Responding to a Procedural Fairness Letter

Contact a qualified immigration professional immediately. You may have options to challenge the order or apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). Do not ignore it, as this will lead to your removal and a permanent bar from Canada.

Yes. You should apply for an extension before your current status expires. If you do, you can benefit from “maintained status” (implied status), allowing you to continue working or studying under the same conditions while you wait for a decision.

You can request urgent processing by providing proof of why you need a decision quickly (e.g., a job offer, a medical emergency, or risk of losing status). IRCC reviews these requests on a case-by-case basis, and there is no guarantee it will be approved

Missing an appeal deadline is very serious. In some cases, you can apply for an extension of time to file the appeal, but you must provide a credible and reasonable explanation for the delay. You should seek legal help right away.

Yes, it is possible to request urgent processing for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) if you have an emergency need to travel back to Canada. You must provide proof of urgency, such as flight tickets or a letter explaining the situation.

If you are detained, you have the right to know why, the right to contact legal counsel, and the right to an interpreter. You also have the right to a detention review hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board, usually within 48 hours.

We prioritize urgent cases. We strive to offer same-day consultations and can begin working on your case immediately to meet tight deadlines for submissions, hearings, or responses.

A Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) is a written notice from IRCC giving an applicant the opportunity to respond to concerns or negative information an officer has about their application before a final decision is made.

The deadline will be clearly stated in the letter and is typically 7, 15, or 30 days. This deadline is strict, so you must act immediately

If you do not respond by the deadline, the officer will make a decision based on the existing information. This will almost certainly lead to the refusal of your application, as the concerns raised will remain unresolved.

If your application is refused after you respond to a PFL, your appeal options depend on the type of application. For some family sponsorship cases, you may have a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD). For most other cases, the only recourse is to apply for Judicial Review at the Federal Court of Canada.

You should include any and all evidence that directly addresses the officer’s concerns. This can range from legal documents, financial statements, medical reports, employment records, personal affidavits, and letters from third parties. The evidence must be credible and relevant.

It is possible to request an extension, but they are only granted in exceptional circumstances. You must provide a compelling reason for your request (e.g., a medical emergency or inability to obtain a critical document in time). Do not assume an extension will be granted; submit your request as early as possible.

An experienced immigration lawyer or accredited consultant can provide crucial assistance. They can interpret the legal basis of the officer’s concerns, advise you on the strongest arguments and evidence, draft a professional and persuasive submission, and ensure your response is submitted correctly and on time.

A reconsideration request asks the same decision-maker (or their office) to fix a mistake voluntarily. An appeal involves taking the case to a higher authority, such as the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) or the Federal Court, to force a review of the decision. Reconsideration is faster and cheaper but discretionary.

There is no statutory deadline, but you should submit it immediately after receiving the refusal. We recommend submitting it within 15 to 30 days. Waiting months usually results in a refusal to reconsider.

You should include a detailed submission letter explaining the error, copies of the specific documents the officer overlooked (highlighted for clarity), and your refusal letter. Avoid submitting entirely new application forms unless requested.

Technically yes, but it is most effective for decisions made by visa officers (like visitor visas, study permits, and work permits). It is less effective for complex inadmissibility findings that require a formal hearing.

There is no set processing time. It can take anywhere from a few days to several months. Sometimes, IRCC does not respond at all if they choose not to re-open the file.

If the request is refused (or ignored), the original refusal stands. You must then decide whether to submit a brand new application or pursue Judicial Review in Federal Court.

 Yes. In fact, this is often recommended. The deadline for Judicial Review is strict (15 or 60 days). You can file for Judicial Review to protect your rights while simultaneously asking the visa office for reconsideration. If they agree to reconsider, you can withdraw the court case.

Remain calm and polite. Ask the officer for the specific reason for the refusal and request copies of any documents they issue you. Do not attempt to argue your way in. Once you are safe, contact an immigration consultant or lawyer immediately to review your case before trying to enter again.

In most cases, you cannot “appeal” a decision made by a border officer at a port of entry in the traditional sense. However, you can challenge the decision through Judicial Review in Federal Court if an error in law was made. More commonly, the solution is to submit a new, stronger application that addresses the officer’s concerns.

A TRP is a special permit that allows you to enter Canada despite being inadmissible. You must demonstrate that your need to enter Canada outweighs the health or safety risks to Canadian society. This application is complex and typically requires significant supporting evidence.

An ARC is a specific document required if you were previously issued a removal order (like a Deportation Order or certain Exclusion Orders) and you wish to return to Canada. It is not a visa; it is permission to ask for a visa despite the previous removal order.

Yes. A visa only allows you to travel to a Canadian port of entry. It does not guarantee admission. The CBSA officer at the border makes the final decision on whether you meet the requirements to enter. If your circumstances have changed or if the officer doubts your intent, they can deny entry even with a valid visa.

It depends on the reason for refusal. If it was due to missing documents, it could be resolved quickly. If it involves criminal inadmissibility or a removal order, resolving it via Criminal Rehabilitation or an ARC can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months or longer.

If you are detained, you have the right to be informed of the reason for your detention. You have the right to legal counsel (a lawyer). If you are held for more than 48 hours, you have the right to a detention review hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to determine if you should be released

A visa (like a visitor visa) is for individuals who are admissible to Canada. A TRP is a special permit for individuals who are inadmissible but have a compelling reason to enter temporarily. You cannot hold both at the same time.

Processing times vary widely. An application at a port of entry can be decided in a few hours. An application submitted to a visa office can take several weeks or months, depending on the office’s workload and the complexity of your case.

Yes, but it is highly risky and generally only recommended for urgent, unforeseen situations. You must be prepared with a complete application package. If refused, you will be denied entry. Applying at a visa office ahead of time is the safer option.

The validity can range from one day to a maximum of three years, depending on the officer’s assessment of your situation. For a short-term need, you might get a single-entry TRP valid for a week. For an ongoing need, you might receive a multiple-entry TRP valid for a year or more

If your TRP is valid for six months or more, you may be eligible to apply for a work or study permit from within Canada. You must apply for these permits separately; they are not automatically granted with the TRP.

If your TRP is refused, the finding of inadmissibility stands, and you will not be allowed to enter Canada. There is no formal appeal process for a TRP refusal. Your main options are to re-apply with a stronger case in the future or pursue permanent solutions like Criminal Rehabilitation.

In some specific cases, yes. If you have been continuously in Canada on a TRP for a certain period (3 or 5 years, depending on your inadmissibility) and have not become inadmissible for any new reason, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence from within Canada

Referral to secondary inspection is common and does not automatically mean you’ve done something wrong. It can be for a random check, to verify documents, to process a permit, or because the primary officer has questions about your admissibility that require a more in-depth conversation.

At a port of entry, you have an obligation to answer truthfully to establish your admissibility. Refusing to answer can result in being denied entry. In other contexts, like a criminal investigation, you may have the right to remain silent. It is crucial to get legal advice on this.

Bring the notice for the interview (if you received one), your passport, all your immigration documents (visas, permits, etc.), and any supporting evidence relevant to your case, such as proof of funds, ties to your home country, or court documents.

You have the right to counsel. While a lawyer may not be able to join you for a routine secondary inspection at the border, you absolutely have the right to have a legal representative present during more formal proceedings like an admissibility hearing or a scheduled investigative interview.

Failing to attend a scheduled interview can have severe consequences. The CBSA may issue a warrant for your arrest or make a negative decision on your case in your absence.

The duration varies greatly. A secondary inspection could take 30 minutes or several hours. A formal admissibility hearing can take a full day. It depends on the complexity of the case and the issues being examined.

Providing false information is considered misrepresentation, a serious offence under Canadian immigration law. If discovered, it can lead to a refusal, a five-year ban from entering Canada, and the cancellation of any status you may have.