Canadian Immigration and ACCA, CIMA, CFA or CMA

[Toronto_Boy]

Dear Rizwan

Welcome to Canada. Your initial time would be difficult, but later you would enjoy straightforward and peaceful life. Don’t be discouraged with difficulties, every new immigrant goes through these. Your hard work for ACMA(P) ensures that you are quite capable of bearing difficulties of upgrading your qualification as per Canadian requirements. With efforts, you would be settled here one day InshaAllah. Though it would take some time (months/years), but it would be a temporary phase. Every one has passed through this phase, so don’t worry you would not be alone.

If your immigration visa is not expiring, I would suggest you to come here after mid March next year. Though job market is picking up, still it has effects of recession. Moreover, job postings remain at quite low level in December and January. Also, you would not be exposed to this kind of winter which would leave a bad impression on you. It would be like “sar mundatay hi olay parna”. Still, it is your choice.

In my opinion, CMA Canada is better option for you. As member of ICMA(P), enterance exam (biggest hurdle) of CMA Canada is exempt to you. So you may start directly 2 year CMA SLP program. It would be easier than taking leftover 7 CGA exams, less time and efforts consuming, and closer to CMA cost wise. Though CMA cost is Cad $9,500 for 2 years (to be paid in installments in 2 years), but if you calculate total cost of leftover papers of CGA, CGA annual student membership fees, initial evaluation fees, fees if you fail in one or two papers, the total CGA fees would be closer to CMAs Cad$ 9,500. In any case, CGAs leftover papers would easily eat-up your 3 years. CGA allows only one paper per semester and usually 3 papers per year. Also, PA1 and PA2 must need 6 months time difference before each PA1 and PA2. These are offered only twice a year and a candidate must have passed all other papers before enrolling for PA1. Usually, students take university equivalent courses (of CGA courses) up-to level 4 from any approved Canadian university as these are relatively easy.

However, CMA requires a relevant job along-with SLP studies. So, if they allow you somehow or if you quickly get a reasonable job which CMA accepts, then CMA would be a good option in your case. You may get student loan for CMA or CGA studies. Don’t worry about the amount, you would repay total amount within 2 or 3 months of salary of any reasonable job.

Off-course, mentioning 4th level student of CGA on resume brings weight for employers. Distant learning or in class both options are available for CGA courses. Mostly students take distant learning option.

From winter point of view, I would say, buy some leggings (5 or 6), don’t buy sweaters as no one wears sweaters here, don’t buy any other type of Jackets except one or at-most two leather Jackets. You would have to buy a regular Jacket from here right after landing which would be according to fashion here. Couple of suits (i.e. Coat Pant etc. for formal interviews, but not many). Absolutely no overcoats. One pair of gloves and a muffler. You would have to buy more of these things from here. Bring some formal shirts (at-least 12) and pants (at-least 6), your laptop if you have (you must need a computer here to apply for jobs, however you may buy a desktop or laptop here which are generally cheap). Couple of jeans and leather shoes. Also, other regular stuff and pants/shirts/T shirts. Bring you medicines of at-least 3 months of supplies, as a new immigrant become eligible for free medical services after 3 months from date of landing, otherwise you would have to pay for doctor’s fees. Check and get prescription glasses if you need. Get dental work done if you need. Eye test, dental work, prescription (eye) glasses are not covered and quite expensive so you would have to pay if you need. Don’t forget software CDs of your need.

I hope it helps.

Best Wishes