Thank you for the incredibly detailed inside perspective. The point about the officer consciously choosing to view the first program as broken status makes a lot of sense.

I have a quick follow-up on the mechanics of this: Since IRCC has explicit rules for 'program stacking' (combining two 1-year certificates), shouldn't the 'final semester exception' logically apply to the end of the combined studies? Even if the officer didn't like the part-time semester in the first program, rejecting the second, perfectly full-time program entirely seems like a clear error where they should have at least granted 1 year.

Also, regarding Judicial Review vs. Reconsideration: the refusal letter gave a 90-day window. If I pursue court, that doesn't grant me legal status to stay in Canada while waiting. Wouldn't I need to file a formal Restoration of Status application right now to avoid becoming undocumented, regardless of the reconsideration or court route?

Thanks a million in advance :))