I was applying for a BOWP last year but my I had not been drawn from the pool to apply for PR yet. Under the advice from my lawyer he said I apply for the BOWP via paper and by the time they start processing I would have been drawn from the pool and have applied. And that's what happened. However, my application was returned (not rejected) because I paid the wrong fee. When paying, I ticked the box for Open Work Permit and it directed me to pay a fee of 100. Apparently I was meant to pay two different fees.
However, now that my original 2 year visa expired I now had to pay both the original fees and a fee to restore my status as a worker. I was directed to reapply as before but pay the appropriate fees. But to restore my status as a worker I would need to apply 90 days after the expiration my original visa. The BOWP refusal arrived 5 days before that 90 day period was up but I still managed to reapply online and pay all the appropriate fees in time.
I just got a refusal letter today saying I did not provide proof that I applied for my PR, but I 100% did. I called and they said the real reason I was denied was because they can't restore my status as a worker in an open visa because my visa was expired at my point of applying.
To say I am mad is an understatement. I didn't know I had to ticked two boxes when paying my fees online. I ticked the exact box which correlated to what I was applying for. Instead of just asking me to pay additional fees they returned my application directing me to reapply, telling me reapply but also pay to restore my status. Then they refuse me because I can't restore my status? I feel so misled. I have built a life here and now I have to go back home because this.
Do I have any recourse? Unfortunately I don't have the funds to go see a lawyer as I had to stop working when my BOWP application was returned.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
However, now that my original 2 year visa expired I now had to pay both the original fees and a fee to restore my status as a worker. I was directed to reapply as before but pay the appropriate fees. But to restore my status as a worker I would need to apply 90 days after the expiration my original visa. The BOWP refusal arrived 5 days before that 90 day period was up but I still managed to reapply online and pay all the appropriate fees in time.
I just got a refusal letter today saying I did not provide proof that I applied for my PR, but I 100% did. I called and they said the real reason I was denied was because they can't restore my status as a worker in an open visa because my visa was expired at my point of applying.
To say I am mad is an understatement. I didn't know I had to ticked two boxes when paying my fees online. I ticked the exact box which correlated to what I was applying for. Instead of just asking me to pay additional fees they returned my application directing me to reapply, telling me reapply but also pay to restore my status. Then they refuse me because I can't restore my status? I feel so misled. I have built a life here and now I have to go back home because this.
Do I have any recourse? Unfortunately I don't have the funds to go see a lawyer as I had to stop working when my BOWP application was returned.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
