay the tuition

Just explain it the best you can. 

 

Is his end goal to stay in Canada?

 

[Ontarkie 13,917]

For others in Canada a PSW makes much more than minimum wage. 13 yrs ago they were over 18$ an hour. They are not the US equivalent of a health care aid. Sadly they don't transfer to anything better in US though. 

Edited July 21, 2021 by Ontarkie

[SalishSea 16,772]

11 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

For others in Canada a PSW makes much more than minimum wage. 13 yrs ago they were over 18$ an hour. They are not the US equivalent of a health care aid. Sadly they don't transfer to anything better in US though. 

That is close to what they earn here in the Seattle area I believe.  Unfortunately, that is a poverty wage here.

[Ontarkie 13,917]

56 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

That is close to what they earn here in the Seattle area I believe.  Unfortunately, that is a poverty wage here.

Well that was 13 yrs ago, it's gone up since then. Here in Arkansas you're lucky to find something much more then 8-10 an hour. With health insurance and everything else you have to pay here it's not worth the back breaking work they put you through.

 

Different story is he's staying in Ontario

[SalishSea 16,772]

3 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Well that was 13 yrs ago, it's gone up since then. Here in Arkansas you're lucky to find something much more then 8-10 an hour. With health insurance and everything else you have to pay here it's not worth the back breaking work they put you through.

 

Different story is he's staying in Ontario

Interesting, since RNs in Canada earn so much less than RNs here!

[Adventine 3,187]

The only other thing

3 hours ago, Mike V said:

Our son in the Philippines (Philippine citizen, never been out of PH) plans to attend Algonquin College's 8 month "personal support worker" (caregiver) course starting next January in Ottawa.  One of the requirements listed by Canadian immigration for students is:

 

• bring proof that you have enough money to support yourself 

 

He has virtually nothing himself.  Funding will come from:

 

• Room & board will be provided by wife's cousin already living in Ottawa
• Wife & I are accumulating enough for his tuition (approx. US $6200) in her savings account
• His younger brother (in Minneapolis with us) will buy his plane ticket
• I had to charge his application fee on my Visa card
• He will need a laptop at school, which I will probably purchase/ship via Amazon
• I will cover any quarantine hotel costs, either with Hilton points or by credit card

 

What's the best way to document his funding when he has next to nothing in his pocket or bank account?

 

He'll be very disappointed if this doesn't work out.  He would have been with us here already, except that he "aged out" in March, 2017, when my wife was diverted to two months of TB testing.

 

I don't know much about Canadian immigration, but here are other things that I can think of to strengthen his case:

• letters from all his "sponsors" (so you, your wife, his younger brother, your wife's cousin), committing to helping with his expenses
• if the sponsors are employed, letters of employment or tax transcripts to show where the funds are coming from

One last suggestion which is a little late, but could be useful in the future: could your wife and stepson not create a joint PH bank account, so that he has proof of "his own" funds whenever he needs it for a visa application? The funds can be in PHP or USD.

 

 

Edited July 21, 2021 by Adventine

[Mike V 56]

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

The only thing I can think of is do a list like you showed above. 

A letter from the cousin showing how he will be staying with them. 

Bank statements from your wife showing she can pay the tuition

Just explain it the best you can. 

 

Is his end goal to stay in Canada?

 

Thank you!

 

At this point his plan would be to stay in Canada.  Most foreign graduates of that program remain in Canada as permanent residents.  His girlfriend (currently working as an au pair in Denmark) is a nutritionist and is also interested in Canadian opportunities.  Canada is seriously seeking immigrants, and unlike the U.S. they are not focused on people who will have $60K+ salaries.

 

Of the 3 children still in PH, this one dropped out of college and has no other clear path out of PH except to wait another 8+ years for his priority date to come up.  The other two will be much better positioned -- daughter already has her degree & first teaching job & is starting grad school (SPED, ESL).  Other brother (English major, trying to get him to focus on ESL) is a year behind her.  There are serious shortages of both SPED & ESL teachers in the U.S.

 

"Caregiver" isn't always the minimum wage job some think it is.  My wife has been working as a caregiver in a nursing home for 3+ years, earns $15.40 / hour with full benefits and lots of overtime.  But other than becoming a CNA & a lead caregiver (she's already both) there's no further career path.

[Lemonslice 4,555]

Algonquin College should be able to assist you; they probably have an office to assist International students.  

[DBSmama 8]

My daughter has been in Canada for school for the last 5 years(she is dual citizen of Japan and the US).  As I'm assuming your son is applying for the study permit, you just need to submit the balance statement from the bank.  It doesn't need to be his bank account.  It could be your wife's or yours.  You just need to show there's sufficient amount to cover his stay and tuition for the course he's taking.  I submit my bank statement every time she needs to renew her permit and have never had a problem.  

[SalishSea 16,772]

4 hours ago, Mike V said:

"Caregiver" isn't always the minimum wage job some think it is.  My wife has been working as a caregiver in a nursing home for 3+ years, earns $15.40

I guess it's all relative.   That is minimum wage where I live.