Hi Guys,
So, we followed the thread suggested by @
Eveslm and found it best to reach out to IRCC Contact Centre to have a clarification regarding the mail. Here is what we found out.
1) The mail was sent in error as one only have to be in status when the IRCC receive your OWP application. Once the OWP application is accepted by IRCC you move onto implied status automatically and even if you apply for extension of visitor visa, they will not process it as they can see you are on implied status; given your OWP and PR application is in process. In this case they will refund you the visitor visa extension fee - We hope they follow it as well; they have messed up some cases in the past.
2) December 2019 and January 2020 OWP applications are expected to be processed by End-of August 2020. Do not expect much movement in July 2020.
3) The agents said they have not even touched in-land spousal application (paper application to be particular) received after October 2019 (not OWP, but spouse PR application). She told because of the Covid-19 situation you can expect an increase processing times of 4-6 months.
Having said that, we still do not believe IRCC agents 100% because the agents have gave us some wrong information in the past. So, we actually called the IRCC twice and both the agents pretty much told us the same thing.
Hope this info helps clarify things for all of us.
Enjoy the weekend!!!