i applied for a work permit online on June 29; my job (post-doc) starts on September 20, 2013. i haven't heard anything yet, so i called CIC and was told they can't give me any information (since i've applied outside Canada) except that my application was sent to the NYC visa office. i called the VAC in NYC, but the rep could not find my application (he said it's because i have applied online) and suggested that i send an email to the NYC office (he said the email is ny-info @ csc-cvas.com which is the email for the same VAC office!)...i did and am waiting for a reply now.
is there a phone number i can call and inquire? the VAC phone number is useless to me since i have not applied in person or by mail. CIC does not help since i've applied outside Canada. i guess applying online was a mistake given the situation i described (even though CIC web pages encourage people to actually apply online!).