Applications have been submitted, now what?
Congratulations on submitting your applications via Direct Apply! Once you have submitted the applications you will see the status of those applications in the Submitted table under the "Applications page".
The status of your applications can range from Accepted, Denied, Conditionally accepted, Academically qualified, or Waitlisted.
Where can I find my acceptance letter or other documents uploaded by the university and how can I download it?
The documents that are uploaded by the university can be found by clicking on the chevron on the right. When you click on the offer letter link the letter will be downloaded. You can also check for other documents received by you under the "Documents Received" section.
What to do when universities request additional documents?
To submit additional documents requested by the university, click on the 3 dots on the right and click on "Upload supporting documents" button and upload the required files by the university.
How can I withdraw my application and also undo my withdrawal?
To withdraw an application, click on the 3 dots and select "Withdraw application".
Upon clicking the button, a pop-up will appear. Click on the Withdraw application in the pop-up and the application will be withdrawn and indicated with a red withdrawn button.
Note: Once the DA application has been withdrawn, you will be unable to undo the withdrawal action.
Direct Apply submission process
Once a student submits a DA application on Cialfo, it goes through the following steps before reaching the university:
Counselor Review — The counselor reviews the application for accuracy, verifies supporting documents and approves it for submission.
Pending Cialfo Review — The Cialfo team checks whether all required documents are attached and valid and application meets the university's requirements for final submission.
Submitted — The application is sent to the university and the status is updated accordingly.
Note: No action is needed from the student or counselor at this stage. If you have been in "Pending Cialfo Review" for more than 3 business days, contact support to request a status update.
What do the other Direct Apply status labels mean?
In Progress: Student is working on the application — not yet submitted
Pending Counselor Review: Submitted by student, awaiting counselor approval
Pending Cialfo Review: Approved by counsellor, being verified by Cialfo ops team
Submitted: Application has been sent to the university
Decision Received: The university has made a decision (Accepted, Denied, Conditional offer)
Withdrawn: Application has been withdrawn by the student or counsellor
Can I recall or return a submitted Direct Apply application?
Once a DA application has been submitted to the university, it cannot be recalled or returned by the student. However:
If the application is still in "Pending Cialfo Review" (not yet sent to the university), contact the Cialfo support team immediately the team may be able to return the application to the counselor for corrections
If a wrong document was uploaded, contact support to see if a document correction is possible before the application is processed
If the application has already been submitted to the university, contact the university directly to request any changes or withdrawal
Can I request a deadline extension for Direct Apply?
Deadline extensions are set by the universities and are not within Cialfo's control. If you require additional time :
Contact the university admissions office directly to request an extension
If the university approves an extension, contact Cialfo support to ensure the application remains accessible in the system
What to do if you uploaded a wrong document after submission
If you have submitted a DA application and realised a wrong document was included:
Contact Cialfo support immediately via Live Chat
Share the student's name, the university, and which document needs to be corrected
The support team will advise whether a document correction is possible at the current stage
What does “Cialfo Reviewing” mean for a student’s application?
This means the application has been approved by the counselor and is currently being reviewed by the Cialfo team before being sent to the university. This is a normal step in the Direct Apply process.
How long does the Cialfo review take for a student’s application?
Most applications are reviewed within 5 to 10 business days. During peak application periods (typically November to February), it may take longer.
What does Cialfo check during the review process?
The Cialfo team verifies that all required documents are submitted and meet the university’s requirements. If anything is missing or needs correction, the student’s counselor will be contacted.
When should a student contact support about their application status?
If the application has been in “Cialfo Reviewing” status for more than 10 business days, support can be contacted via Chat with Cialfo for further assistance.
Can a student make changes to speed up the review process?
No action is required while the application is under review. Making changes during this stage may cause delays. If something needs urgent correction, it’s best to contact support instead of editing the application.
What’s Fixed (February 2026): Direct Apply & Applications Improvements
The following issues affecting the Direct Apply and Applications experience have been resolved. If you were previously encountering any of these problems, they are now fixed.
Applications page now loads more reliably
An issue where the Applications page could fail to load or display an error has been resolved. The page now handles temporary system issues more smoothly.
Improved Direct Apply form completion and payment flow
Issues that caused failures during the Direct Apply form completion and payment process have been fixed. The submission experience is now more stable from start to finish.
Loading indicator added during program selection
A loading spinner is now displayed when selecting a program in the Add Application modal, making it clear when the system is processing your selection.
Direct Apply option available for all eligible courses
An issue where the Direct Apply portal was not appearing for certain courses and universities has been resolved. The correct application option will now be shown wherever applicable.
Still need help?
If you're unable to find a solution in our help articles or need further assistance, you can contact the Cialfo Support team via Live Chat or email us at [email protected].
Our Client Support team is available via Live Chat 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, so you can get help anytime during the work week through Chat with Cialfo