We receive numerous inquiries every day at our company. Many of these come from people who realize after submitting their visa applications that there were mistakes in the details they provided, and they ask, “What should I do now?”

If the application proceeds and is approved with the mistakes still intact, correcting the information with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) afterward can be very challenging. Depending on the type of mistake, it could even lead to the rejection of the application. Naturally, the best approach is to submit an accurate application from the start, but here is how you can handle things if mistakes do occur.

Here are some of the common mistakes we often hear about from those who have realized they made errors in their applications:

1. Reversing the order of the family name (Family Name) and given name (Given Name).
2. Selecting the wrong gender or country of birth.
3. Forgetting to attach supporting documents (e.g., bank balance statements).

Name or Gender Mistakes

Often, applicants do not realize mistakes regarding their name or gender until after their visa is issued. In these cases, you must contact the IRCC and proceed with a correction request. This process may require submitting new documents or paying additional application fees.

Forgetting to Attach Supporting Documents

If you forget to submit required supporting documents, you might have a chance to submit them before your application is rejected. However, if the error goes unnoticed and the application continues, it may be rejected, and you will need to reapply, providing additional explanations and documents. Reapplications are subject to more stringent scrutiny than the initial submission, so be extra careful.

To avoid making mistakes, it is important to carefully review all the information before submitting your application and double-check that you have all the required documents. If anything is unclear, it is highly recommended to consult with an immigration consultant. Accurate applications are the key to avoiding these kinds of issues.

If you notice an error, you can contact the IRCC via their Web Form inquiry form. If you made a mistake in the details, choose ‘Other’ and submit a correction request.

If you need to submit additional documents, use the ‘Add a document to your application’ option.

After submitting your request or documents via the Web Form, you will receive an automated email from the IRCC. However, this email does not specify the contents of your request, so it is a good idea to take a screenshot of the details you entered and the completion page as evidence.

If a visa is issued with incorrect details, you will need to submit a correction request. This will require paying the application fee again, and it could take several months before the corrected visa is issued.

If you applied for a visa from outside Canada and are collecting it at an immigration office at an airport or U.S. border, check the details before accepting it. If you notice any errors, show the evidence of your correction request (such as the screenshot or automated response email from the IRCC) and request the correction on-site. If negotiation is not accepted at that point, you will need to request the correction after entering Canada.

Submitting a visa application by yourself is not something you do often in your life. Many people are doing this for the first time and may make mistakes in filling out forms or submitting documents while navigating the process.

At our immigration consulting company, we handle numerous visa applications every year. For example, we process over 300 work permit applications annually, which means we have significant experience, submitting applications almost daily. Not only can we help prevent common mistakes individuals make during applications, but we can also offer reassurance throughout the process. You will not have to worry about whether your application was submitted correctly or if the review is progressing smoothly.

There are many advantages to leaving your application to professionals. Whether it is for an initial application or a reapplication, we recommend considering our ‘Total Application Package,’ which allows us to represent your application on your behalf!