IMM0008 Schedule 1 Question 9 2nd tick box

[Baloo]

I looked at the question when completing my outland application.
previously sought refugee status in Canada or applied for a Canadian immigrant or permanent resident visa or visitor or temporary resident visa?

I thought that as I am visa exempt but had applied for an extension, I would have to select YES.

But when I called the CIC helpline I was told, "as you are visa exempt you have not applied for a visa"
I stated that I had applied for two visa extensions, I was then told "requesting a visa extension is not the same as requesting a visa, you should answer NO."


This is a question that is confusing, does anyone have thoughts or comments on this subject?

 

[wilson]

I looked at the question when completing my outland application.
previously sought refugee status in Canada or applied for a Canadian immigrant or permanent resident visa or visitor or temporary resident visa?

I thought that as I am visa exempt but had applied for an extension, I would have to select YES.

But when I called the CIC helpline I was told, "as you are visa exempt you have not applied for a visa"
I stated that I had applied for two visa extensions, I was then told "requesting a visa extension is not the same as requesting a visa, you should answer NO."


This is a question that is confusing, does anyone have thoughts or comments on this subject?

Hi Baloo,
In order to avoid confusion I suggest to tick the column 'Yes' and mention the period of your visit with address in Canada and a note that you are from a visa exempted country.

 

[rjessome]

I looked at the question when completing my outland application.
previously sought refugee status in Canada or applied for a Canadian immigrant or permanent resident visa or visitor or temporary resident visa?
I thought that as I am visa exempt but had applied for an extension, I would have to select YES.
But when I called the CIC helpline I was told, "as you are visa exempt you have not applied for a visa"
I stated that I had applied for two visa extensions, I was then told "requesting a visa extension is not the same as requesting a visa, you should answer NO."
This is a question that is confusing, does anyone have thoughts or comments on this subject?

There is often confusion with the wording used. You did NOT apply for "visa" extensions, in fact you applied to extend your "permit" to visit. A visa is a document that allows you to enter Canada. A permit says what you can do when you get here. And you can only apply for a visa at a visa post/embassy outside of Canada (other than the inland PR). This is certainly NOT a deal breaker. Following Wilson's advice is perfectly fine as well. Gives you a chance to outline everything you have applied for with respect to CIC, your client ID number and authorization numbers. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and give them more than they ask for.

 

[Baloo]

Prior to posting here I had done something similar to what Wilson suggested, but I also added details of the VR's that I had been issued.
I raised the question because others may benefit from a bit of clarification.
Thanks, a clear explanation.

 

[MarkGuy]

I looked at the question when completing my outland application...

This is a question that is confusing, does anyone have thoughts or comments on this subject?

Baloo, having had the time now to fill out dozens of forms for the sponsorship/perm. resid. process I think I can safely say that there are many questions that are confusing for the sponsor/applicant.
Some questions are not just confusing, but misleading.

Here is just one case in point. It's on Appendix C, the medical form you take to your DMP.

1. Person to be examined. (Middle of form)

Relationship to sponsor:
_Spouse
_Conjugal partner
_Common-law partner
_Dependent child

Now let's say, as in our case, the person to be examined is a 21 year old dependent child of the applicant.
There is no selection for this. The dependent child must choose "Dependent child of sponsor", the best answer of the four.


My suggestion, for what it's worth, is that CIC sit down with 'real people'. Real honest-to-goodness Canadians, first/second generation, new immigrants etc. the whole spectrum. Hire them for 'x' number of hours. Pay them decently.

Go through each and every question on all the forms with them.
Ask them if they can easily understand the questions. Ask them if they have any confusion about them.

If so, re-word them and ask again. Rinse, re-cycle. etc. etc.

 

[Baloo]

That would be a really worthwhile exercise, it certainly gets my vote.

 

[rjessome]

That would be a really worthwhile exercise, it certainly gets my vote.

Mine too! But I have to tell you that the folks at CIC think this stuff is very easy to understand! But then again, they live and breathe it. I guess you could equate it to a computer technician who knows what all those acronyms are for when it comes to programing or Microsoft or something else computer related that is completely a foreign language to me. What I'm trying to say is that because of their extensive training and work in this area, it IS easy for them. Just not for ordinary Joes (a.k.a. the REST of the world outside of CIC)!

For anyone who has been on this forum for more than a month, just think about how much better you understand the "language" than previously. Didn't everyone at one time wonder what AOR meant? Or AIP? Or PPR? Or VO? Or IO? Most in this forum are only active in the Family Class topics. What about understanding PNP, FSW, TFW, SP, CEC, IELTS, TOEFL, LMO, etc.? Probably most important of all the lingo, do you know what IRPA and IRPR mean? It's complicated stuff when you don't use it in your daily life!

I would love to see better application guides than they currently have. Even then, there are so many nuances in the English and French languages that there still could be confusion. But they could certainly do better than what they currently have.

 

[Baloo]

Someone should write a book - but I bet there are legal limitations on that line of activity

Should be called "IMM - and the quest for answers"

 

[MarkGuy]

from: Baloo on January 20, 2011, 05:36:03 pm
That would be a really worthwhile exercise, it certainly gets my vote.

Mine too! But I have to tell you that the folks at CIC think this stuff is very easy to understand! But then again, they live and breathe it.

I have no doubt at all that CIC thinks this stuff is easy to understand.
That's what I would expect. And that's exactly the problem.

They are living in their own enclosed world over there.
The people who write the forms/guides are not cut from the same cloth as the day-to-day common-folk people who need to read and understand them.

Never mind the common-folk. I have three university degrees and I even have trouble understanding many of the questions! ???