Canada Visa Application: Misrepresentation is a Big Deal

Based on facts:

Jane (not real name) was stressed after she received a procedural fairness letter from Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on her recent application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to Canada. She already has a Canadian work permit and has been living in Canada for the last 5 years. Her TRV status expired, and she came to India to visit family, hoping to renew her TRV from India.

Next, she had submitted her TRV application 2 weeks ago. Further, she was contacted by IRCC indicating 1 answer in her application form did not match with the records. After that she had 30 days to respond and clarify.

Jane realized that she had made a mistake. And, she wrote back to IRCC apologizing for the same. Unfortunately, it did not convince the Visa Officer. Consequently, the TRV application got refused. The refusal letter indicated a five year ban due to misrepresentation. The misrepresentation results in inadmissibility under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 40(2)(a).

Misrepresentation on Canada visa application is a real thing and may have real consequences. Providing false information (intentionally or unintentionally) on your Canada visa application may result in being inadmissible to Canada. And, a 5 year ban under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 40(2)(a). Meaning any future application for the next 5 years will result in a refusal by default. It does not matter who provided the false information. Additionally, the applicant is liable for all the content and details on the file. Therefore, not advisable to blindly trust any unauthorized person to help with your application. You are paying your hard earned money and have the right to seek services of authorized professionals who have studied and experience in Canadian immigration law.

We hear a lot of stories like this where unauthorized (illegal) consultants advise applicants to hide their previous refusals and overstays in other countries. Canada has information sharing agreements with various countries and not indicating any previous refusals or overstays in another country may sound like a good idea in theory, but it may put you in big trouble.

Canada takes misrepresentations very seriously. If you happened to know someone who recently submitted the application, that may contain false information. Connect with YCI before it’s too late.