Hi, I entered Canada with an eTA (visitor status, family visit) on the 2nd of September 2021 with my Canadian common-law partner. We sent our Sponsorship (inland) and my Open Work Permit applications on the 9th of November 2021. The application was returned due to a missing document and received by us on the 5th of March 2022, 4 days after I lost my visitor status (expired on the 1st of March 2022). I sent my application for visitor status restoration on the 12th of March 2022.
The problem is that I need to visit my family in South America, so we are planning to go there by the end of this month (March 2022).
As you can imagine, this raises some concerns. If I'm not mistaken, the fact that I leave the country may be a reason to have my restoration status process cancelled. Right now, I'm seeing 4 options:
In other words, I'm not sure if the fact that I leave the country before the application for restoration is concluded may configure any issue regarding applying to the WHV and/or even entering the country back again as a visitor. If you think there's a risk, how big do you think it is? Which of the paths I exposed would you recommend me? Is there any other interesting path you think I'm not considering?
I would strongly appreciate any light here as we are very confused at the moment!
The problem is that I need to visit my family in South America, so we are planning to go there by the end of this month (March 2022).
As you can imagine, this raises some concerns. If I'm not mistaken, the fact that I leave the country may be a reason to have my restoration status process cancelled. Right now, I'm seeing 4 options:
- Travel to my home country and apply for the working holiday visa (WHV), for which I am eligible too (I am also a Portuguese citizenship, but I was not aware of this program before). Stay in my country until I complete the whole WHV process
- Travel to my home country and apply for a WHV. After my expected 3 weeks stay, come back to Canada, as a visitor, even if I haven't yet been invited to the WHV process
- Travel to my home country. After my expected 3 weeks stay, come back to Canada, as a visitor, and apply for a WHV from here
- Stay in Canada and wait 4-6 months until I get a response to the visitor restoration request. Although this option is the least risky it is also my least favorite option for various reasons: family, loose work opportunities, and WHV pool closed by end of the year
In other words, I'm not sure if the fact that I leave the country before the application for restoration is concluded may configure any issue regarding applying to the WHV and/or even entering the country back again as a visitor. If you think there's a risk, how big do you think it is? Which of the paths I exposed would you recommend me? Is there any other interesting path you think I'm not considering?
I would strongly appreciate any light here as we are very confused at the moment!