An applicant whose spousal open work permit extension was refused — putting them out of status with 90 days to apply for restoration — was stuck on two compound YES/NO questions on the form. The thread's answer settled the mechanics:
- Answer YES when any part of a compound question is true — the form lets you explain. Members confirmed that selecting YES opens a text box. For "Have you ever remained beyond the validity of your status, attended school or worked without authorization?", the applicant had overstayed status (involuntarily, via the refusal) but never worked or studied without authorization — the advice was to answer YES and use the box to state exactly which part applies and the circumstances.
- Write the facts, plainly. The repeated instruction was simply to "write there about the fact": refusal date, that status lapsed as a result, that no unauthorized work or study occurred, and that restoration is being sought within the 90-day window.
- The same logic covers the refusal question. For "Have you ever been refused a visa or permit...", an extension refusal is still a refusal — the safe pattern from the thread is YES plus a factual explanation, rather than a defensible-sounding NO that could later look like misrepresentation.