In the Know: Tips for Successful IRCC Applications

Top 5 tips for submitting successful applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

As a temporary resident of Canada, there are certain immigration documents you must apply for and maintain. In most cases, your required Canadian immigration documents (such as your study permit, temporary resident visa, and/or work permit) are issued by IRCC. However, if you are eligible to make an immigration application at a Canadian Port of Entry, a Canada Border Services Agency Officer may issue your immigration documents.

The established processes to obtain, extend, amend, or replace a Canadian immigration document almost always involve making an application to IRCC. The following tips will help you avoid common mistakes that can lead to a frustrating delay or even a refusal.

Apply early

Allow yourself plenty of time to review instructions and gather the required forms and supporting documents for your application. If you rush, you could miss an important detail and submit an incomplete application, which may result in a refusal.

If you are applying for a new document, check the current processing time for your application. Keep in mind that processing times fluctuate, so you should always allow enough time to collect required supporting documents, such as proof of funds or a letter of acceptance (LOA) from UVic, to make sure you apply in time.

When you apply to extend a document (e.g., a study permit and/or a Co-op work permit), we typically recommend submitting your application at least 4 to 6 months before the document’s expiry date.

Follow the most updated instructions

Most IRCC applications must be submitted online, except for amendment and replacement applications which can only be submitted on paper. According to IRCC, applicants should always try making an online application and only use a paper application when online submission is not available to them.

When making an online application via your IRCC Secure Account or IRCC Portal, make sure to read and answer questions carefully to get to the right application. It is also important to fill out all required forms assigned to you in your online account and prepare supporting documents based on your personal checklist.

You can refer to the Study Permit webpage on our website for details about how to apply for a new study permit or extend your study permit in Canada. Depending on which online platform you use to submit your application, you can follow our study permit application tutorials for a comprehensive overview of the study permit application process.

Reminder: For study permit applications, be sure to review the Study Permit webpage – Documents section to make sure you include the correct documents from UVic. As a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), UVic is required to verify the LOA you submitted in your study permit application. Please do not change any information on the official letters from UVic. UVic can only verify your letter of acceptance or enrollment letter when they are original documents from the institution.

Below are some of the IRCC instruction guides that may help you complete your applications:

In-Canada application guides

• Study permit extension: [IMM 5552]
  • Note: Extension of a study permit is an in-Canada process only, which means that you must be in Canada at the time you submit your extension application. If you plan to travel outside Canada and your study permit will expire before you return, connect with an International Student Adviser to discuss the option to apply for an extension as early as possible.
• Temporary resident visa: [IMM 5256]
• Student work permit (including co-op and post-graduation work permit): [IMM 5580]
• Application to amend an error on a study permit or work permit: [IMM 5218]
• Application to replace a lost or stolen study permit or work permit: [IMM 5545]

Outside-Canada application guides

• Study permit: [IMM 5269]
• Post-graduation work permit: [IMM 5487]
• Temporary resident visa: [IMM 5256]
  • Note: You can use this guide if you are outside Canada with a valid study or work permit and need a new visa to return to Canada. If you are applying for a new study permit or work permit outside Canada and you need a visa to enter Canada, the visa will be automatically issued to you when IRCC finalizes your study or work permit.

Submit a complete application

Always follow the instruction guide to:

• complete the questionnaire correctly and honestly
• fill out required forms and provide required documents on your checklist, and pay the applicable fees
• complete required procedures, such as an undergoing an immigration medical exam or giving biometrics as soon as possible

If you forget to send a required document and/or did not pay the fees that apply,

• IRCC may return your application to you
• your processing time may be delayed, or
• your application may be refused

You can also connect with an International Student Adviser to review your application before you submit it.

Keep a copy of the forms and supporting documents after submission

Being able to quickly and easily access all forms and supporting documents will save you time and effort for future IRCC applications. In addition, if IRCC requests you to re-submit a form or confirm any information you provided in your application, you can always refer to the records you have.

We also recommend that you take screenshots as you are going through the application in case there are any technical glitches, and you need to prove your submission record.

Monitor your application

After submitting your application to IRCC, pay attention to the email account you provided on the application form. Regularly check the inbox and junk mail folder. If IRCC requests additional information from you, they will send a document request letter to your online IRCC account and will give you a deadline to respond. If you fail to respond to a request from IRCC before the deadline, it often results in a refusal.

Check the processing time for your application, but remember it is only an estimate based on how long IRCC took to process most applications (80%) in the past (see How are processing times calculated? for details). You can also check your application status online.

If necessary, you can use the IRCC Web Form to:

• update your contact information
• provide additional information about your application when your situation has changed since you submitted it (e.g., program deferral)
• follow up on your application status if it has exceeded the estimated processing time
  • Keep in mind that IRCC will not respond to requests for a status update if your application is still within the processing time listed on the website, so you should only request an update if the time has been exceeded.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your IRCC application, contact an International Student Adviser for support.