Calling CIC / converting from student to visitor

[timothyj]

So, I'm trying to call CIC's call center within Canada and no matter what options I select, it goes to transfer me to an agent, then tells me that it can't transfer me and hangs up. Anyone else having this problem? I've gotten through to them before but yeah, this is just crazy.

Otherwise I'm on a study permit that expires at the end of the month, waiting on a work permit but not sure if it will be issued in time. If it won't, I'll need to convert to Visitor status and have no idea how to do this (except by calling CIC which is currently impossible, it seems). The tricky part is it's a WHP permit which they've only JUST started processing through CIC's online system and there's absolutely no way to tell how long their processing is for it, as it's not mentioned anywhere on the CIC website.

Any tips, either for the call center or converting to visitor status?

 

[dbss]

hey

I know this is an issue with CIC's calling centre...there is nothing you can do but try again....sometimes I have been connected when I call them the 2nd or 3rd time and sometimes not even the whole day...you need to keep calling them to get hold of them..there is a trick I came to know from CBSA last year,,,don't know if it still works or not?

You may contact CIC at 1-888-242-2100 or if calling from outside of Canada at 1-613-944-4000 (long distance charges may apply). To speak directly to a representative, press 1 for English, 2 for Immigration, and 0 four times.

For your work permit, I am not sure but I think you will be under Implied status

 

[kman14]

As far I know, you will have an implied status as long as you've submitted the application prior the expiry date.
Therefore, until a decision is made, you can stay.
A CIC agent should have the answer for this.

 

[dbss]

I was able to get hold of cic yesterday in the 10th attempt..