【转】Chris Zhang：35岁专利代理人申请交互媒体｜附学习计划

给家人们报个喜讯，今早起来查看邮箱发现IRCC的邮件，登录账号之后看到了OPR通知。

我申请的学校是Ottawa的Algonquin College，专业Interactive Media Design，5月开学。

我在去年8月进的群，在考雅思和办理签证的过程里收到了群友们的许多帮助和关心，再次表示感谢。

把我的个人经历和签证申请结果梳理一下，希望能帮助到有需要的群友。

个人情况：

我今年35岁，出生和成长在北方的一个小县城，北漂9年，未婚单身无房无车，护照上只有一个去泰国旅游的章。大学在一个双非院校读了个机械专业的硕士，毕业后去北京从事一份小众工作——专利代理人，前几年进了互联网大厂的法务部门，赶上了互联网行业最后辉煌的两年。在2021年历经了两回裁员，现在在一个中型游戏公司的法务部门继续做专利方面的工作。

想出国应该是很早就有的念头，最早可能要追溯到大学的时候听室友讲他的姑姑移民到加拿大的生活，当时就对加拿大有了一些向往。转眼毕业十多年过去了，一直没有付诸行动，可能还是对定居北京结婚买房这些事留有幻想。真正开始行动是在去年的8月份，在过完35岁生日之后，好像感受到了命运的召唤，再也无法忍受现在浑浑噩噩的生活状态，具体原因跟当下的大环境和公司的工作氛围都有关系。

当时开始在网上到处找出国的方法，一开始毫无头绪，有幸让我看到了群主的视频，从雅思备考心得的视频一直看到赴加拿大读完第一学期，仿佛看了一场留学移民的真人秀。群主的分享让我了解了留学移民的方法和办理过程，整个人有一种豁然开朗、拨开眼前迷雾的感觉。而且在8月中旬做了一套雅思阅读模拟题，居然直接得了7分，让我更加有了出国的信心和动力。

择校和专业确定：

随后就是选学校和专业，因为我本人对摄影有一些爱好，最近一年又在学习AI生成影像的制作，有一些作品在国内的一个艺术展上还进行了展出一开始打算学摄影专业，看了几个学校之后发现都在9月开学，打算早点去加拿大就没有选择学摄影。搜索5月开学的专业时，发现了Algonquin College的交互媒体设计专业，了解之后发现这个专业的就业面更广，是一个结合技术和艺术的专业，更加适合我，再调研了Ottawa的地理位置和生活环境，于是确定了Algonquin College。

简单梳理签证申请的时间线：

2023年8月：

准备雅思考试，报名11月底雅思考试；

2023年9月：

选择学校和专业，确定了Algonquin College的Interactive Media Design专业，2024年春季学期，5月开学；

2023年10月：

准备申请学校的材料，主要是高中成绩单、大学成绩单等，大学成绩单在网上找的跑腿代办，所有成绩单在淘宝找了翻译公司进行翻译；中间考了两次多领国，成绩都未达标，遂放弃多邻国，专心备考雅思；

2023年11月：

11月中旬提交了入学名额占位申请，未提交雅思成绩，一周后拿到入学邀请信，学校要求需在12月15日前提交雅思成绩；在11月25日参加雅思考试，月底成绩出来，总分6分；

2023年12月：

准备签证申请材料，自己构思了留学的逻辑思路，写了解释信中文版本，再用gpt4翻译为英文，未找人润色。在微信小程序上办理了无犯罪记录证明，淘宝找人翻译，未公证；12月9日提交申请，提交后发现无犯罪记录证明忘了上传，又用webform补交，5天后收到补交成功的通知；

2024年1月：

查到体检记录一直未关联，webform提交体检回执并催签两次；1月16日收到OPR。

我的解释信思路：

由于我的专业（机械）、工作（专利代理人）、留学专业（交互媒体设计）主打一个互相不挨着，所以解释信里的留学逻辑很重要，我的解释思路是：我是一个一直喜欢学习新事物并且喜欢尝试不同生活的人，所以我毕业之后没有从事本专业工作去做一个机械工程师，而是自学了专利法等知识，开始了专利代理工作，在为互联网行业的客户服务时，自学了互联网领域的知识，所以顺利去了互联网行业进行工作，在与公司里的UX设计师进行专利申请的业务沟通时，又学习了一些UX设计的知识，此外，我在摄影领域还有一些成绩，这些基础让我对UX设计师的工作产生了兴趣，打算去加拿大进行学习。

详细的思路在解释信原文里，供大家参考。

一些心得体会：

说实话从确定要出国之后，总是处在焦虑之中，因为对未来要发生的事情实在是不够确定。可能跟我的性格有关系，也担心自己年龄大了之后，做出出国生活这种重大决定，没有容错的时间和修改的机会。事后回想，其实许多的焦虑和担心都是多余的，但是身在当时的环境里，实在是很难解脱出来。建议大家有心事多找找疏解的方法，避免多余的焦虑影响生活。

我在今年开始大规模使用chatgpt办公，自己反复调试prompt，构建了一套工作流程，许多工作说实话用chatgpt处理都能取得不错的效果。备考雅思的时候，我使用chatgpt讲解生词和语法、生成作文模板，对英语学习有很大的帮助。写解释信的时候也是用gpt4做的翻译，当时出了三四版翻译，有平铺直译的，也有使用高级词汇和复杂语法翻译的，我自己根据这些翻译做了一个汇总，没有找母语者再润色，甚至有一些解释信的逻辑思路也是用gpt4的提示获得的灵感。个人感受是，我们有幸赶上了人工智能时代的开始，未来只要是跟文字和信息相关的行业，都要受到人工智能的影响，利用好AI技术，可以让普通人快速高效的获取到有用的知识和信息，帮助普通人完成许多之前看起来难以实现的事情。有条件的话，建议群友们都尽可能的多学习一些人工智能知识。

Dear Visa Officer,

My name is Chris Zhang and living in Beijing, China. I am applying for a study visa to attend Algonquin College in Ottawa, for the Interactive Media Design program. With a background in Mechanical Engineering but extensive experience as a patent agent and independent artist, I am now embarking on a new journey to become a User Experience Designer.

Below is my personal introduction and future study and career plan.

About Myself: Exploring Diverse Paths, From Patent Agent to Artist

I have always been driven by the desire to explore new ways of living, acquire new knowledge, and develop skills that expand the possibilities in my life beyond predetermined paths.

After earning my Master's in Mechanical Engineering in 2015, I chose a different career path from most of my peers. I ventured into patent law, became a patent agent after self-directed study and later earned my professional certification. Working with internet enterprise clients led me to acquire foundational knowledge in the internet industry. This journey brought me to a giant internet company, where I initially focused on patent consultancy(this job is also called “Patent Engineer”) within a gaming department. Subsequently, I transitioned to my current role at a gaming company, where I'm immersing myself in AI technologies like ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion.

In parallel, my passion for photography and digital art has flourished in recent years. I have continually developed my skills in photography, image processing, and video production. My works have gained notable online attention, including over 21 million views and 156,000 downloads on Unsplash[1]. Additionally, my photographs have been featured on Fujifilm's official website in China[2], and my digital portraits were selected by Photo Vogue [3]. In 2023, I participated in two art exhibitions in China, showcasing several digital images and attending an opening as an independent artist[4]. These accomplishments reflect my experience with AI imaging tools at my current job.

My insatiable curiosity and passion for continuous learning and skill development are central to my life philosophy.

Decision to Change Careers: Why I Chose to Become a User Experience Designer

This year marks a pivotal moment in my life, as I've decided to transition from patent consultancy to becoming a User Experience Designer. This decision stems partly from the limited growth prospects in my current role in China, where both my income and job responsibilities have plateaued. Moreover, my recent engagement with AI products, like developing and refining ChatGPT prompts for patent work, signals the imminent AI-driven transformation of many patent consultancy tasks. These factors, combined with my work experience and artistic achievements, have steered me towards a career intertwining technology and art.

My interest in User Experience Design developed during my tenure as a patent consultant, where I processed numerous patent applications involving human-computer interaction schemes designed to enhance user experience. To effectively handle these applications and communicate with designer colleagues(many of whom later became my friends), I self-taught relevant skills, including product management, UI design, and user experience principles, along with proficiency in UI design software like Figma. I actively participated in conceptualizing user interaction designs to meet patent requirements, affirming my aptitude in UI layout and user interaction design.

These experiences provided me a deep interesting of User Experience Design. This profession allows me to leverage my technical and artistic strengths, providing a fulfilling and rewarding career. Furthermore, User Experience Design is a high-income industry in China, with a growing demand for professionals in many large companies and foreign enterprises. Pursuing this career path offers a prospect of a stable income and an improved quality of life.

Reason for Choosing Canadian Education and My Current Program

In order to become a User Experience designer, I decided to go back to school and continue studying. The decision to study in Canada is twofold:

Firstly, suitable programs meeting the User Experience Designer job requirements are scarce in China. Universities like the Communication University of China[5], Sun Yat-sen University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University[6] have recently introduced related courses, but according to feedback from their students and my designer friends' insights, their curriculum lacks industry relevance. Most of my designer friends acquired their skills through practical work experience, not in universities. Additionally, attending these universities would require participation in the Chinese national entrance exam, necessitating study in unrelated subjects, which is an inefficient use of my time. Additionally, the duration of these Chinese programs typically spans three years for a master's degree and four years for a bachelora's degree, which is too lengthy for my aspirations.

Secondly, as recommended by my designer friends with overseas study experience and my own research, Canada is the ideal destination for my studies. Known for its high-quality, practical education, Canadian institutions offer well-established user experience design programs that blend theoretical learning with practical projects. These programs are equipped with advanced technology and facilities, ensuring applicability in real-world work environments. The multicultural and international learning environment in Canada will also enhance my global perspective, crucial for my career as a designer.

For the reasons above, I selected Algonquin College's Interactive Media Design program and received an acceptance letter. This choice was driven by the program's comprehensive curriculum, offering essential subjects like User Experience Design starting as early as the second semester[7]. Additionally, I will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge in web design, video production, and animation – all of which are highly relevant to my professional development. Furthermore, the program includes an internship opportunity during the third semester, allowing me to apply what I learn in a local work environment. Another compelling reason for choosing this institution is its location in Ottawa, a prominent arts hub in Canada. With its renowned museums and art exhibitions, Ottawa provides a fertile ground for artistic inspiration and opportunities to showcase my creative work.

My Learning Goals and Future Plans in China

My goal over the next two years is to deeply understand and master the core theories and skills of user experience design. I intend to actively participate in all projects and practical activities within the course, ensuring comprehensive understanding and application of user experience design principles. Additionally, I plan to leverage the resources and facilities at Algonquin College, like video production equipment, to enhance my professional skills. Engaging in school and community activities will also expand my network and understanding of Canadian culture and society, which could enriching my perspective as a designer.

If I am eligible for a post-graduation work permit in Canada, I am open to gaining initial work experience there as a User Experience Designer. However, if I am unable to secure legal residency, I am committed to returning to China to seek opportunities in this field.

Working in Canada temporarily will be greatly beneficial for employment in China, as large enterprises, and foreign companies value international experience. Furthermore, as a high-income profession in China[8], the demand for User Experience Designers with international perspectives and advanced skills is on the rise. My overseas study and work experience, especially from a technologically and design-advanced country like Canada, will significantly increase my chances of securing a high-paying job in China.

I firmly believe that my education and practical experiences in Canada will shape me into an exceptional User Experience Designer, enabling me to succeed professionally and contribute positively to enhancing user experiences. I eagerly look forward to the learning journey at Algonquin College and the opportunities it will bring for my future.Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,

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