How to Ensure Your Canadian Immigration Application is Successful

For anybody looking to make Canada their new home, having an immigration application rejected or returned can result in an incredible amount of disappointment and distress for applicants and their families.

And while Canada offers numerous immigration pathways for newcomers, navigating the processes in place can sometimes be challenging if you aren’t aware of the correct way to submit an application.

To help you better understand the immigration process, we’ve broken down the most common mistakes that can lead to the rejection of an application and undue disappointment.

Common Mistakes That Can Impact the Success of Your Immigration Application

Not Signing the Application Form

This is one of the simplest, yet most common, mistakes made on immigration applications that can, fortunately, be very easily prevented.

The reason this mistake often occurs is that many immigration forms require a signature in multiple places, making it easy to miss one. Failing to sign your form in all of the correct places means your file will be returned, so it’s important to triple-check all your application forms to make sure you have signed it in all the required places.

Paying the Incorrect Fee

Every Canadian immigration stream requires a different fee and method of payment, and when you are paying in a foreign currency, you have to take into consideration the Canadian exchange rate. As a result, this often leads to confusion and subsequently paying the incorrect amount. So, always be sure to double-check the required method of payment and the exchange rate.

Only Providing Documents Listed on the IRCC Checklist

It’s a common belief that the only documents you need to submit with your immigration forms are the ones listed on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) checklist, however, oftentimes more information is required for your application to be accepted.

For example, if you are in a common-law couple applying for partner sponsorship, you are required to provide affidavits or letters of support from friends and family verifying that you meet the relevant requirements, including living with your partner for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.

Even married couples applying for spousal partnership will need to prove that they are in a genuine relationship by providing evidence such as:

  • Photos
  • Marriage certificate
  • Correspondence
  • Wedding invitations

Not Providing Supplemental Forms (If Coming from Certain Countries)

Residents or citizens of some countries are often be required to fill out additional forms or provide supplemental information.

Be sure to consult with an immigration lawyer to determine if there are supplemental forms required for your immigration application to prevent having your application sent back to you and delaying the immigration process.

Misrepresentation

When evaluating your application, IRCC relies on the information you have provided to them, so it is critical that all the information in your application is 100 percent truthful.

Because if you are not truthful in your application or if you withhold relevant information that is material to the decision being made, not only will your application be rejected, but you will also face possible exclusion from Canada for 5 years or more.

Even innocent errors can be considered a misrepresentation, so it’s important to thoroughly review all information you have provided to make sure there are no mistakes.

Missing Information

If you fail to provide any information that’s asked from you when filling out an application, this can be detrimental to your application. If you are unable to provide certain information, it is crucial that you explain why the information is missing and when it will be provided. Otherwise, your application will be sent back to you.

Not Using Registered Mail or Courier System to Send Application

Quite often, mail gets lost without any notice or explanation, which means you’ll have no way of knowing if your application fails to arrive at its destination, leaving you uncertain regarding the status of your application.

To ensure your application reaches the appropriate destination, it is best to use registered mail or a courier service. This will allow you to track the status of the delivery of your application and receive a notification when it arrives.

Using an Unauthorized Representative

In order to give yourself the best chance of success, you may choose to hire an immigration lawyer to help with your immigration application. And if you do choose to pay someone to help you with your immigration case, the representative must be authorized by the Canadian federal government.

However, it’s important to know that there are many fraudulent companies unqualified to offer legal advice that market themselves as authorized representatives. Not only will these companies overcharge you and make false promises of a “guaranteed” visa, but they also take advantage of vulnerable, hopeful applicants, and often carry out identity theft, fraud, and theft of bank account funds or credit card information.

For this reason, we highly recommend that you only seek assistance from an experienced and reputable immigration lawyer that you can trust has your best interests in mind and will provide you with the proper information and guidance regarding your application.

How an Immigration Lawyer Can Prevent Such Mistakes

Hiring an experienced immigration lawyer to help you on your quest for permanent residency is highly recommended in any immigration case. An immigration lawyer will guide you through the immigration process, letting you know what materials you need to provide, facilitating the application approval process, and even communicating directly with immigration officials on your behalf.

Simply put, having an immigration lawyer by your side will help to maximize your chances of success at starting your new life in Canada in a timely manner.