As a Canadian residing abroad, can I pay the CAD 1040 online or not?!

[fandv]

Hi everyone...

I think my case is very straightforward, but I can't seem to find out whether I can / am allowed to pay online? Anyone else in my situation? How did you pay your fees?

So: I'm a Canadian citizen who recently got married to an Indonesian citizen. Right now I am in Indonesia, and plan to sponsor her to Canada. My plan is to stay here (in Indonesia) until she receives her PR.

We are planning to complete the sponsorship application soon, and will send the whole package (from Indonesia) to CPC Mississauga. Since my wife is Indonesian, I assume CPC Mississauga will then forward the permanent residence application to the Singapore visa office. Pretty simple right...?!

Now: we have added up all the fees that need to be paid, and found out that the total is $1040. I very much prefer paying online, but the question is: can I?

The thing is, I saw this page:

https://eservicesak.cic.gc.ca/epay/immigrationviewlist.do

which says: "NOTE: If you are applying at an office outside Canada, you cannot pay online."

So, since we are applying through Singapore (which IS outside Canada), does that mean that we CANNOT pay online?

I thought I could just go here:

https://eservicesak.cic.gc.ca/epay/welcome.do

And scroll to the very bottom, and click "Continue" and follow the wizard...?!

Very confusing...!

 

[computergeek]

which says: "NOTE: If you are applying at an office outside Canada, you cannot pay online."

You are applying through CPC-M. The application is forwarded by CPC-M to a VO abroad, but CPC-M is the controlling office. Thus, you are paying CPC-M and that is an inland office, even though you are not in Canada and even though the application may be forwarded to a VO abroad.

 

[fandv]

You are applying through CPC-M. The application is forwarded by CPC-M to a VO abroad, but CPC-M is the controlling office. Thus, you are paying CPC-M and that is an inland office, even though you are not in Canada and even though the application may be forwarded to a VO abroad.

Thanks for your reply.

So:

1. It means that I CAN pay online then?

2. Just out of curiosity: under what circumstances would anyone's application be considered as applied through an office OUTSIDE Canada then? Since all applications (no matter the foreign visa office) go through CPC-M first (or Vegreville, if applying inland), doesn't that mean that all applicants will never be considered as applying at an office outside Canada?

 

[chipits]

1. Yes

2. Not all applications are family class. Many of the (I believe) economic class applications are done entirely outside of Canada, as well as visitors visas, etc.

 

[fandv]

Makes perfect sense...thanks computergeek and chipits .

 

[computergeek]

2. Not all applications are family class. Many of the (I believe) economic class applications are done entirely outside of Canada, as well as visitors visas, etc.

CIC has been moving towards centralized processing for applications in recent years, but applications used to be submitted directly to visa offices abroad.