Finally, it's my time to share my timeline! Today my consultant sent me the approval letter for my PGWP + Restoration.
June 10th, 2019: 1st PGWP Application after my convocation on June 6th.The date of my letter of completion is late May.
June 21st, 2019: I started working while waiting for my PGWP to be approved.
September 30th, 2019: My study permit expiry date.
October 10th, 2019: I received an email from IRCC and saw a refusal letter. I had not expected any of this as I thought I had done everything right and checked my online portal every other day. To my surprise, I found out that I uploaded my digital photo twice and no proof of degree completion was attached. In the letter, it says my temporary resident status expired on October 9th, 2019.
The next day, I called IRCC at 8 am right when they opened the line. After speaking with an agent, I learned that my solution should be applying for restoration of status as a worker and PGWP at the same time. Unfortunately, I had to quit my work. I contacted an immigration consultant right away and their advice was also to restore as a worker and PGWP application at the same time.
October 24th, 2019: We submitted the application. It was still within the 180 days timeframe according to the new policy implemented last year.
January 24th, 2020: Because I routinely read the threads on this site about restoration and PGWP. I started to panic because I saw people applied after I did got their PGWP approved. I called the IRCC hotline again at 8 o'clock in the morning and got told by the agent they already sent a notice to my consultant that I should apply to restore my status as a student in order to get PGWP and I needed to pay the extra $150 study extension fee for them to process my file. Soon after, I confirmed this with my consultant. This was unexpected to them as much as it was to me. But thanks to this site, I knew that few people before me got the same problem and I predicted it would probably happen to me too. So we paid the fee and uploaded the receipt.
January 28th, 2020: I got an email from my consultant, which says my application got approved and my status is valid until January 27th, 2023. Finally, after seven months, I got my 3-year PGWP approved.
These were definitely some of the most intense and anxious months I have been through. Canada's cold weather definitely was not helping LOL. The conflicting information I have received is also making me exhausted. Even IRCC has different answers three months apart. Nonetheless, I hope everybody else gets their applications approved as soon as possible!
To anybody who is going to apply PGWP by themselves: Make sure to check twice, thrice, even four times before hitting the submit button. Don't make the same stupid as I did! I know the joy after graduation is enormous and you are eager to travel or job hunt. BUT PLEASE TAKE YOUR APPLICATION SERIOUSLY! It is easy but it will cost you money and energy if you overlook one single mistake.
To all the friends who got their PGWP application refused or have to go through the restoration process, please don't lose hope, seek professional help right away! Also, keep track of the timeline and story shared by people on here to assess your anticipated receive date and issues you might encounter.
Good luck everyone!
