CIC representatives do NOT always know what they are doing

[naijabelle]

Hello fellow CEC-ers,

Let this be a cautionary tale to take the advice of the CIC reps with a grain of salt. I started my BOWP application online and for some reason it kept telling me my transaction was not approved even though I KNEW i had sufficient funds on my cc as well as the correct account info. So I started freaking out and posted two messages on this forum. In the meantime, I called CIC for help. I was put through to the "electronic help" people and spoke to a CIC rep who was VERY ADAMANT that the reason my transaction was not been approved was because I was applying under BOWP and there was no way the visa officer would grant me the permit.

Granted, after spending time on this site, I knew he was wrong but I was confused because a) it is his JOB to know these things and b) it is his JOB to know these things.

Long story short, turns out my credit card company placed a temporary hold on my account to verify some information. I tried again after the cc company fixed the glitch and I was able to submit my application.

The moral of the story is CIC reps do not always know what they are suppose to know and you will probably be well served following the advice of the experienced people here than listening to the reps.

Just wanted to share my story and apologize for the freaked out posts earlier. Cheers

 

[MenicMonday]

I just posted something similar in another thread.

- Different reps will give you different answers
- They will take their time to browse and look at the same website you are looking at and just read to you what's there, and probably give their own interpretation

I did have a nice experience talking to a VO though when I got a call from CIC.

 

[InfoSeeker12]

Yep. Its true. They were all confused last year around January time when BOWP was introduced. They were not sure about the regulations and kept giving contradictory information. I'm so glad that I knew this forum as we helped each other sort the information out here.

So yes, CIC call center is not always right on. Best thing, call them up few times to get the same answer. But getting through to them takes so long, i never had the patience to call them again and re-check the info with another CIC agent.

 

[Goku]

Yep. Its true. They were all confused last year around January time when BOWP was introduced. They were not sure about the regulations and kept giving contradictory information. I'm so glad that I knew this forum as we helped each other sort the information out here.

So yes, CIC call center is not always right on. Best thing, call them up few times to get the same answer. But getting through to them takes so long, i never had the patience to call them again and re-check the info with another CIC agent.

It takes hardly 2-4 minutes to get to them in morning. I reached 3 times in 10 minutes just to get correct answer. 2 VO had same opinion and 1 had different.

 

[MenicMonday]

I do ask for their name and note down the time of the call. Plus I use my OneNote since they record the call as well.
I use Google Talk so even if it there's a queue it doesn't matter.

 

[naijabelle]

Never talk behind the back. If you have the guts, call them and tell them those things whatever you are saying here.

what the heck are you going on about? I am warning people to take the advice of ONE rep with a grain of salt. And yes, I called back and told them exactly that.

 

[naijabelle]

I do ask for their name and note down the time of the call. Plus I use my OneNote since they record the call as well.
I use Google Talk so even if it there's a queue it doesn't matter.

Yup I did the same thing, that's why when I called back I was able to provide the name of the person who I spoke with and the time as well. It is very frustrating because these people are dealing with people's lives and sometimes emotions. I have an extremely stressful job and I spent the better part of my morning doubting my mental health especially when someone was so SURE I was in the wrong. Anyway let me not dwell on the past. I just wanted to post this in case there is someone else out there like me, who is a natural worrier and who might have received some conflicting information from what has been thoroughly discussed here and what might have been said after speaking to ONE person there.

 

[naijabelle]

I just posted something similar in another thread.

- Different reps will give you different answers
- They will take their time to browse and look at the same website you are looking at and just read to you what's there, and probably give their own interpretation

I did have a nice experience talking to a VO though when I got a call from CIC.

Yes the VO's I have dealt with in the past are very understanding and pleasant. I agree

 

[naijabelle]

Yep. Its true. They were all confused last year around January time when BOWP was introduced. They were not sure about the regulations and kept giving contradictory information. I'm so glad that I knew this forum as we helped each other sort the information out here.

So yes, CIC call center is not always right on. Best thing, call them up few times to get the same answer. But getting through to them takes so long, i never had the patience to call them again and re-check the info with another CIC agent.

Agree with everything you said. Perhaps I am holding them to a higher standard of care but I expect that when you are dealing with someone's potential future you should at least know beyond a reasonable doubt what the correct way of going about things are. If I did not call my CC company, I would have gone the paper route and spent an additional 30-40 days waiting on my permit. When I have multiple travel visas I would like to apply for in late April, I simply do not have that luxury.

 

[esbex550]

It depends upon the representative. The firm I hired were very expensive. But the cost was borne by the company where I am working for. Also, when the representative fills up the forms & submit, please make sure you are always in loop so as to whats going on...