March 2012 applicants, join here! : )

[parker24]

If I want to call CIC from india, what is the number? Plz give me

+1 613 944 4000 (for an agent: options 1,2,1,2,1 ... then 0 to skip the message) SHOULD work.

[Pummelchen]

don't forget you can always volunteer somewhere that could open doors for future employment.

You are not allowed to volunteer with a tourist visa, you need a work permit for that, otherwise you risk to get deported and get a criminal record + ban.

Same applies if you want to cut the grass of your landlords garden. Thats illegal work for a tourist.

Source: Real Life.

[parker24]

You are not allowed to volunteer with a tourist visa, you need a work permit for that, otherwise you risk to get deported and get a criminal record + ban.

How's that? You're not getting paid so how do you get "deported" for volunteering? And where does it say that?

[Pummelchen]

I know that cos my friend from UK worked as a volunteer at the local Foodbank here and installed a fence in the landlords garden. CiC got wind of that, police took the whole family out of their house and they had many hours of CiC interview, very close to get kicked out. CiC made it very clear to them that they are now allowed to do any kind of work activities.

[parker24]

I know that cos my friend from UK worked as a volunteer at the local Foodbank here and installed a fence in the landlords garden. CiC got wind of that, police took the whole family out of their house and they had many hours of CiC interview, very close to get kicked out.

Does it say anywhere that you cannot volunteer? Because by the sounds of it, it seems like your friend must have gotten paid. Volunteering is one thing, working is another.

[parker24]

Thought I'd post this:

Volunteer activities that are not “work” and do not require a work permit

Volunteer work for which a person would not normally be remunerated, such as a foreign student being a ‘big brother', or ‘big sister' to a child; being on the line at a rape crisis centre. Normally this activity would be part time and incidental to the main reason that the person is in Canada (in this case, to study).
Unremunerated observation of the functioning of a given work environment or occupation (i.e. following a geologist on their sample-gathering trips). In some cases, minor tasks may be performed by the foreign student (such as clerical chores), however there should not a significant contribution to the productivity of the enterprise.
Unremunerated helping of a friend or family member during a visit.
There may be other types of unpaid short-term work where the work is really incidental to the main reason that the foreign student is in Canada and is not a competitive activity, even though non-monetary valuable consideration is received. For instance, if a foreign student wishes to stay on a family farm and work part time just for room and board for a short period (i.e., 1-4 weeks), this would not be considered an activity which requires a work permit.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/institutions/work-volunteer.asp

[Pummelchen]

He got not money for that. He wanted to be helpful and nearly risked his future. CiC is brutal, but we know that.

[Pummelchen]

That link applies to ppl with a study permit, not tourists !

"Volunteer work conducted by foreign students." Don't mix that with ppl on a tourist visa.

[parker24]

Or this:

"Examples of activities for which a person would not normally be remunerated or which
would not compete directly with Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents in the
Canadian labour market and which would normally be part-time or incidental to the reason
that the person is in Canada include, but are not limited to:
• volunteer work for which a person would not normally be remunerated, such as sitting on the
board of a charity or religious institution; being a ‘big brother' or ‘big sister' to a child; being on
the telephone line at a rape crisis centre. (Normally this activity would be part time and
incidental to the main reason that a person is in Canada);
• unremunerated help by a friend or family member during a visit, such as a mother assisting a
daughter with childcare, or an uncle helping his nephew build his own cottage;
• long distance (by telephone or internet) work done by a temporary resident whose employer
is outside Canada and who is remunerated from outside Canada;
• self-employment where the work to be done would have no real impact on the labour market,
nor really provide an opportunity for Canadians. Examples include a U.S. farmer crossing the
border to work on fields that he owns, or a miner coming to work on his own claim.
There may be other types of unpaid short-term work where the work is really incidental to the
main reason that a person is visiting Canada and is not a competitive activity, even though nonmonetary
valuable consideration is received. For instance, if a tourist wishes to stay on a family
farm and work part time just for room and board for a short period (i.e., 1-4 weeks), this person
would not be considered a worker.
We recognize that there may be overlap in activities that we do not consider to be work and those
activities which are defined as work not requiring a work permit in R186. However, the net effect
(no work permit required) is the same."

[hpatel4700]

No Updates...

[Fencesitter]

But no updates is to be expected.

90 days...so Mar 1 applicants should expect something by the first week of June...

FS

[chickie72]

Still patiently waiting here, I haven't heard anything yet, quite depressing sometimes.....faith and hope!

[parker24]

But no updates is to be expected.

90 days...so Mar 1 applicants should expect something by the first week of June...

FS

Oh heavens! I hope I haven't gone nuts by then *cue I Am Slowly Going Crazy song*

[Belinasha]

Cherp Cherp! I hear nothing but crickets in this March forum! Come on CIC...at least give one of us something!

[cgagnon]

Cherp Cherp! I hear nothing but crickets in this March forum! Come on CIC...at least give one of us something!

I think all of us are laying low as we maybe if we don't make a sound CIC will want to see what's up with March Applicants and we'll all get approved super fast  Ya I know wishful thinking hoping to get it before end of MAY!!