Hey guys,
This is going to be an odd case so bear with me.
I've been in Canada for 4 years now as an international student(Undergrad). For the first 2 years, I was a full-time student with average grades at UofT but towards the end of my second year I started to struggle due to various reasons which I'd like to keep private on this forum.
Long story short, depression hit me hard and I found it hard to get out of bed, I was enrolled and paid full tuition for my 3rd year but failed to actually make it to class and as a result was placed on academic probation. I was borderline suicidal at this point.
By the time, my 4th year came around I decided to take a break for a year[DID NOT PAY TUITION], refocus and re-evaluate things. [BUT I STAYED IN CANADA] I've been working with a therapist and alongside my academic advisor at UofT both of whom think I'm ready to go back to school. However, I realised by not being a full-time student this academic year, I lost my status as a student, even though my actual student visa expires on 1st December 2018.
After realising all this, I hired immigration lawyers within Canada and we submitted an application for extension of my visa under special circumstances.
Official Documents I used in my app:
1. Proof of sufficient funds for stay in Canada with tuition
2. Proof of enrolment at UofT
3. Letter from my academic advisor who is familiar with my situation, showing she has faith I can return to school
4. A letter and a medical report from my therapist, as proof that I was in fact mentally ill at the time. [It's worth mentioning that I only started seeking help around August this year]
5. Letters from friends who witnessed my depression
6. Official transcripts (they're bad)
7. A Personal Statement.
Despite everything said above, I genuinely feel like I'm ready to complete my education and have very real ways of coping with my mental health now. We submitted the application on October 10th this year and I am enrolled for the Winter Semester of 2019 at UofT.
It's now Nov 22nd and I haven't heard back and I know the processing time is 55 days but since my visa is expiring so soon, my lawyers are suggesting me to travel to the border and apply for an extension at the border itself since it would be instant and in case it gets rejected I can go back to my home country and reapply but that also means my online application becomes null. According to my lawyers the chances are the same.
So my question is, based on what you've read how do you think I should proceed; firstly should I just wait for my online application to get processed as it will give me implied status until I get a decision anyway. But the idea of getting it over with sounds appealing as well and in person, I can probably explain my circumstances better to the officer? Or maybe I could contradict myself somehow and mess up the interview?
I'm really stressed about this, I'm just someone trying to get their life back together, any advice will be greatly appreciated.
This is going to be an odd case so bear with me.
I've been in Canada for 4 years now as an international student(Undergrad). For the first 2 years, I was a full-time student with average grades at UofT but towards the end of my second year I started to struggle due to various reasons which I'd like to keep private on this forum.
Long story short, depression hit me hard and I found it hard to get out of bed, I was enrolled and paid full tuition for my 3rd year but failed to actually make it to class and as a result was placed on academic probation. I was borderline suicidal at this point.
By the time, my 4th year came around I decided to take a break for a year[DID NOT PAY TUITION], refocus and re-evaluate things. [BUT I STAYED IN CANADA] I've been working with a therapist and alongside my academic advisor at UofT both of whom think I'm ready to go back to school. However, I realised by not being a full-time student this academic year, I lost my status as a student, even though my actual student visa expires on 1st December 2018.
After realising all this, I hired immigration lawyers within Canada and we submitted an application for extension of my visa under special circumstances.
Official Documents I used in my app:
1. Proof of sufficient funds for stay in Canada with tuition
2. Proof of enrolment at UofT
3. Letter from my academic advisor who is familiar with my situation, showing she has faith I can return to school
4. A letter and a medical report from my therapist, as proof that I was in fact mentally ill at the time. [It's worth mentioning that I only started seeking help around August this year]
5. Letters from friends who witnessed my depression
6. Official transcripts (they're bad)
7. A Personal Statement.
Despite everything said above, I genuinely feel like I'm ready to complete my education and have very real ways of coping with my mental health now. We submitted the application on October 10th this year and I am enrolled for the Winter Semester of 2019 at UofT.
It's now Nov 22nd and I haven't heard back and I know the processing time is 55 days but since my visa is expiring so soon, my lawyers are suggesting me to travel to the border and apply for an extension at the border itself since it would be instant and in case it gets rejected I can go back to my home country and reapply but that also means my online application becomes null. According to my lawyers the chances are the same.
So my question is, based on what you've read how do you think I should proceed; firstly should I just wait for my online application to get processed as it will give me implied status until I get a decision anyway. But the idea of getting it over with sounds appealing as well and in person, I can probably explain my circumstances better to the officer? Or maybe I could contradict myself somehow and mess up the interview?
I'm really stressed about this, I'm just someone trying to get their life back together, any advice will be greatly appreciated.
