Extending my stay - A little urgent questions, thanks!

[QCSunshine]

It took me HOURS also when I applied online in June to extend my stay. But, I wanted to get it in their system before my work permit was going to expire and I was cutting it close, so I decided submitting it online was best for me. And it worked out fine and they approved mine. Good luck!

 

[BeShoo]

I did our last application online. I scanned everything and it went through in about half the time that the website said it would take. I don't think it took any longer than it would have on paper, but I do have greater than average computer skills.

 

[bonbon9]

What totally took me hours was not filling up the questions, but actually scanning, putting everything together into one single PDF file (I had organized each part into a PDf, like a different one for bank statement, etc), so I had to merge the PDF's together into 1 file. After I managed to do this, I had to make the files smaller than 2Mb.. my original PDF was 8 Mb.. I cannot describe how annoying this was.

I also have more than "average" computer skills, I don't think it was a "skills" problem. It was simply time wasted in finding a program that actually worked, and reducing the files to 2 single files, each no bigger than 2 Mb's. I really wonder how people with "not too many" computer skills would manage to do this. (I actually had to include 3 files, as I have two passports, both currently valid).

So 3 files, 2 of them we're ok (I didn't include more than 2 pages per passport), but the third one.. O-M-G.

 

[BeShoo]

Well, I suppose it's more than having computer skills. I own a copy of the very expensive Adobe Acrobat Pro, which was handy. I also have hours of experience in how to make PDF files as small as possible, so I'm probably not a reliable person to say how easy or difficult it is.

I did write some tips here before, but after 30 minutes of writing it up, my computer power turned off or something and I lost it all. I haven't had time to do it again.

 

[QCSunshine]

Well, I am just a little wordy and had trouble editing my text down to fit in the allotted spaces. And I had about 10 pages of documents to scan and upload to accompany the request. (Necessary paperwork to renew my work permit.) It was all pretty easy, just time-consuming for me. But I still thought it was worth it to apply online and will probably do it again in a month or too.

 

[robrod]

I agree something has to be done to improve the way you scan documents with the on-line application. I submitted my work permit application on-line and it was hard for me to attach 2 pages into 1 file. So I had to be creative and ended up cutting and fitting the 2 pages into 1 page before scanning them...
I agree with Matthew, perhaps the good ol' fashioned way is still better to use. But the comfort of doing it on-line and not having to go to the post office to mail yet another registered mail package, is quite convenient...

 

[bonbon9]

Hi!

Quick update - I received my visitor record today on the mail, they gave me a full year (just like requested)
Hopefully I'll receive my PR before then!

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Millu]

congrats bonbon! that is awesome!!!

im still waiting mine...hopefully get it, i asked 6months.

 

[bonbon9]

congrats bonbon! that is awesome!!!

im still waiting mine...hopefully get it, i asked 6months.

Thanks Millu! Fingers crossed that you'll receive good news soon
They might take a little longer with yours if you sent your application through mail. Mine was online.

Good luck!

 

[Millu]

yeah thats true.
i wanted to send it thru mail, so i can stay over xmas for sure

btw, we are coming back to toronto
im wondering do i have to let cic-london let it know? i remember in application there was question, where are you planning to live in canada or something like that...
of course i have to change my mailing address, but do i have to let them know that i will be living there when pr is granted.

bonbon, i hope they process your application quickly, even tho you got 1year extension!
i keep planning vacation to mexico...we got 70cm of snow today....aargh, i wanna go somewhere where is over 20degrees...

 

[QCSunshine]

Whew, so glad you got the one year, bonbon9! Congrats! I also asked for a year, and I guess I'll know in about 50 days if I got a year too.

 

[bonbon9]

Whew, so glad you got the one year, bonbon9! Congrats! I also asked for a year, and I guess I'll know in about 50 days if I got a year too.

Thanks QCSunshine!! I'm pretty sure you'll get it too Fingers crossed for you!!

yeah thats true.
i wanted to send it thru mail, so i can stay over xmas for sure

btw, we are coming back to toronto
im wondering do i have to let cic-london let it know? i remember in application there was question, where are you planning to live in canada or something like that...
of course i have to change my mailing address, but do i have to let them know that i will be living there when pr is granted.

bonbon, i hope they process your application quickly, even tho you got 1year extension!
i keep planning vacation to mexico...we got 70cm of snow today....aargh, i wanna go somewhere where is over 20degrees...

Hi again Millu

I don't think it's necessary to update that, as it's not like you're supposed to land in the same province where you intend to settle. It will be ok
Just let them know about the address change as soon as you can!

I got the 1 year extension just to be on the "safe side" hee hee
We're actually planning to visit Mexico again next year, but we don't know if it'll be May/June/July (it depends on when my husband can take his days off for vacation). We're hoping to have news from my PR before then, who knows, if it's timed right, I might even land at the airport!

Where in Mexico would you like to visit? We're planning to go for 2~3 weeks to central Mexico and then move to Riviera Maya for a last week

 

[Millu]

Hi again Millu

I don't think it's necessary to update that, as it's not like you're supposed to land in the same province where you intend to settle. It will be ok
Just let them know about the address change as soon as you can!

I got the 1 year extension just to be on the "safe side" hee hee
We're actually planning to visit Mexico again next year, but we don't know if it'll be May/June/July (it depends on when my husband can take his days off for vacation). We're hoping to have news from my PR before then, who knows, if it's timed right, I might even land at the airport!

Where in Mexico would you like to visit? We're planning to go for 2~3 weeks to central Mexico and then move to Riviera Maya for a last week

Oh, im sooo jealous! I miss mexico city and puebla, places we were last spring. I liked it a lot. Hah, im not beach vacation type at all
I hope you get your visa before the trip, so you can land when you come back home! That is our plan as well. When/If i get my visa, we will take our late honeymoon and i land when we come back. We are planning to go to Iceland though hahah, now when i look outside, dont feel like iceland at all we got 70cm of snow in london and more to come, urgh
But definitely we will go back to Mexico again! I looooove the food there!

I already got job offer so i hope london is fast

Good luck bonbon and happy holidays!!!